indefinite articles. a / an: which one to use? a before consonants, or vowels pronounced as...
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Indefinite articles
a / an: which one to use?
a before consonants, or vowels pronounced as consonants
• a European• a universal truth
an before vowels, or consonants pronounced as vowels
• an honour• an hour• an MRI scan
indefinite article before occupationsalso professions, nationalities, religions, titles, or other states in life:
My grandfather was a doctor.
Are you single / a bachelor?
If you are a student, you geta reduction.
He’s not a Catholic, but hestill celebrates Carnival.
The profession of a plumber(the plumbing profession) is not popular with girls.
Mijn opa was arts.
Bent U vrijgezel?
Als je student bent,krijg je korting.
Hij is geen Katholiek,en toch viert hij Carnaval.
Het beroep van loodgieteris niet in trek bij meisjes.
no indefinite article…
…when the occupation is held by only one personat a time
He was captain of the All Blacks.Boadica was Queen of Iceni.
…when two qualities of one person are contrasted
Jennifer Lopez as actress and diplomat
…after certain expressions:• the post of …• the office of…• the rank of…
indefinite article after as
Translate these sentences into Dutch. What can you conclude about use of the indefinite
article after as?
1. As a service to our customers, we now offer a free cleaning service after every paintball reservation.
2. She was given fifty euros as a reward.
3. As a result of their hard work, they passed their grammar exam the first time round.
4. Because of its spectacular acoustics, the cathedral is being used as a concert hall.
Marc Quinn, Portrait of an artist as a young man, 2005
indefinite article after with and without
Translate the following sentences into English.What can you conclude about the use of the indefinite article after with and without?
1. Ze ging zonder sleutel weg.
2. Wij kochten een auto zonder achterbank.
3. Ik kreeg een dagboek met slot.
4. Hij had een kamer met uitzicht op de gracht.
the indefinite article is not used before more than one word: a hotel room with mini-bar, jacuzzi, sauna, microwave, and home cinema
indefinite article beforehundred and thousand
the indefinite article is used before hundredand thousand:
indefinite article for Dutch‘een zekere’(when there is a title)
A Ms Bardot called to see you.
Does a Dr. Seuss have a mailbox here?
A certain Mr Bond left his watch here.
indefinite article in a number of fixed expressions (see pages 210-211)
to have a fever
to be in a hurry
to have an appetite
to come to a standstill
to go on a journey
59p a kilo
indefinite article in a number of fixed expressions (see pages 210-211)
What a pity!
two at a time
to sell at a loss
in a loud voice
What a pity!
have a headache
With or without the indefinite article (depending who you talk to):toothache, backache, stomachache, earache, pain in the butt
indefinite article in Dutch but not in English
• before part ofeen deel van het probleem part of the problem
gedurende een deel van de studieduring part of the academic programme
• after what before noncount nouns and plural nounsWat een mooie torens!What beautiful towers!
Wat een energie!What energy!
Final task: translate the sentences and indicate which rule you apply to the indefinite article (a – i)There are two indefinite article rules per sentence.
1. Als je buikpijn hebt, moet je een deel van het etentje missen.
2. Als student woonde hij in een kamer zonder raam.3. Was hij lid van een vakbond?4. Duizend demonstranten stonden te wachten op een
zekere Mr Bush.5. Wat een onzin om nu met verlies te moeten verkopen!
a. A before consonants, AN before vowels (+ exceptions)b. before nouns denoting an occupation etc.c. After ‘as’d. After ‘with’ / ‘without’e. before ‘hundred’ and ‘thousand’f. for Dutch ‘een zekere’g. in fixed expressionsh. Not before ‘part of’ i. not after ‘what’ (noncount / plural nouns)
KEY:1. g, h2. c/b, d3. b, a4. e, f5. i, g
a few final words…
So, the English definite article ‘the’ walks into a bar with his old friend, the English indefinite article ‘a’. They sit down, order some drinks, and then ‘a’ asks, “So, what’re you up to these days? Still marking noun phrases?”
‘the’ nods its head, taking a drink. “Definitely.”