Articles Lesson 1
English has two types of articles: definite (the)
and indefinite (a,
an.) The use of these articles depends mainly on whether you are referring
to any member of a group, or to a specific member of a group:
A and an signal that
the noun modified is indefinite, referring to any member of a group.
These indefinite articles are used with singular nouns when the noun is general;
the corresponding indefinite quantity word some is used for plural
general nouns. The rule is:
- a +
singular noun beginning with a consonant: a boy
- an +
singular noun beginning with a vowel: an elephant
- a +
singular noun beginning with a consonant sound: a user (sounds
like 'yoo-zer,' i.e.
begins with a consonant 'y' sound, so 'a' is used)
- some +
plural noun: some girls
If the noun is modified by an adjective, the choice between a and an depends on the initial sound of the adjective that immedately follows
the article:
- a broken egg
- an unusual problem
- a European country (sounds like 'yer-o-pi-an,'
i.e. begins with consonant 'y' sound)
Note also that in English, the indefinite articles are used
to indicate membership in a profession, nation, or religion.
- I am a teacher.
- Brian is an Irishman.
- Seiko is a practicing
Buddhist.
2. Definite Article: the
The definite article is used before singular and plural nouns
when the noun is particular or specific. The signals that the
noun is definite, that it refers to a particular member of a group.
Compare the indefinite and definite articles in the following examples:
|
|
Indefinite (a or an) |
Definite (the) |
|
Singular |
a dog (any dog) |
the dog (that specific dog) |
|
Plural |
some dogs (any dogs) |
the dogs (those specific dogs) |
The is not used with
uncountable nouns referring to something in a general sense:
[no article]
Coffee is a popular drink.
[no article] Japanese was his native language.
[no article] Intelligence is difficult to quantify.
The is used with uncountable
nouns that are made more specific by a limiting modifying phrase or clause:
The coffee in my cup is too hot to drink.
The Japanese he speaks is often heard in the countryside.
The intelligence of animals is variable but undeniable.
The is also used when
a noun refers to something unique:
the White House
the theory of relativity
the 1999 federal budget
Note: Geographical uses of the
Do not use the before:
- names of countries
(
- names of cities,
towns, or states (
- names of streets (
- names of lakes
and bays (Lake Titicaca, Lake Erie) except with a group of lakes
like the
- names of mountains
(Mount Everest, Mount Fuji) except with ranges of mountains like
the Andes or the Rockies or unusual names like the
- names of continents
(Asia,
- names of islands
(Easter Island, Maui,
Do use the before:
- names of rivers,
oceans and seas (the
- points on the
globe (the Equator, the North Pole)
- geographical
areas (the
- deserts, forests,
gulfs, and peninsulas (the Sahara, the Persian Gulf, the Black Forest,
the
Further Uses of Articles
In addition, use of a, an, and the also
depends on whether the noun following the article possesses one of these
paired qualities:
1. Let's revisit Countable vs. Uncountable
A and an are
used if the noun can be counted.
|
I stepped in a puddle.
(How many puddles did you step in? Just one. Therefore, use a.) |
|
|
I drank a glass of milk.
(Glasses of milk can be counted) |
|
|
I saw an apple tree.
(Apple trees can be counted) |
|
The must be used when the noun cannot be counted.
|
I dove into the water.
(How many waters did you dive into? The question doesn't make any
sense because water is uncountable. Therefore, use the.) |
|
|
I saw the milk spill.
(How many milks? Milk cannot be counted) |
|
|
I admired the foliage.
(How many foliages? Foliage cannot be counted) |
|
2. First vs. Subsequent Mention
A or an is
used to introduce a noun when it is mentioned for the first time in a piece
of writing. The is used afterward
each time you mention that same noun.
An awards ceremony at the Kremlin would not normally have attracted so
much attention. But when it was leaked that Soviet President Konstantin Chernenko would be presenting
medals to three cosmonauts, interest in the ceremony intensified. Time,
Sept. 17, 1984.
Note: There is and there are can
be used to introduce an indefinite noun at the beginning of a paragraph or
essay.
There is a robin in the tree outside my window. When my cat jumps
up on the desk, the robin flies away.
3. General vs. Specific
A, an, and the can
all be used to indicate that a noun refers to the whole class to which individual countable nouns belong.
This use of articles is called generic, from the Latin word meaning "class."
A tiger is a dangerous animal. (any individual
tiger)
The tiger is a dangerous animal. (all tigers: tiger as
a generic category)
The difference between the indefinite a and an and
the generic a and an is that the former means
any one member of a class while the latter means all of the members of a
class.
The omission of articles also expresses a generic (or general)
meaning:
no article with a plural noun: Tigers are dangerous animals. (all tigers)
no article with a uncountable noun: Anger is a destructive emotion.
(any kind of anger)
Omission of Articles
While some nouns combine with one article or the other based
on whether they are countable or uncountable, others simply never take either
article. Some common types of nouns that don't take an article are:
1. Names of languages and nationalities
a.
Chinese
b.
English
c.
Spanish
d.
Russian
2. Names of sports
a.
volleyball
b.
hockey
c.
baseball
3. Names of academic subjects
a.
mathematics
b.
biology
c.
history
d.
computer science
