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Indefinite article a/an in English (the indefinite article) has two forms:
a[ə] - used before consonants. That is, if a word begins with a consonant, use a:
a b ook, a t able, a m an a g irl a c computer, a t omato, a yacht [ jɒt], a unit [ ˈj uːnɪt]
an[ən] - used before vowels. That is, if a word begins with a vowel sound, use an:
an a pple, an e ngineer, an i dea, an o range an a nswer, an hour [ˈ aʊə(r)]
Please note that the choice of the form of the indefinite article is determined not by spelling, but by pronunciation.For example, the word hour starts with a vowel sound, so we use the article an (an hour), although the first letter in writing is a consonant h. Or, for example, the word yacht (yacht) written with a vowel y, but the consonant sound [j] is pronounced, so we choose a (a yacht). Using different forms of the same article helps make speech harmonious, easy, and natural. Try to pronounce an apple or an book, and you will feel how difficult and uncomfortable it is.
Remember:
Indefinite article a/an used only with singular:a pen(pen), a story(story), a chair(chair), a child(child), a flower(flower)
If the noun is used in the plural form, then there is no indefinite article. The absence of an article before a noun is usually called the "zero article".
pens(pens), stories(stories), chairs(chairs), children(children), flowers(flowers)
When to use the indefinite article a/an
Below you will find a description of the main uses of the indefinite article a/an in English.
№1
Indefinite article a/an used when we first mention an object or person. In this case, we assume that our interlocutor does not know what or who exactly we are talking about.
Yesterday I bought a handbag. — Yesterday I bought a handbag.
Up until this point, I hadn’t even talked about how I was going to buy a bag. That is, I mention this for the first time (my interlocutor knows nothing about this bag), hence the indefinite article a/an.
If you continue to talk about this bag, then the noun handbag (bag) will already be used with the definite article the, since this time the interlocutor knows which specific bag we are talking about:
Yesterday I bought a handbag. The handbag is very beautiful. — Yesterday I bought a handbag. The handbag is very beautiful.
Although most often a personal pronoun is used instead of a noun, it sounds more natural and avoids repetition:
Yesterday I bought a handbag. It is very beautiful. — Yesterday I bought a handbag. She is very beautiful.
№2
Indefinite article a/an is used when we are not talking about a given (specific) object or person, but simply about any, some, one of a group of the same objects or people. In other words, when we talk about an object or person in general, without having a specific one in mind skirt, work, handle or dog:
I want to buy a skirt. — I want to buy a skirt. (some kind of skirt, I don’t know which one yet; I only know that I want a skirt, not a dress)
He refused to look for a job. — He refused to look for work. (some kind of work)
Give me a pen, please. - Give me a pen, please. (any, any)
It is a dog. - This is a dog. (some dog, any dog)
When we are not talking about a specific object or person, but about anyone, then further, if we need to re-designate it, we do not use personal pronouns or the definite article the. And again we use the indefinite article a/an or pronoun one.
She wants a car but he says they don’t need one. “She wants a car, but he says they don’t need it.”
or
She wants a car but he says they don’t need a car. — She wants a car, but he says they don’t need a car.
She wants to have a car (not a motorcycle, not a bicycle, but some kind of car, so a car), but he says that they don’t need a car (they don’t need any car at all, not just a specific one). Since in the second part of the sentence we are again talking about any / indefinite machine, we again use a car.
№3
Indefinite article a/an we also use it to describe or give any information about something that has already been mentioned earlier. In this case, an adjective is often used before the noun. Please note that although the article comes before an adjective, it refers to a noun:
It is a beautiful place. - This is a beautiful place. (describe what this place is)
He is a clever boy. - He's a smart boy. (we characterize what kind of boy he is)
Do you live in a big house? — Do you live in a big house? (we ask which house)
When we talk about a person’s profession or work, we also use the indefinite article a/an:
She is a teacher. - She is a teacher.
I am a doctor. - I am a doctor.
№4
Historically indefinite article a/an came from the numeral one (one). Hence the possibility in some cases to replace the article a/an numeral one. Such a replacement is possible when the article a/an essentially means "one". For example, this meaning of the indefinite article is observed in numerals a hundred (one hundred), a thousand (thousand), a million (million) and in the word a dozen (dozen) when they are used independently or before a noun:
This toy costs a thousand roubles. = This toy costs one thousan d roubles. — This toy costs a thousand rubles (one thousand rubles).
