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Definite and Inefinite Article PDF

The document discusses definite and indefinite articles in English. It explains that the definite article is "the" and is used to refer to specific or particular nouns, while the indefinite article "a" or "an" refers to non-specific or non-particular nouns. It provides examples of how "the", "a", and "an" are used and the rules around using "a" versus "an". The document also covers the use of articles with countable and uncountable nouns as well as geographical terms. Exercises are included for the reader to practice using articles correctly.

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205 views8 pages

Definite and Inefinite Article PDF

The document discusses definite and indefinite articles in English. It explains that the definite article is "the" and is used to refer to specific or particular nouns, while the indefinite article "a" or "an" refers to non-specific or non-particular nouns. It provides examples of how "the", "a", and "an" are used and the rules around using "a" versus "an". The document also covers the use of articles with countable and uncountable nouns as well as geographical terms. Exercises are included for the reader to practice using articles correctly.

Uploaded by

Gracemmr
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Definite and Indefinite Articles

What is an article?
Basically, an article is an adjective. Like adjectives, articles modify nouns.
English has two articles: the and a/an.
The is used to refer to specific or particular nouns;
a/an is used to modify non-specific or non-particular nouns. We call the the
definite article and a/an the indefinite article.
For example, if I say, "Let's read the book," I mean a specific book. If I say,
"Let's read a book," I mean any book rather than a specific book.
Here's another way to explain it: The is used to refer to a specific or particular
member of a group. For example, "I just saw the most popular movie of the
year." There are many movies, but only one particular movie is the most
popular. Therefore, we use the.
"A/an" is used to refer to a non-specific or non-particular member of the
group. For example, "I would like to go see a movie." Here, we're not talking
about a specific movie. We're talking about any movie. There are many
movies, and I want to see any movie. I don't have a specific one in mind.
Let's look at each kind of article a little more closely.
Indefinite Articles: a and an
"A" and "an" signal that the noun modified is indefinite, referring to any
member of a group. For example:

• "My daughter really wants a dog for Christmas." This refers to any dog. We
don't know which dog because we haven't found the dog yet.
• "Somebody call a policeman!" This refers to any policeman. We don't need
a specific policeman; we need any policeman who is available.
Remember, using a or an depends on the sound that begins the next word.
So...
An historical event is worth recording.
In writing, "a historical event" is more commonly used.
Remember that this rule also applies when you use acronyms:
Introductory Composition at Purdue (ICaP) handles first-year writing at the
University. Therefore, an ICaP memo generally discusses issues concerning
English 106 instructors.
Another case where this rule applies is when acronyms start with consonant
letters but have vowel sounds:
An MSDS (material safety data sheet) was used to record the data. If the
noun is modified by an adjective, the choice between a and an depends on
the initial sound of the adjective that immediately follows the article.

• a + singular noun beginning with a consonant: a boy; a car; a bike; a zoo; a


dog
• an + singular noun beginning with a vowel: an elephant; an egg; an apple;
an idiot; an orphan
• 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); a university; a
unicycle
• In some cases where "h" is pronounced, such as "historical," use an:
• a broken egg
• an unusual problem
• a European country (sounds like 'yer-o-
pi-an,' i.e. begins with consonant 'y' sound)

Remember, too, that in English, the indefinite articles are used to indicate
membership in a group:

• Brian is an Irishman. (Brian is a member of the people known as Irish.)


• I am a teacher. (I am a member of a large group known as teachers.)
• Seiko is a practicing Buddhist. (Seiko is a member of the group known as
Buddhists.)
Definite Article: the
The definite article is used before singular and plural nouns when the noun is
specific or particular. The signals that the noun is definite, that it refers to a
particular member of a group. For example:
• "The dog that bit me ran away." Here, we're talking about a specific dog, the
dog that bit me.
• "I was happy to see the policeman who saved my cat!" Here, we're talking
about a particular policeman. Even if we don't know the policeman's name,
it's still a particular policeman because it is the one who saved the cat.
• "I saw the elephant at the zoo." Here, we're talking about a specific noun.
Probably there is only one elephant at the zoo.

Countable and Non-countable Nouns


The can be used with noncount nouns, or the article can be omitted entirely.
• "I love to sail over the water" (some specific body of water) or "I love to sail
over water" (any water).
• "He spilled the milk all over the floor" (some specific milk, perhaps the milk
you bought earlier that day) or "He spilled milk all over the floor" (any milk).

"A/an" can be used only with count nouns.


• "I need a bottle of water."
• "I need a new glass of milk."
Most of the time, you can't say, "She wants a water," unless you're implying,
say, a bottle of water.

