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The document explains the concept of articles in English, defining them as words that specify whether a noun is being referred to specifically or generally. It categorizes articles into three types: definite (the), indefinite (a/an), and zero article (no article used). Each type is further elaborated with examples and rules regarding their usage in different contexts.

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5 views18 pages

8 Article

The document explains the concept of articles in English, defining them as words that specify whether a noun is being referred to specifically or generally. It categorizes articles into three types: definite (the), indefinite (a/an), and zero article (no article used). Each type is further elaborated with examples and rules regarding their usage in different contexts.

Uploaded by

jawadmalikzai12
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Article

The word Article comes from the Latin word


Articules which means joint. And the word
Article is also called noun marker.

Definition: Article is a word which shows


that whether we are talking about a noun
specifically or generally.
Or : Article is a word which limits nouns.
Exp: A boy / the boy.
Kinds of Article
 We have three kinds of Article according to
function.

 A. Definite Article (the)

 B. Indefinite Article ( a/an)

 C. Zero Article (nouns without. a/an/the)


Definite Article
(The)
1. The=you know which one (s)

We use definite article before a noun when our listeners or reader


knows which particular person (s), thing (s)…etc we are talking
about.

Example:
 Did you lock the car? (The listener know very well which car is meant)

The listener or reader may know which one (s) we mean because:

a. We have mentioned it / them before


 Laila has two children: a boy and a girl. The boy is 12 and the girl is 7.
Continued……
b. We say which one (s) we mean
 Who is the boy over there with Ali?
 What did you do with the book I have lent you?

c. It is clear from the situation which one (s) we mean


 Could you close the door? (only one door is open)
 Did you enjoy the party?
 She is in the kitchen.
Continued……
2. the=the only one (s) around
The listener may know which one (s) we mean because there is no choice we are
talking about something unique, like the sun or something that is at least
unique in our environment, like the Government, the police.
 I haven’t seen the sun for days.
 The moon The stars The planets….etc
 The Japanese (There is only one Japanese nation.)

This use of the (to show that there is no choice) is possible even when we are
talking about somebody / something that the listener knows nothing about.

 Have you ever heard about the royal family in Afghanistan?


Continued……
3. Physical environment
The is also used with a number of expressions refering to our physical
environment(the world around us an its climate) or to other common features
of our lives. The use of the suggests that everybody is familiar with what we
are talking about.
Examples:
the town the mountains the fog the country
the rain the weather the universe the sea
the wind the night the sunshine the seaside
Continued……
4. Superlatives

Will be discussed in the coming lessons


Continued……
5. Things in general
we usually use no article, not the, to talk about things in general the does
not mean all.

Example:
Books are expensive (not The books are expensive)
Continued……
6. Pronunciation
The is pronounced /ði:/ before a vowel and /ðƏ:/ before a consonant sound
Compare:

/ði:/ /ðƏ:/
the ice the snow

the hour the university


Indefinite Article (a/an)
Indefinite articles (a/an) are used to show
or talk about indefinite person, place, or
thing.

Examples:
He saw a boy.
I went to a village.
I have a book.
Uses of a, an, the.
a/ an : are mostly .used when a new
object or person is being introduced and
the speaker assumes that the hearer is not
yet familiar with this object or person.
Exp: There is a woman who lives in a
village.

The : is used to refer to an object or person


that has previously introduced.
Exp: I saw a car. The car that I saw was
nice.
a/an : are used only with singular countable
nouns.
 A- is used with singular nouns begin with a consonant
sound.
 An- is used with singular nouns begin with a vowel
sound.
 Ex. A boy,/an umbrella,/ an urban,/ a university, /an
egg, /a horse, /an hour.

 The : is used with singular and plural countable


nouns and uncountable nouns and it is used with nouns
begin with vowel sound or consonant sound.
 Ex. The boy, / the orange,/ the milk,/ the oil.
a/ an: cannot be used with proper
nouns, but the can be used with titles (Mr,
Mrs, Ms, Miss) plus family names to talk
about an indefinite person.
Exp: A Mr Smith. / A Mr Khan…

The: is used with surnames (family names)


to mean the whole family not a definite
person.
Exp: The Smiths, / The Logans.
a/an; are used to talk about the job of someone.
 Ex. Sara is a nurse.
Ali is an engineer.

 The : is used with geographical words (general


words) to mean that everyone is familiar with about what
we are talking.
 Ex. The sky,/ the stars,/ the city,/ the country….

 a/an : can be used with geographical words to means that


the listeners are not familiar with about what we are talking.
Ex. A city, / a star, / a state, / an ocean…
The : we use (The + singular nouns) to
represent a group of animals or people.
Ex. The man invented great things.
(group of men who invented great
things)
The shark is dangerous. (all the shark
fish)
Note:we use (the) before some certain
adjectives , which represent a general class
of people.

Ex. There are many rich people in


Jalalabad.
All the rich of Jalalabad are stingy.

the poor, / the sick, /the blind, / the


old….
Zero Article
The use of nouns without an article is
known as zero article.
Ex. Ahmad is a student. (proper nouns)
Friday is a holy day. (days, months,
seasons)
soccer is a game. (names of
sports)
The school and school
1. We use school without (the) to say that
we are not thinking about a particular
school. We are thinking about a school in
general.

Ex. Sara goes to school.


Sahil is at school.

2. we use (The school) to say that we are


thinking about a particular school.

+

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