ARTICLESARTICLESAlan and LetíciaAlan and Letícia

Articles

• Three articles: two indefinite - a, an - and the definite - the.

• No article: I don’t like chocolate.

• Some languages have no articles (Chinese, Japanese, Malay, Polish), some have only the definite article (Arabic) and others have the same articles as English but their usage does not overlap exactly (French, German, Spanish).

Indefinite Articles - A and An

Rule Example1. Use a before a noun or an

adjective (+ noun) that begins with a

consonant sound

a feather, a gray feather

2. Use an before a noun or an adjective

(+ noun) that begins with a vowel sound

an idea, an absurd idea

3. Remember that words beginning with the letters h or u can be

problematic. The use of a and an depends on the beginning sound of

the word.

a hat, an houra university, an umbrella

The Definite Article - The

Rule Example

1. Use the when you are talking about something specific.

general: All of us have an umbrella.

specific: The umbrella next to the door is not mine.

2. Use the when the speaker and the listener are talking about the

same specific item.

general: Every kitchen has a refrigerator.

specific: William, don’t forget to close the refrigerator

3. Use the for the second and all other references to the same

noun.

first reference: James and I bought a new computer last month.second reference: The new computer lets us access the

internet really quickly.

The Definite Article - The

Rule Example

4. Use the with the superlative form of and adjective, which

means with the word most or with the ending -est.

comparative: In a jewelry store, gold is more expensive than

silver.superlative: In a jewelry store,

diamonds are the most expensive item.

5. Use the for the names of countries that look plural,

including countries that end in -s or have the words united, union,

republic or kingdom.

the Philippines, the United States, the Soviet Union, the

Dominican Republic, the United Kingdom

The Definite Article - The

Rule Example

6. Use the for the parts of something (Exception: In general, we do not use the for body parts.)

general: In a kitchen, there is a stove, a refrigerator and a clock.parts: I went to Mary’s new house last night. Her kitchen is beautiful. The refrigerator is silver and the

stove is black.

7. Use the with most bodies of water except individual lakes.

the Mississippi Riverthe Pacific Ocean

the Mediterranean Seathe Great Lakes

The Definite Article - The

Rule Example

8. Use the with geographic parts of the globe and geographic areas,

deserts, and peninsulas

the equatorthe Middle Eastthe Gobi Desert

the South

No Article

Rule Example1. When you want to talk

about a category or group in general, use no article

general: Cats can be great pets.specific: The cats in the pet

store are expensive

2. Use no article before abstract nouns such as

feelings or ideas.

wrong: A person’s future success depends on the

education.right: A person’s future success

depends on education.wrong: The patience is a virtue.

right: Pacience is a virtue.

Articles - Typical ELL Errors

1. Do not use a singular count noun without an article.

job, apple, reasona job, an apple, a reason

2. Do not use a with a noun that begins with a vowel sound.

a hour, a heir, a honourable colleague

an hour, an heir, an honourable colleague

3. Do not use the with a plural count noun that refers to the whole

category.

I don’t trust the politicians.I don’t trust politicians.

4. Do not use the with abstract nouns or ideas

The education is the most important thing in my life.

Education is the most important thing in my life.