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9 views9 pages

Article

articles

Uploaded by

Edgard Eduardo Azañero Estrada
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Use a/an

First mention
We use a/an when we mention something for the first time.

I saw an old woman with a dog in the park.

Jobs and descriptions


We use a/an to talk about people’s jobs or to say what kind of person or thing
something/somebody is.

Paula is a teacher.

Paris is an interesting city.

When I was a teenager, I enjoyed sleeping.

Note that you cannot use singular countable nouns alone (without a, the, my, etc.)

I don’t have driving license.

I don’t have a driving license.

This hotel doesn’t have spa.

This hotel doesn’t have a spa.

Use the
Second mention
We use the when we mention something for the second time.

A man and a woman sat in front of me. The man was British, but I think the woman wasn’t.

Specific things
We use the to talk about specific things or people –when it’s clear which things or people we
are talking about.

‘Where are the kids?’ ‘They’re in the garden.’ (=We know which kids and which garden.)

Can you open the door? (=We know which door.)

There is only one


We use the when there’s only one of something.

This company is very profitable. The manager must be really good.

I’d like to live in this country, but not in the capital.

The moon looks beautiful today.

Common places in town


With places in a town where we commonly go (the park, the cinema, the doctor, etc.)

I’m going to the bank.

I found Peter at the station.

I’m at the library.

Superlatives
We use the before superlative adjectives.

This is the best restaurant in town.

Musical instruments

We use the before names of musical instruments.

Margaret plays the guitar and I play the flute.

Use no article
General meaning

We do not use an article before plural or uncountable nouns to talk about something in
general.

I don’t drink milk.

Women drive more cautiously than men.

Compare:
I love music. (=Music in general.)

I loved the music at the party. (=Specific music.)

Children are often difficult. (=Children in general.)

They are a nice family. The children are very funny. (=The children in that family.)

Meals

We do not use an article before the names of meals: breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Dinner is served at 8.

I always have breakfast with my children.

Years, months and days

We do not use an article before names of years, months and days of the week.

Friday is my favourite day of the week.

I think 2020 will be an excellent year.

TV

We do not use an article with TV (when used as a broadcasting service, NOT as an appliance)

I saw it on TV.

I don’t watch TV.

But: Turn off the TV. I’ve bought a new TV.

Names of languages and school subjects

We do not use an article before the names of languages and school subjects.

He doesn’t speak English.

I study biology.

Next, last

We do not use an article before next and last + time expression (when they mean before or
after now).

The meeting is next Thursday.


I saw him last week.

Compare:

Last year we spent one week in London (Last year= the year before now).

We really loved London. The last day we were really sad. (The last day= the last day of that trip.
NOT the day before now)
Many/much
Many for countable, much for uncountable in (?) (-)

We use many before plural (countable) nouns


and much before uncountable nouns. We use them
in negative sentences and questions. We don’t normally use
them in affirmative sentences.

 There isn’t much coffee in the jar.


 Were there many people in the party?

Too much/too many

Note that we don’t normally use much/many in affirmative


sentences, but we can use too much and too many in
affirmative sentences.

 There’s too much salt in the soup.


 You eat too many biscuits.

How much/how many

We use how many and how much to ask about quantity.

 How many concerts have you ever been to?


 How much coffee have you had today?

A lot of/lots of
Before both countable and uncountable

We use a lot of or lots of (more informal) before


both plural (countable) and uncountable nouns. We normally
use them in positive sentences.

 She spends a lot of time watching TV.


 We had lots of good moments together.

Of before noun but NOT at the end of sentence


We must always use a lot of or lots of including of before a
noun. However, we can use the expressions a
lot or lots (without of) at the end of a sentence.

 ‘How many beers did you have?’ ‘I don’t know; I


had lots/a lot.’
 I like her a lot.

(A) few/(a) little/a bit of


Few for countable; little for uncountable

We use (a) few before plural (countable) nouns and (a)


little or a bit of (more informal) before uncountable nouns.

 I have to do a few things this afternoon.


 He always gets good results with very little effort.
 Can you put a bit of sugar in the tea?

Few or a few? little or a little?

A few means ‘some but not many; enough’, and a little means
‘some but not much; enough’.

Few/little mean ‘almost none; not enough’.

Normally, the difference between a few/little (WITH a)


and few/little (WITHOUT a) is that a few/little is positive in
meaning, and few/little is negative. Compare:

 There’s little milk in the fridge; we have to buy


more. (Not enough; we need more)
 ‘Shall I buy some beers?’ ‘No, it’s OK, there are a few in
the fridge.’ (=Enough; we don’t need more)
 ‘Do you speak English?’ ‘No, I speak very little
English.’ (=Negative)
 ‘Do you speak English?’ ‘Yes, I speak a little English.’
(=Positive)

Some/any
Some in (+); any in (?) (-)

We use some in affirmative sentences


and any in negative sentences and questions.
 Is there any sugar in the cupboard?
 Have you got any new friends?
 I have some questions to ask you.

With both countable (plural) and uncountable

Both some and any can be used before countable and


uncountable nouns. But if we use them before a countable
noun, the noun must be in the plural form.

 Is there any student in the classroom?


 Are there any students in the classroom?

Some for offers and requests

We use some (NOT any) in interrogative sentences when we


are offering or requesting (=asking for) something.

 Would you like some help?


 Can I have some tea, please?

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