ARTICLESa and an with singular nouns

ARTICLESWe use a or an with singular nouns only.Example: singular nouns: a girl, an orangeWe use a with singular nouns which begin with consonant sounds.Example: a computer, a town, a unit (sounds like yu-nit)We use an with singular nouns which begin with vowel sounds.Example: an orchid, an examination, an heiress (sounds like -eiress)

ARTICLESWe also use a before adjectives with consonant sounds and an before adjectives with vowel sounds.a / an + adjective + singular nounExamples: an honest shopkeeper a wonderful artist

REMEMBER! Words beginning with consonant letters do not begin with consonant sounds. In the same way, words starting with vowel letters may not begin with vowel sounds.Examples: honorary (sounds like -onorary) European (sounds like yu-ropean)

ARTICLESEXERCISE

UniqueDoctor EntranceCheerful Audience

Disease Honourable Bad coldSuccessUniversity

ARTICLESa, an, the with singular nouns

ARTICLESWe use a or an when we speak of someone or something for the first time. We use the when we mention that person or thing a second time.Example: I found a purse just now. I believe that the purse belongs to Emily.We use the when it is clear to the listener or reader which person or thing we are referring to.Example: My car is at the workshop in Jalan Petaling.We use the when there is only one such thing.Example: Theres a rainbow in the sky.We usually use the before ordinal numbers.Examples: I won the first prize in the competition. Today is the 30th of January.

REMEMBER! An ordinal number is number like first, second, third or fourth which shows the position of something in a list of items.

ARTICLESEXERCISEI can see ___ aeroplane on the runway. ___ aeroplane is going to take off.Mr Paulson has ___ new house. ___ house is in the Green Street.Our ship crossed ___ equator at 3 p.m. today.I have to go to ___ post office in Jalan Orkid to post ___ parcel.Salim is going to Sri Lanka on ___ 22nd of February. He will attend ___ art conference there.Mr Gibson plans to travel around ___ world in his hot-air balloon.

ARTICLESthe with proper nouns

ARTICLESWe use the before some proper nouns such as:the names of oceans, rivers, seas and straitsExamples: the Atlantic Ocean the Sulu Seathe names of the most buildings, landmarks, monuments and natural wondersExamples: the National Museum the GSC CinemaThe names of places ending in plural sExamples: the United States the United Nations

ARTICLESREMEMBER! The following are some proper nouns which do not use the:a) The names of continentsExamples: Australia, Europeb) The names of most countriesExamples: Egypt, Switzerlandc) The names of most towns and citiesExamples: Colombo, Londond) The names of streetsExamples: Jalan Penang, Jalan Haji Rahmane) The names of peopleExamples: Shila, Rahman

ARTICLESEXERCISEI visited ___ Eiffel Tower when I was in ___ France for a tour last month.___ Republic of Singapore lies south of ___ Peninsular Malaysia.There are longhouses along ___ Skrang River in ___ Sarawak.___ Petaling Street is parallel to ___ Jaya Street.___ Vice-Chancellor of ___ University of New South Wales is here.

ARTICLESwith countable and uncountable nouns

ARTICLESWe use a or an only before countable nouns.Examples: We use flour to make pancakes. Mum added salt to the fish curry. There is water on the table.

REMEMBER! An uncountable noun does not have a plural form. Examples: mud, not muds rice, not rices

We use a or an with uncountable nouns in this way:Examples: I used a cup of flour to make pancakes. Mum added a teaspoon of salt to the fish curry. There is a jug of water on the table.

ARTICLESWe use the with uncountable nouns when it is clear to the listener or reader which things we are referring to. We do not use the with uncountable nouns when we are talking in general.Examples: The water in this container tastes funny. (we are referring to the water in the container specifically.)Plants need water to grow. (general)REMEMBER! The word some can be used with both countable and uncountable nouns in these ways:Some + plural countable nounExamples: I want some apples. He needs some pencils.Some + uncountable nounExamples: I want some flour. He needs some paper.

ARTICLESEXERCISEThere is ___ sand in my shoe.I would like ___ bottle of soda.___ milk in this jug is sour.There is ___ paint on the floor.He has ___ work to do. Hell play ___ badminton with you later.I like ___ soup, but only if ___ soup is hot.