Give me a dozen, please. = Give me one dozen, please. - Give me a dozen, please (one dozen).
It is precisely with the origin from the numeral one (one) and the meaning of the singularity of the indefinite article is associated, which is especially evident when expressing measures of time, distance, weight or quantity:
This chocolate bar costs a dollar. — This chocolate bar costs a dollar. (=one dollar, we can replace a dollar on one dollar)
I'll call you in an hour. - I'll call you in an hour. (=in one hour, we can replace an hour on one hour)
Can I have a kilo of tomatoes, please? — Can I have a kilogram of tomatoes, please? (=one kilogram, we can replace a kilo on one kilo)
Please note that the numeral one instead of an article a/an should only be used when you want to emphasize that you are talking about just one thing or person, that is, when you want to be very precise:
I have got one sister. - I have one sister. (not two sisters, not three, but only one)
I have got a sister. - I have a sister. (in this case I just say that I have a sister)
The meaning of the singularity of the indefinite article can be seen in some stable phrases that convey the one-time action:
have a look- take a look
have a snack- have a snack
have a try- try, try
have a rest- relax
have a good time- have a good time
give a chance- give a chance
give a hint- hint
give a lift- give me a ride
make a mistake- make a mistake
play a trick- play a trick
№5
Indefinite article a/an also used when it is necessary to indicate the quantity per unit of measurement. For example, when we talk about the price of oranges per kilogram, the amount of wages per month, the number of classes per week, or the speed of a car per hour. A noun denoting this same unit of measurement will be used with the indefinite article.
The oranges were 80 rubles a kilo. — Oranges cost 80 rubles per kilogram.
She works 8 hours a day. — She works 8 hours a day.
I go to aerobics twice a week. — I go to aerobics twice a week.
№6
Indefinite article a/an can also be used with some uncountable abstract nouns (for example, humor - humor, hatred - hatred, anger - anger, magic - magic) in the case when they have an adjective with them. Typically, such use of the indefinite article is characteristic of book style and expresses the author’s desire to emphasize the individual, special character of this or that abstract concept.
Please note that in the above case, the use of the indefinite article is optional. If you do not want to highlight in a certain way the special character of any emotion, character trait, etc., the article a/an may not be used.
On a note
To learn to use the indefinite article a/an more or less automatically, try to form a rule in your head: use the indefinite article with singular countable nouns when there is no other reason for using the definite article the or some other determiner (possessive or indefinite pronoun).
Greetings, my dear readers.
I know I usually start somewhere else, but today I have a task for you right away. I want you to look at these sentences and tell me what the difference is.
Tommy sat down on a chair while waiting for his turn.- Tom sat down on a chair while he waited his turn.
Tommy sat on the chair nearest to the door while waiting for his turn.- Tom sat down on the chair closest to the door while he waited his turn.
You have probably already noticed that the difference is in the very articles and the meanings that they carry. And yes, my dears, today an exciting journey awaits us, where there will be an important topic for you and me - articles in English. I will tell you the basic rules, give you many examples, both for children and adults. I also immediately give you links to and on the topic of articles.
What is it and what is it used for?
Let's define it right away: article- this is what should always come before a noun. He, to put it very roughly, defines the noun so that we can better understand what is being said.
What are they and what are they used with?
There are three of them in total: a, an and the.
And their use depends on what noun follows. There are two types of nouns in English:
- Countable- those that we can count. For example:
Pen
Earring - earring
- Uncountable- those that we cannot count. For example:
Sugar - sugar
Water - water
To understand when articles are used, we also need to remember that nouns are singular (diamond - diamond) or plural (diamonds - diamonds).
And now, to make it absolutely clear to you, here you go table with examples where you can clearly see where and with what they are used.
Brother "a"
This article also bears the not at all proud name “ uncertain » ( ). This is because it is usually placed in front of objects, of which there are many all over the world. And it is used only with nouns that can be counted, and even then if they are singular. That is, if there is a lot of something, and you need to mention one thing, you need to use this particular article. Let's look at examples:
This morning I bought a magazine.- This morning I bought a magazine. (Not a specific magazine, but one that was in the store).
I had a sandwich for lunch.- I had a sandwich for lunch. (Just one sandwich).
My sister has got a job. - My sister got a job. (One of the existing works all over the world).
By the way, the article “a” has a small, modest brother who appears quite rarely - before words starting with vowels. This is "an". His goal is the same, so don’t be afraid - you won’t get confused.
I've got an apple and an orange with me. - I have an apple and an orange with me.
