Scribd
Upload
10 views9 pages

Articles Rules PDF

The document explains the usage of articles in English, including the indefinite articles 'a' and 'an', the definite article 'the', and the zero article. It details when to use each type of article with examples, such as using 'a' before consonant sounds and 'an' before vowel sounds, as well as specific contexts for 'the' and instances where no article is needed. Additionally, it provides guidelines for using articles with nouns, professions, and expressions of quantity.

Uploaded by

stepanka.fantova
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
10 views9 pages

Articles Rules PDF

The document explains the usage of articles in English, including the indefinite articles 'a' and 'an', the definite article 'the', and the zero article. It details when to use each type of article with examples, such as using 'a' before consonant sounds and 'an' before vowel sounds, as well as specific contexts for 'the' and instances where no article is needed. Additionally, it provides guidelines for using articles with nouns, professions, and expressions of quantity.

Uploaded by

stepanka.fantova
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 9

Articles

A/an
The
Zero article

1
Indefinite article
A/AN

 Is used with singular countable nouns because it means


ONE (so we are actually counting when using a/an)
 We cannot use singular countable nouns alone (without
a/the/my etc.)!!!

 A – used before a word beginning with a consonant


/p,b,m,n,s…/in pronunciation.
 Example: a chair /čéə/, a new pen, a usual day /južuəl/, a
university /juni…/

 AN – used before a word beginning with a vowel


/a,e,i,o,u,ə/ in pronunciation.
 Example: an egg, an open window, an hour /auə/
2
Use of A/AN

 1)To refer to a thing or an idea for the first time. (the first
mention!)
Example: There is a supermarket in Adam street. I have
a brother and a sister.
 2) With jobs and professions.
Example: I‘m a teacher. He works as a pilot.
 3) After the verbs „have“ and „be“ .
Example: I have a new car. This is a book.
 4) With some expressions of quantity.
Example: a pair of, a little, a couple of, a few
 5) In exclamations with WHAT+ a + countable noun.
Example: What a lovely day! What a pity!
3
Definite article
THE
 Pronunciation:
 [ðә] – before words beginning with a consonant in
pronunciation
 Example: the table, the right answer, the young /jaŋ/

 [ði:] – before words beginning with a vowel in pronunciation


 Example: the apple, the open window, the hour /auə/

 Can be used with all nouns. (but doesn‘t have to!)


4
Use of THE (1)

1) When both the speaker and the listener already


know the thing or the idea or we know it from the
context.
 Example: I have a new car. The car is nice and
fast.
 You should tidy up in the living room. (= We mean
OUR living-room.)
2) If there is only ONE of something.
 Example: the sun, the Queen, the Government, the
president, the capital, the city centre, the floor (in a
certain room), etc.
3) With superlative adjectives.
 Example: the biggest, the most expensive
5
Use of THE (2)
4) We refer to things in general.
 Example: the weather, the sea, the human race, the
future, the environment, the sky (BUT: space =space
in the universe), the cinema, the theatre, the radio
(BUT: television), the giraffe, the bicycle
 The giraffe is a very nice animal. (= Giraffes are nice
animals.)
5) THE + adjective (to talk about a group of people)
 Example: the young, the rich, the poor, the
unemployed, the homeless, the injured, the French,
the Irish, the British, the Taylors, the Johnsons

6
Use of THE (3)
6) Before seas, rivers, hotels, pubs, theatres, cinemas,
museums, newspapers, plural names, „republic, states,
kingdom“
 Example: the Atlantic, The Times, the Nile, the Ritz, the
National Museum, the Netherlands, the Canary Islands,
the Andes, the United States of America, the Czech
Republic, the United Kingdom
7) In expressions: the ... of ...
 Example: the Bank of England, the name of the girl

8) In expressions: the north/south/west/south, the


beginning/middle/end, on the left/right, the same
9) With ordinal numbers: the first, the second, the third,
the fifth
7
Zero article (1)

1) Before plural and uncountable nouns when talking about


things in general.
 Example: Giraffes are nice animals. Milk is good for you.

2) Before names, countries (except those having a general


noun in the name or being in plural), towns, streets,
languages, magazines, meals, airports, stations and
mountains.
 Example: I had lunch with John. I bought Cosmopolitan at

Victoria Station. I visited Bogota in Columbia.

8
Zero article (2)

3) In these constructions:
(At) home, in/to bed, at/to work, at/to
school/university(as a pupil or student), in prison (as a
prisoner), in hospital (as a patient), to church (to a
religious service)
By bus/plane/car/train, on foot
4) In exclamations with WHAT + uncountable noun.
Example: What nice weather! What loud music!

PRACTISE ARTICLES HERE!


9

You might also like