ARTICLES
There are two kinds of articles: definite and indefinite articles. “The” is called the definite article. “An/a” is called the indefinite article.
A.INDEFINITE ARTICLES
1. The use of “a/an”
♫ “a” is used before a word beginning with a consonant, or a vowel with consonant
Sound.
Examples : a man, a hat, a university, a European reputation, a one-way street.
♫ “ an” is used before words beginning with a vowel (a,e,i,o,u) or words beginning with a mute “h”.
Examples : an apple, an island, an uncle, an hour etc.
♫ “an” is also used before words with individual letter with a vowel sound.
Examples : an L-plate, an SMP, an SMA student, an SOS etc.
♫ “a/an” is used before a singular noun which is uncountable.
Examples : - I need a visa.
- They live in a flat.
- He bought an apple.
♫ “a/an” is used with a noun complement. This include names of profession.
Examples : - It was an earthquake.
- She’ll be a dancer.
- He is an actor.
♫ “a/an” is used in a certain expression of quantity.
Examples : a lot of, a couple etc.
2. Omission of “a/an”
♫ “a/an” is not used before plural nouns. So, the plural form of a cat is cats and of an egg is eggs.
♫ “a/an” is not used before uncountable nouns.
Examples : watere, milk etc.
♫ “a/an” is not used the names of meals, except when they are preceded by an adjectives.
Examples : - We have breakfast at eight.
- He gave us a good breakfast.
B. DEFINITE ARTICLES
- The use of “the”
♫ The is used for the singular and plural and for all genders.
Examples : the boy, the girl, the days, the toys etc.
♫ “the” is used when the object or group of objects is unique or considered to be
Unique.
Examples : the sea, the sky, the stars etc.
♫ “the” is used before a noun which has become definite or as a result of being
Mentioned a second time.
Examples : - This car strucks a tree, you can still see the mark on the tree.
♫ “the” is used before the superlative degree and words such as only, first,
Second etc.
Examples : the first week, the best day, the only way.
♫ “the” is used before adjectives represents the class itself.
Examples : - the old = old people in general.
- the lion is a wild animal.
♫ “ the” is used before certain proper names of seas, rivers, group of islands etc.
Examples : the Atlantic, the Thames, the Netherlands, etc.
♫ “the” ia also used before dertain other names.
Examples ; the City, the Mall, the Sudan, the Yemen, etc.
♫ “ the” is used before other proper names consisting of adjectives + noun or
Noun + of + noun.
Examples : the National Gallery, the Tower of London.
♫ “the” is used before names for familiar persons or objects in the home and the
Community.
Examples : He walked into the house and hung his coat in the closet.
♫ As she was strolling along the steert she looked at the clothes un the store
Windows.
- The Omission of “the”
The definite article is not used :
- before names of games.
Examples : He plays golf
He plays tennis.