Brother "the"
The article the, also called definite , is used when we know the subject that will be discussed. Next to it, countable and uncountable nouns, both singular and plural, coexist calmly ( You can find out more about him).
In addition, it is very often used with place names and set expressions that you just need to learn. But it is important to remember that everywhere, including in the names of places, there are exceptions, which we will study separately ( Come in to find out about it).
Rosy doesn't feel well. She went to the doctor. - Rosie doesn't feel well. She went to the doctor. (To the doctor she usually goes to).
Did Molly get the job she applied for?- Did Molly get the job she applied for? (Exactly the job she applied for).
When is he not there at all?
OK then,- you say. - When these articles are used, we understand. But we don’t always use only them!
And here you will be right, because the English language has prepared a little test for us and created cases where the article is not needed at all. And this phenomenon even got its name - zero article. Its use is mainly associated with exceptions to the previous rules. Or if we use in speech proper names(Tom, Mary, Ritha) or any concepts in general.
Apples grow on the trees.- Apples grow on trees. (In general, all apples as a species).
Tom bought a bike.- Tom bought himself a motorcycle. (The article is not placed before proper names.)
There are also situations when you don’t need to put anything in front of a noun. It happens after pronouns(my, our, his, this, that, etc.).
By the way, my dears, after completing the lesson with the rules, never forget to practice. I have something for you that will help you secure the new material for a long time. You can also, which will help you remember the rules for using articles for a long time. Of course, articles are not the simplest rules for children, be it 2nd grade or 8th grade. And adults usually suffer with them too. But with my help, I hope you can figure them out faster.
Don't forget that you can receive news from my blog much faster by simply subscribing to the newsletter. Be the first to know about all important events.
The topic of articles in English is one of the most difficult for a Russian-speaking person. This lesson will help you deal with 99% of the difficulties when using articles.
Basic Rules
Indefinite article
A/an used when "we don't know which one" because the thing or person:
- One of many.
He's an artist.(= there are many artists, he is one of them) - not unique.
I"ve just bought a Ferrari. - not mentioned before.
There was a new student in class today.
Definite article
The used when "we know which one" because the thing or person:
- unique (or unique in a given context).
The Australian Prime Minister(= he is the only one)
I looked inside - the engine was in a terrible state.(in this case, there is only one engine) - mentioned earlier.
The man gave me a ticket. I looked at it, and saw that the ticket was a single. - is determined by the phrase that follows it.
What's the new student's name?
No article / Zero article
Articles are not used when talking about something All in all:
- using uncountable nouns or plural nouns.
Do you like sport? - with names of people and places, but there are many exceptions (see below)
a book by Professor Jones
Fixed phrases
There are many fixed phrases that are used with and without articles. You just need to remember them. For example:
at home, at work, at the beginning, at the end, go to bed, go to the cinema/shops/station, in the world, once a week, sixty kilometers an hour, the other day, the same etc.
There may be problems with
Work (who doesn't have problems with it? :)
If there are many people doing a particular job, use a/an
My husband is an architect.(= there are many architects, he is one of them)
But if the work is typical for only one person, it is used the .
He is having conversations with the French foreign minister.(= he is the only one)
In general, everything here complies with the basic rules.
Superlative
The used for superlative adjectives.
She's the best person for the job.
last and next
These adjectives can be used with articles the , and without it, but with a difference in meaning.
I saw James last night.(= night before this night, previous)
It's the last night of our holiday.(= last night)
I"ll see you next week. (= next behind the current one)
Institutions: school, prison, university, church, home, hospital
With words school, prison, university, church, home, hospital, etc., the article is not used when we think of them as institutions intended for a specific purpose (study, get treatment, etc.)
My sister had to stay in hospital overnight.
However, if we think of a building as a physical object, the article is used the .
Our flat is opposite the hospital.
Use of definite articles with marks of time and place
Time notation
The used in
Dates: the 25th of December / December the 25th
Parts of the day: in the afternoon, in the evening, in the morning(But at night, at lunchtime)
Decades/Centuries: the 1980s, the 21st century
Other tenses are used without an article.
Years/Seasons: in 2002, in summer
Months/Days: in August, on Friday, see you tomorrow
Place names
- Most names of roads, streets, parks, bridges, shops and restaurants Not use articles.
