Article

ARTICLES

          Articles are words that are combined with nouns that serves to limit or modify the noun. Articles are divided into two definite and indefinite. The words the, a and an are called articles.

1.     Definite Articles

The is used in definite Articles  The use on a specific thing (or have been clearly explained earlier) include: person, thing or idea.

a.     Use the definite article the to indicate a specific singular or plural noun. Ex : I ate the apple in my lunch. (not just any apple, but that one)

b.     Use a definite article to indicate a class or kind of object by a singular noun. Ex : The cat is a nocturnal animal. (This refers to the entire species, not just one specific cat.)

c.      Use a definite article before the names of rivers, oceans, and seas. Ex : The Atlantic Ocean contains many fish.

d.     Use a definite article for expressions of time that do not name a specific time, day, or month. Ex : Birds sing in the morning.

e.      The word was used before countable noun (noun can be counted. Ex: This is a cat. The cat is brown.

  

2.     Indefinite Articles

A or an used on indefinite Articles. A and an used in a way that is not specific or have not been described previously, include: person, thing or idea. Usually used to describe something the first time in writing the text.

a.     Use the indefinite articles, a and an, to indicate non-specific, singular and countable nouns. Ex : I ate an apple. (no specific apple)

b.     "A" indefinite Articles used before words beginning with a consonant sound, or before words beginning with the sound of y or w.  ex : a university, a hand, a one-eyed man.

c.      Use the indefinite article a before words beginning with h if the h sound is pronounced. Ex : A history, A hundred dollars

d.     Use the indefinite article a to mean “each”. Ex : I paid eighty dollars a pair for my shoes.

e.      Use the indefinite article an before words in which the first sound is a vowel sound. Ex : An academy, An element an idea

f.       Use the indefinite article an before words beginning with a silent h. Ex  : An hour, An heir

g.     The word is only used before singular countable noun (singular nouns can be counted)

3.     Zero Articles

a.     Basic uses of the zero article ( Æ )

We often use no articles at all ( zero ) in English where some other languages use the :

a)        In front of plural countable nouns

Ex : People à women need better pay.

            Animalsà cats don’t like cold weather.

b)       In front of uncountable nouns ( always singular )

Ex : activitiesà Swimming is good for you.

             Abstract à Life is short.

c)        In front of most proper nouns ( names spelt with a capital letter)

Ex : Fritz weber lives in Berlin.

            This was made by Jackson and Son.

b.     The zero article with names and titles

a)     We do not normally use articles in front of proper nouns ( John, London, etc)

b)    We use a surname or first name + surname after Mr, Mrs, Miss and Ms. ( Mr. john, Mrs. John, etc )

c)     We abbreviate Doctor to Dr in writing and use a surname after it. ( I’m Dr. John )

d)    In British English Madam and Sir can be used as forms of address.

e)     We can say Uncle and Auntie ( but “Cousin or Sister” ) to address our relations.

f)      Major and professor can be use with names or on their own.

g)     Nurse and sometimes Sister can be used as forms of address for nurses.

c.      Zero article for parts of the day ( at dawn ) and for meals (for lunch)

a)     Parts of the day and night : we use no article when we refer to parts of the day and night. Ex : at dawn/daybreak/at sunrise/sunset/noon/night/by day, etc.

b)    Meals :we use no article with words like : breakfast, lunch, tea, dinner, supper. Ex : Dinner is served. He’s at lunch.

d.     Zero article for e.g. “She’s at school” and “He’s in hospital”

a)     We use no article in front of nouns like school and hospital in phrases like to school, at school, in hospital when we are referring to their normal purpose : John’s in hospital.

b)    We use the or a/an with these nouns when we are not referring to their purpose. Ex : there’s a meeting at the school.

c)     Nouns which are not part of this special group behave in usual way. Ex : they are  at the mosque. (perhaps to pray)

e.      Zero article or “the” with place names

a)     General rule : we use no article with proper nouns, so this includes place name, but there is some variation. We use the with the words bay, canal, channel, gulf, kingdom, ocean, republic, river, sea, strait(s), union, united.

b)    Zero for : countries ( Turkey), states (Ohio), cities (Paris), streets (Oxford Street), parks (Hyde Park), addresses (24 North Street), buildings (Westminster Abbey), geographical areas (Africa), historical references (Ancient Rome), mountains (Everest), island (Malta).

c)     The for : some countries ( the USA, the USSR , some geographical areas (the Arctic, the Balkans), some historical references (the Dark Ages), oceans and rivers ( the Pacific, the River Nile) mountain ranges (the Alps, the Himalayas), deserts (the Sahara, the Gobi).

d)    Zero or the : theaters (Her Majesty’s/The Globe), hotels (Brown’s/the Hilton), restaurant ( Leoni’s/the Café Royal), hospital (Guy’s/the London Hospital)

Practice exercises definite articles

Correct the article errors in the following sentences.

1.        Many students in the Physics have to study very hard.

2.        At  the night, all patrons must wear the shirts and the ties in the restaurant.

3.        Be sure that you study night before exam.

4.        Many students eat the Kraft Dinner.

5.        One of best recent inventions has been the computer

Answers

1.        Many students in the Physics have to study very hard.

2.        At the night, all patrons must wear the shirts and the ties in the restaurant.

3.        Be sure that you study the night before the / an exam.

4.        Many students eat the Kraft Dinner.

5.        One of the best recent inventions has been the computer.

Practice exercises indefinite articles

1.     Robert and Jessica went to party last night.

2.     She has apple every morning for breakfast.

3.     She has very fat dog.

4.     Do you want to play game?

5.     Seattle is city in the United States.

Answer

1.     Robert and Jessica went to(a)party last night.

2.     She has (an) apple every morning for breakfast

3.     She has (a)very fat dog.

4.     Do you want to play (a) game?

5.     Seattle is (a) city in the United States.

Practice exercises zero articles

1.     I love Chilean food!  

2.     I always wanted to visit England.

3.     John’s in hospital.

4.     Blue  is my favorite color.

5.     He’s at launch

Answer

1.     I love (-)Chilean food!  

2.     I always wanted to visit(-) England.

3.     John’s in (-) hospital.

4.     Blue  is (-) my favorite color.

5.     He’s at (-) launch.