ARTICLES :ARTICLES


ARTICLES :ARTICLES General articles a an the


There are two types of articles :There are two types of articles indefinite 'a' and 'an' or definite 'the'. ? You also need to know when not to use an article.


Slide 4:The bad news is that their proper use is complex, especially when you get into the advanced use of English. Quite often you have to work it out by what sounds right, which can be frustrating for a learner.


Slide 5:Indefinite articles - a and an (determiners) A and an are the indefinite articles. They refer to something not specifically known to the person you are communicating with. A and an are used before nouns that introduce something or someone you have not mentioned before:-


Examples :Examples "I saw an elephant this morning." "I ate a banana for lunch."


Slide 7:A and an are also used when talking about your profession:- For example: 1) :"I am an English teacher." 2) "I am a builder."Note!


Slide 8:You use a when the noun you are referring to begins with a consonant (b, c, d, f, g, h, j, k, l, m, n, p, q, r, s, t, v, w, x, y or z), for example, "a city", "a factory", and "a hotel". You use an when the noun you are referring to begins with a vowel (a, e, i, o, u) Pronunciation changes this rule. It's the sound that matters, not the spelling.


Slide 9:If the next word begins with a consonant sound when we say it, for example, "university" then we use a. If the next word begins with a vowel sound when we say it,


Slide 10:for example "hour" then we use an. We say "university" with a "y" sound at the beginning as though it were spelt "youniversity". So, "a university" IS correct.We say "hour" with a silent h as though it were spelt "our".So, "an hour" IS correct.(Lots of people get this wrong - including native speakers.)


THE :THE Use "the" with any noun when the meaning is specific; for example, when the noun names the only one (or one) of a kind.


Examples :Examples Adam was the first man (the only 'first man'). New York is the largest city in the United States (only one city can be 'the largest'). We live on the earth (the only Earth we know). Have you heard the news (specific news)?


Slide 13:Use "the" the second time you use that same noun in the same paragraph ? I saw a movie last night. The movie was entertaining. ? A man ran into the street. A car hit the man.


Slide 14:Use "the" if a specific person has a title or if only one person has a title. the president the doctor the Queen of England


Slide 15:Use "the" if the name of the country is plural or indicates a group (of states, islands, etc.) the United States the Netherlands the Phillipines


Slide 16:Use "the" the South Pole the West the South the North Eas


Slide 17:Use "the" the Pacific Ocean the Mediteranean Sea the Potomac River the C & O Canal the Atlantic Ocean the Painted Desert


The :The Determiners are used in front of nouns to indicate whether you are referring to something specific or something of a particular type.


Slide 19:Determiners are different to pronouns in that a determiner is always followed by a noun. Therefore personal pronouns ( I , you , he , etc.) and possessive pronouns (mine, yours, his, etc.) cannot be determiners.


Slide 20:The definite and indefinite articles a/an/the are all determiners. You use a specific determiner when people know exactly which thing(s) or person/people you are talking about.


The specific determiners are: :The specific determiners are: the definite article : the demonstratives : this, that, these, those possessives : my, your, his, her, its, our, their


Slide 22:For example:- "The dog barked at the boy.“ "These apples are rotten.“ "Their bus was late


Slide 23:You use general determiners to talk about people or things without saying exactly who or what they are.


The general determiners are: :The general determiners are: the indefinite articles : a, an a fewa little all another any both each either enough every few fewer less little manymore most much neither no other several some


Slide 25:For example:- "A man sat under an umbrella.""Have you got any English books that I could have?""There is enough food to feed everyone."


Slide 26:Either and Neither Either and neither are used in sentences concerning a possible choice between two items. Either can mean one or the other (of two) or each of two. For example:- I've got tea and coffee, so you can have either. (One or the other)The room has a door at either end. (Both)


Slide 27:Neither means not the first one and not the second one. For example:- Neither of the students were listening.


Don'ts :Don'ts Don't Use "a," "an," or "the" with a non-count noun when you mean "any," "in general." ? We believe in love (in general). ? He gave me information (not specific


Slide 29:Don't Use "a," "an," or "the" with a plural count noun when you mean "some of many things," "any," "in general." ? Movies are entertaining (some movies; movies in general). ? She likes men (in general).


Slide 30:Don't Use "a," "an," or "the" if the person's name is given. ? President Kennedy ? Dr. Yang ? Queen Elizabeth


Slide 31:Don't Use "a," "an," or "the" Russia South Africa Holland Canada Great Britian England