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Articles: A/An and The: Have A/an or The. Specific or New To A Conversation, I.E. Not Definite

The document discusses the use of articles (a/an, the) and no article with nouns. It explains that "a/an" is used with non-specific or new singular countable nouns. "The" is used with specific or known singular countable nouns. No article is used with plural or uncountable nouns when referring to things in general. Some examples are provided to illustrate these rules.

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Petrushevska Slavica
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24 views

Articles: A/An and The: Have A/an or The. Specific or New To A Conversation, I.E. Not Definite

The document discusses the use of articles (a/an, the) and no article with nouns. It explains that "a/an" is used with non-specific or new singular countable nouns. "The" is used with specific or known singular countable nouns. No article is used with plural or uncountable nouns when referring to things in general. Some examples are provided to illustrate these rules.

Uploaded by

Petrushevska Slavica
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Articles: A/An and The

1 – a/an
When we talk about people’s jobs or the things they do we use ‘a/an’
He’s a teacher.
She’s a scientist.
He was a student of mine.

A/An
2 – a/an or the with singular countable nouns.
Besides other determiners (my, yours, his etc.) singular, countable nouns always
have a/an or the.
We use the indefinite article ‘a/an’ when we talk about something that is not
specific or new to a conversation, i.e. not definite:
I’ve just finished reading a great book. – the listener does not know which book.
Would you like a drink? – the speaker is not talking about one type of drink
Do you want to see a film? – no film has been chosen yet

The
We use the definite article when we talk about something specific or that we know:
Have you seen the book I was reading yesterday? – the speaker and listener know
which book.
I’ve just placed the pie in the oven. The speaker and listener know which pie and the
whole house only has one oven.
There’s a car blocking the drive. – the drive of the house.

3 – No article
When we talk about general things we usually use plural or uncountable nouns with
no article.
Sharks live in the Mediterranean.
Tourists prefer warmer climates for their summer holidays.
Children are influenced by their peers.

However – The children in that school learn Latin. These children not all children in
general.
 1 - Could I borrow ___ car?

the

zero article

a/an

 2 - She's ___ woman I met yesterday.

the

zero article

a/an

 3 - I need to buy ___ new phone.

the

zero article

a/an

 4 - ___ cars are more environmentally friendly than before.

a/an

zero article

the

 5 - I love listening to ___ music.

the

a/an

zero article

 6 - My sister is going to buy ___ new car.

zero article

a/an

the
 7 - You can only find ___ polar bears in the north not in the south.

the

a/an

zero article

 8 - I would love ___ pizza from that Italian restaurant.

the

zero article

a/an

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