English Grammar Articles (a, an, the) What are English grammar articles? An article is a word that is used before a noun to show whether the noun refers to something specific or not. A, anand the are articles. "I need a chair." In the sentence above we find the article "a". It shows us that the speaker does not need a specific chair. He can have any chair. "I want an apple." In the sentence above we find the article "an." It shows us that the speaker does not want a specific apple. He can have any apple.
"I want the red apple." In the sentence above we find the article "the." It shows us that the speaker wants a specific apple. In English, there are two kinds of grammar articles. The Definite Article (For example: the box) "Definite" means "clear, obvious." The definite article tells us that the noun is specific. The speaker talks about a particular (or known) thing. The definite article in English is "the." "The car I bought broke down." "He has a son and a daughter. The daughter is a doctor." "The actors were really good." "I remember the day we first met." "The" can be used before both singular and plural nouns. "The flower he gave her was very beautiful." "The flowers on the table are nice." The Indefinite Article (For example: a box) "In-" means "not," and "definite" means "clear, obvious."
"Indefinite" means "not clear, not exact." The indefinite article tells us that the noun is not specific. The speaker talks about any one of that type of thing. The indefinite articles in English are "a" and "an." "I need a pen." (The speaker doesn't tell us which pen he needs. He simply needs a pen, any pen.) "Lisa wants to see a movie." (The speaker doesn't tell us which movie Lisa wants to see. She wants to see some movie.) "Joe has a car." (The speaker doesn't tell us which car Joe has. He has some car.) "She is a dancer." (She dances for a living.) What is the difference between "a" and "an"? "A" and "an" have the same meaning. We use "a" before a consonant sound. a dog a building a country a professor a university We use "an" before a vowel sound. an apple an umbrella an eye an hour Important!
We use "a" and "an" only before a singular noun. We can't use "a" and "an" before a plural noun. Correct: a car. Incorrect: a cars. Correct: an orange. Incorrect: a oranges. What is the difference between "a" and "the"? "The" is used to talk about specific or known things. These are usually things that have been mentioned before or that the listener is familiar with. "A" (or "an") is used to talk about things which are not specific. These are usually things that haven't been mentioned before or that the listener is unfamiliar with. Let's say I tell you: "I went to see a doctor last week." Explanation: I went to see some doctor. I didn't mention him before, and you are not familiar with him. Another option is that it is not important who he is. So I use the word "a". Then I say: "The doctor said I should get more rest." Now you already know which doctor I am referring to. I am referring to the doctor I went to see. So I use the word "the." Next I say to you: "Do you remember the movie we watched together?" I use the word "the" because I mention a specific movie you know which movie I am talking about. Then I tell you: "Well, I've seen a better movie since!" You are not familiar with the new movie, so I use the word "a". I also tell you: "A man on the street stepped on my foot." You don't know who exactly stepped on my foot, I've never mentioned him before. So I use the word "a". Finally, I tell you: "I am a singer." This sentence simply means that I sing for a living. If I said: "I am the singer", you would understand that I am the singer that was mentioned before. For example: - "Wow! I heard a great singer is coming to town." - "Oh, it's me. I am the great singer." Now that we understand the general idea of English grammar articles, here are some more
specific details: Specific Uses of English Grammar Articles In this case Example Sentence Use "a" / "an" Use "the" No article You mention something for the first time. You want to say that something belongs to a certain group. You want to say that someone belongs to a certain group. You want to say that something is that kind of thing. You want to say that someone is that kind of person. You talk about a specific thing. It is clear which thing you are talking about. There is only one such thing. You talk about something in general. You talk about cities, countries, streets, etc. I have a problem. This is a table. She is a designer. I've built a strong ship. He is a nice guy. The feeling I got was very strange. I passed the test! Look at the sun. Pigs can't fly. Diving can be difficult. We visited Italy. The is a definite article. It is used before a noun to refer to a particular one. Example: I was playing with the boy. The boy refers to a particular boy. A and an are indefinite articles. They are used before nouns to refer to something in general. Example: I was playing with a boy. A boy could be any boy.