Geographical use of “the”


There are some specific rules for using the with geographical nouns. Do not
use the before:
Do not use the before:
• names of most countries/territories: Italy, Mexico, Bolivia; however, the
Netherlands, the Dominican Republic, the Philippines, the United States
• names of cities, towns, or states: Seoul, Manitoba, Miami
• names of streets: Washington Blvd., Main St.
• names of lakes and bays: Lake Titicaca, Lake Erie except with a group of
lakes like the Great Lakes
• names of mountains: Mount Everest, Mount Fuji except with ranges of
mountains like the Andes or the Rockies or unusual names like the
Matterhorn
• names of continents (Asia, Europe) • names of islands (Easter Island,
Maui, Key West) except with island chains like the Aleutians, the Hebrides, or
the Canary Islands
Use the before:
• names of rivers, oceans and seas: the Nile, the Pacific
• points on the globe: the Equator, the North Pole
• geographical areas: the Middle East, the West
• deserts, forests, gulfs, and peninsulas: the Sahara, the Persian Gulf, the
Black Forest, the Iberian Peninsula

Omission of Articles
Some common types of nouns that don't take an article are:
• Names of languages and nationalities: Chinese, English, Spanish, Russian
(unless you are referring to the population of the nation: "The Spanish are
known for their warm hospitality.
• Names of academic subjects: mathematics, biology, history, computer
science
• Names of sports: football, hockey, baseball
EXERCISES
Fill in the gaps with the correct article (a, an, the, 0) when necessary.
I am from Winchester, Hampshire. Winchester is______ city in ____ United
Kingdom. I live in ____ town called _____ Taunton which is on ______ River
Tone. I live in ___ house in ______ quiet street in _____ countryside. ____
street is called “Hudson Street” and _____ house is more than 100 years old!
I am ___ English lecturer at _____ college near _____center of _____town. I
like _____ books, music and taking _____ photographs. I usually have _____
lunch at college. I usually go --___home____ by___ car. We have all kinds of
food in _____ England. I like ______ Polish food very much. Sometimes, I go
to _____ Polish restaurant in Bath. ____ restaurant is called “Magda’s”.
_____ Polish food is delicious.

Complete the sentences with the appropriate article “The” “A” or “no
article”

1.Robert and Jessica went to ____ party last night.


2.Can you tell me how to get to ____ cinema from here? 3.____ college is
closed today.
4.Gregory is one of ____ strangest people I know.
5.I recommend you try ____ tomato soup at this restaurant. 6.____ beer is
not good for you.
7.Would you like to see ____ film?
8.____ apple a day keeps ____ doctor away.
9. I can't believe I failed ____ yesterday's test!
10.Do you have ____ dictionary that I can borrow? 11.There were many dogs
in the park. One dog was ____ Dalmatian.
12.Pandas and ____ tigers are both endangered animals. 13.Magda is
wearing ____ blue dress with red shoes 14.Bornholm is ___ island in the
Baltic Sea.
15.Christmas comes once ___ year.
16.___ owl is ___ bird.
17.The Severn is ____ river.
18.Jane went to the shop to buy ____ bread.
19.Hania broke ____ glass when she was washing-up.
20.Tom took ____ umbrella as it was raining heavily. 21.This is ____ easy
question.
22.Stephen could you speak ____ little louder. 23.May I have your ____
phone number?
24.I have never seen ____ UFO.
25.May I ask you ___ question?
25.Ismail is ____ best teacher in our school.
26.What is ____ name of the next station?
27.My friend has ____ my car today.
28.I went to ____ sea during my summer holiday. 29.Is there ____ cash
machine near here?
29.Is there ____ cash machine near here?

ANSWER KEY
Exercise (1)
I am from Winchester, Hampshire. Winchester is____a__ city in ___the
United Kingdom. I live in __a__ town called __0___ Taunton which is on
__the____ River Tone. I live in _a__ house in ____a__ quiet street in
___the__ countryside. ___The_ street is called “Hudson Street” and
___the__ house is more than 100 years old! I am _an__ English lecturer at
___a__ college near ___the__ center of __the___town. I like ___0__ books,
music and taking ___0__ photographs. I usually have __0___ lunch at
college. I usually go _0__home by_0__ car. We have all kinds of food in
___0__ England. I like ___0___ Polish food very much. Sometimes, I go to
__a___ Polish restaurant in Bath. __The__ restaurant is called “Magda’s”.
__The___ Polish food is delicious.

Exercise (2)
1.Robert and Jessica went to _a__ party last night.
2.Can you tell me how to get to _the__ cinema from here? 3.__The_ college
is closed today.
4.Gregory is one of _the__ strangest people I know.
5.I recommend you try _the__ tomato soup at this restaurant. 6.__0_ beer is
not good for you.
7.Would you like to see _a__ film?
8._An__ apple a day keeps _the__ doctor away.
9.I can't believe I failed _the__ yesterday's test!
10.Do you have _a__ dictionary that I can borrow?
11.There were many dogs in the park. One dog was __a_
12.Dalmatian.12.Pandas and _0__ tigers are both endangered animals.
13.Magda is wearing _a__ blue dress with red shoes 14.Bornholm is ___
island in the Baltic Sea. 15.Christmas comes once ___ year.
16.__An_ owl is _a_ bird.
17.The Severn is __a_ river.
18.Jane went to the shop to buy __0_ bread. 19.Hania broke __0_ glass
when she was washing-up. 20.Tom took __an_ umbrella as it was raining
heavily. 21.This is _an__ easy question.
22.Stephen could you speak _a__ little louder. 23.May I have your _0__
phone number?
24.I have never seen __a_ UFO.
25.May I ask you _a__ question?
25.Ismail is _the__ best teacher in our school.
26What is _the__ name of the next station? 27.My friend has _0__ my car
today.
28.I went to _the__ sea during my summer holiday. 29.Is there _a__ cash
machine near here?
29.Is there _a__ cash machine near here?

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