Definite Article and

Indefinite Article

Definiteor

Indefinite articleThe definite article is

The.

It is used for singular and plural, and masculine and

feminine nouns.

Determinative or Definite ArticleIt isn’t used for:

• pronouns• verbs• proper nouns• individual mountains• lakes• singular names of countries and continents• towns and cities

Indeterminativeor

Indefinite ArticleThe indefinite articles are two: A and An.

• A is used before a word that begins with a consonant or a vowel that has a sound like a consonant (ju)

• An is used before a vowel or silent “h”. There are very few words which begin with a silent “h” in English:

1. heir 4. honour2. heiress 5. honesty3. hour 6. honest

They aren’t used for: • uncountable nouns• plural common nouns• Verbs• Pronouns• Geographic proper nouns

They are used for: • singular unspecified common nouns• price, velocity, ratio: £5 akilo, 80 Kms

an hour, once a week.• certain numerical expressions: a

dozen, an eighth, a thousand, a lot of, a few

Indeterminative or Indefinite Article

Invariable

The boy The girls

The girl The boys

A A European boy

sound Ju

A N

An hour silent

H

Indefinite ArticleDefinite Article Wat

ch out

!