Example: She wanted an umbrella. An umbrella could be any umbrella. She is not referring to a specific one. Using the definite article The definite article the is the most frequently used word in the English language. It is the same for all genders in singular or plural forms. Correct: I am looking for the boy. She is fixing the computer. Also Correct: I am looking for the boys. She is fixing the computers. Pronouncing the definite article There are two different ways to pronounce the definite article the. Pronounce it like "thuh" before nouns that begin with a spoken consonant A spoken consonant is the sound at the beginning of a word that is not one of the five vowels (a, e, i, o, u). the bear, the cat, the girls Pronounce it like "thee" before nouns that begin with a spoken vowel A spoken vowel is the sound at the beginning of a word that is a vowel sound (a, e, i, o, u and sometimes y). the apple, the umbrella, the old school, the yellow bus Using the definite article before nouns 1) We use the definite article the before a noun when the noun is specific. Once we have identified the noun to the reader or listener, we begin using the before the
noun. Example: I am reading a book. The book is about cats. In this example the noun is identified in the first sentence. The first sentence is not referring to a specific book, so I did not use the definite article. In the second sentence, the noun has been identified and I am talking about a specific book. I use the definite article before the book. 2) We use the definite article with any noun that represents one particular subject. The President visited our city last year. (There is only one current president.) The sun is bright today. (There is only one sun in our sky.) 3) We use the definite article when there is only one nearby. Dad, can I borrow the car? (There is one car at our house.) I am going to wear the blue shirt today. (I have one blue shirt in my closet.) Using the definite article with names We do not usually use the definite article before people's names. Incorrect: The Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president of the United States. Correct: Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president of the United States.
We do use the definite article before: 1) Countries with plural nouns as their name Example: I am flying to the Netherlands. 2) Countries with names like Kingdom, State, or Republic Example: I live in the United States. 3) Names of geographical features such as oceans, mountains, rivers and seas Example: We sailed on the Pacific Ocean. 4) Names of newspapers Example: We had a subscription to the New York Times. 5) Names of well-known buildings or works of art Example: We visited the Empire State Building last year. 6) Names of families Example: The Smiths live there. 7) Names of organizations Example: We are members of the Chess Club. 8) Names of hotels Example: We slept at the Holiday Inn. 9) The definite article the is optional before seasons of the year. I love fishing in the summer. or I love fishing in summer. I go to school in the spring. or I go to school in spring.
So that was the explanation on the English grammar articles. Now let's practice! English Grammar Articles Exercise 01 "A", "an" or "the"? Fill in the correct word. 1. I loved presents I've got. 2. She had feeling that something good is about to happen. 3. Dan fixed car, so you can drive it. 4. I am opera singer. 5. She is waitress. 6. books seem like they are going to fall. 7. I have dog and cat. dog is big and cat is small. 8. She released new album. album did very well in the stores. 9. Do you remember restaurant I've told you about? 10. Prime Minister returned from Europe. 11. biggest problem they have is finishing things on time. 12. You are best! 13. Don't get up I'll close window for you. 14. She found CD she was looking for. 15. I've found old coin in the street. "A", "an" or "the"? Fill in the correct word.
1. He fell in love with girl next door. 2. Thanks for help. 3. You are good teacher. 4. Give me another half hour. 5. Could you help me pick university? 6. door is still open. Please close it fully. 7. American Revolution took place in the 19th century. 8. He has old car. 9. He doesn't mind sleeping on floor. 10. This is interesting problem. 11. I have question to ask you. 12. He is policeman. 13. I am citizen of Portugal. 14. Charles has bought new yacht. 15. Who is guy she's talking with? Articles https://youtu.be/ys92rfyp4yy https://youtu.be/p4u0ulbatzi