Presentation Transcript
Using Articles: Using Articles Indefinite /a/ and /an/
vs. Definite /the/
The Indefinite Article: The Indefinite Article We use a before count nouns beginning in consonant sounds.
You can buy a car if you want.
Or you could take a bus.
The word a basically means one of many.
It means no item in particular, just one in general.
Choosing A or An: Choosing A or An 1. ___ card game
2. ___ idiot
3. ___ good job
4. ___ rotten egg
5. ___ used fork
6. ___ uncle
7. ___ hurricane
8. ___ internet ad
9. ___ hair
10. ___ artichoke
11. ___ horrible it
12. ___ opera
13. ___ fine opera
14. ___ television
15. ___ earthquake
A Generalizes: A Generalizes Use a or an before a singular noun, or one modified by an adjective.
A storm is an unfortunate event.
Use it before saying someone belongs to a profession, nation, or religion.
Kabir is a Muslim; Ana is a Christian.
The Definite Article: The Definite Article Use the before a noun that refers to a specific member of a group.
The professor likes to present lessons.
The is not used with uncountable nouns referring to something in a general sense.
Gas [not the gas] is a volatile substance.
The Specifies: The Specifies The is used with uncountable nouns that are made specific by a limiting modifying phrase or clause.
The stuff on the wall is not pretty.
The can refer to something unique.
The wind today is from the north.
Using A/An, The, and Some: Using A/An, The, and Some
Countable vs. Non-Countable: Countable vs. Non-Countable A and An are used when a noun can be counted.
I saw a dog.
The can be used when a noun is not countable.
I dove into the water.
First and Later Mention: First and Later Mention A or An can be used the first time a noun is mentioned in a passage.
I saw a large and colorful flag.
The should be used for subsequent mentions of the noun.
The colors of the flag were red, white, and blue.
General or Specific: General or Specific A, an, and the can all be used to indicate that a noun refers to the whole class:
A [any] tiger is a dangerous animal.
The tiger [as a type] is a dangerous animal.
The difference between the indefinite a and the generic a is that the former means any one member of a class while the latter means all of the members of a class.
Indefinite A Generic The: Indefinite A Generic The Omitting articles for generic sense:
No article with a plural noun:
Tigers are dangerous animals.
No article with a non-countable noun:
Anger is a destructive emotion.
No Articles with these Nouns: No Articles with these Nouns Names of languages and nationalities
Chinese
English
Spanish
Names of sports
volleyball
baseball
Names of academic subjects
mathematics
biology
computer science
Background: Background
This presentation is adapted from Adam Powell’s PowerPoint which is based on information from the OWL at Perdue University.