Central Park, Harrods, Oxford Street, Tower Bridge - The names of theaters, cinemas, hotels, galleries and museums use the article the
.
the Hermitage, the National Theatre, the Odeon, the Ritz - The names of rare mountains and lakes are used without article
Lake Victoria, Mount Everest - Mountain systems, rivers, seas and canals are used with the article the
.
the Atlantic, the(River) Danube, the Himalayas, the Panama Canal
The names of countries, continents, islands, states, provinces, cities are used without articles.
in Asia, to Sydney, from Texas, in Turkey
Exceptions:
the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, the UK, the Arab World, the USA
When talking about any area, use the article Not need to.
North west India, Northern Europe
But:
in the east of the country, in the south of Italy, on the coast
Additionally, it is highly recommended that you complete Lessons 76 -78 of this English Grammar section (if you have not already done so).
Now let's test your General Knowledge.
Texts for this lesson Not belong to the "Beginners" category, so if you have difficulty completing them, then you can limit yourself to only the theory of this lesson, applying it to texts of your level.
Exercise 1. Complete the General Knowledge test with the correct articles.
Exercise 2. Fill in the correct articles in place of the blanks.
Count how many correct answers you got in % (there were 50 answers in total). If it is less than 80%, then you have not mastered the topic of articles. Consult the theoretical part of the lesson when learning English, and when you feel confident, return to these exercises again.
Exercise 3. Correct errors, if any, in the sentences. (there is no need to rewrite the entire sentence).
She was determined to be author one day.
She recently became the minister in the new government.
A: What make is your computer? B: It's Mac.
I found myself talking to George Clooney! Not George Clooney, of course, but someone with the same name.
I didn't even know Clara was interested in art until I heard that she owns Van Gogh.
I"ve been offered the position of Director of Personnel.
We're going on holiday with Nielsens.
He's really keen on athletics. He likes to think of himself as the Usain Bolt.
In English - unlike Russian - special words - articles - are widely used. The article and the rules for its use in English are presented below in examples to facilitate the perception of the necessary material. In English there are two articles: the definite the and uncertain a (an) . The article is generally placed only before nouns. The indefinite article applies exclusively to singular countable nouns, but the definite article can be applied to various singular and plural nouns, whether they are countable or not.
First, let's remember in what cases the article is not used. The article is not used if the noun is preceded by (one, two, six, etc), a possessive or (this, that, my, our etc.), another noun in the possessive case (my father's, Mary's etc.), or the negation “no” (Not not!). Examples:
- My room is not big, but comfortable - My room is small but comfortable.
- There are two boys in the yard - there are two boys in the yard.
- I have no brother - I don’t have a brother.
Google shortcode
Note: if a noun in the possessive case functions as an adjective, the use of an article is possible, for example: Paul is a man's name(male name). Paula is a woman's name(female name). It's a children's bicycle(children bicycle).
The article is not used with uncountable nouns denoting an indefinite amount of substance or an abstract concept:
- I don’t like tea, I prefer coffee. — I don’t like tea, I prefer coffee ( Tea coffee- at all)
- Friendship is one of the most important things in my life. — Friendship is one of the most important things in my life (friendship is an abstract concept)
The article is not used with names of sports:
- I am fond of football, and my sister prefers badminton. — I love football, and my sister prefers badminton.
Also, the article is not used with proper names (except for some geographical names, which will be discussed below).
Indefinite article "a"
The indefinite article is “a” / “an” - this is not an independent article, but a form of the indefinite that is used before nouns that begin with a vowel sound: an apple, an orange.
- The forms a and an are remnants of the Old English word for "one", so The indefinite article is used only with singular nouns.
The indefinite article is used in the following cases:
- When the item is mentioned for the first time. For example, I live in a house.
- When designating a profession or occupation. For example, She is a teacher. My friend is a student.
- After: This is, That is, It is, There is. For example, This is a computer. There is a rose in the vase.
- If an adjective characterizing it is used with a noun, in such cases the article is placed before the adjective. Example: This is a flower. This is a red flower.
- Remember the use of the indefinite article in sentences of the following type
- What a beautiful color!
- What a tasty cake!
- What a good girl!
The definite article "the"
The definite article is used in the following cases:
- If we are talking about a specific subject that we have already talked about, or we understand from the context what we are talking about. For example, Yesterday I saw a film. The film was not interesting.
- With items that are one of a kind - Thesun, thewind, themoontheearth
- After . For example, There is a cat in front of the monitor.
- C – the smallest – the smallest, the quickest – the fastest
- C, for example: the first book, the fifth floor (BUT: if the ordinal number indicates a number, the article is not used: Lesson 7, Bus 15, page 45)
- With cardinal directions: In the north; in the south; in the east; in the west
- With the surname - if we are talking about the whole family - the Ivanovs - Ivanovs, the Smiths - Smiths
- In stable phrases: In the morning; in the evening; in the afternoon; to the cinema/theatre; to the shop/market; at the cinema/the theater; at the shop/the market
Definite article with geographical names
The definite article must be used with the following geographical names:
- seas - the Black Sea, the Baltic Sea
- oceans - the Pacific ocean
- rivers - the Voilga, the Nile
- channels – the English Channel
- bays, straits - the Gulf of Mexico, the Bosphorus Straits
- archipelagos - the Seichelles
- deserts - the Sahara, the Gobi
- mountain ranges - the Alps
- countries, if the name contains the word Republic, Federation, Kingdom, it is in the plural (t he Netherlands) or abbreviated as (the USA, the UK)
The article is not used with the names of countries, lakes, mountains (peaks), islands, cities, continents, streets, squares, airports. Exceptions:
- theGambia— Gambia,
- the Hague - The Hague
The definite article is also used with the names of hotels, cinemas, theaters, newspapers and magazines.
We have reflected the basic rules for using the article. There are many nuances, and the scope of one article does not allow mentioning everything. But we have prepared another video lesson about some difficult cases of using the article:
We hope that the above will help you understand articles in English and use them correctly in your speech, but do not forget that repetition is the mother of learning, do not be lazy to revise the rules as often as possible.
27.11.2014
An article is a word that defines a noun.
There are two types of articles in English: the definite (the) and the indefinite (a/an).
Based on the names, the indefinite article is used when we are talking about a phenomenon that we encounter for the first time, an object in general, and the definite article is used when we are talking about something specific, or something that has already been encountered in a conversation.
The concept of the article is present in many languages of the world, but in the same number of languages it is absent.
Therefore, do not panic if articles are not used in your native language.
The data will help you make fewer mistakes when speaking English.
It is very important to be able to use the correct articles in your speaking or writing.
1. With the names of countries and continents
In this case we do not use articles at all, BUT if the name of the country consists of parts, such as, USA, UK, UAE, then our article appears the, and it will be: the USA, the UK, the UAE, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands.
This also applies to continents and islands: usually we do not use the article, but if the name is a composite name, the definite article takes place.
For example: Africa, Europe, Bermuda, Tasmania BUT the Virgin Islands, the Bahamas.
- She lived in America.
- They live in England.
- My friend is from the Czech Republic.
2. With the words breakfast, dinner, lunch
When talking about eating in general, there is no article. But if you're talking about a specific breakfast, dinner or lunch, use the.
Eg:
- I don't eat breakfast.
- We didn't like the dinner.
3. With names of work, profession
In this case the indefinite article is used a/an.
For example:
- I want to be a politician.
- My younger brother wants to be a vet.
4. With the names of the cardinal points
Usually the names of the cardinal directions are written with a capital letter, so they are easy to recognize: the North, the South, the East, the West .
True, if a noun indicates a direction, then it should be used without an article and written with a small letter.
For example:
- They went east.
- The North is cooler than the South.
5. With the names of oceans, seas, rivers and canals
Remember that the definite article is always used with the names of these bodies of water.
For example: The Amazon, the Indian Ocean, the Red Sea, the Suez Canal .
- I would like to swim in the Red Sea, and you?
- The Amazon is the longest river in the world.
6. With names of unique phenomena
This means that a phenomenon or object exists in one copy, one of a kind, in particular, the sun, the moon, the inter net , the sky , the earth.
Eg:
- The sun is a star.
- We looked up at all the stars in the sky.
- He is always on the internet.
7. With uncountable nouns
This category of nouns implies those units and concepts that we cannot count. Plus, as an identifying mark in most cases, they have no ending –s– plural indicator.
But do not forget that there are ten exceptions to one rule, that is, if you are talking in general about some uncountable concept, there will be no article, but again, if the case is particular, use the.
For example:
- I like bread/milk/honey.
- I like the bread/the milk/the honey. (Specifically this and nothing else.)
8. With last names
If we are talking about members of the same family, you can put the article the before the surname. This way you define a group of people, a family, in one word.
Eg:
- The Smith are coming for dinner today.
- Have you seen the Johnson recently?
These are not all the uses of articles in English. However, first remember these rules, gradually deepening your knowledge
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