Articles: a,an,the
Using Articles
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.
the
= definite article
a/an = indefinite article
a/an = 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.
Normally,
we use a/an to refer to something for the first time. For example, “We went to
a museum in Paris. We ate at the museum too”.
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.
"When
I was at the zoo, I saw an elephant!" Here, we're talking about a single,
non-specific thing, in this case an elephant. There are probably several
elephants at the zoo, but there's only one we're talking about here.
Remember, using a or an depends on the sound that begins the next word.
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
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
broken egg
an
unusual problem
a
European country (sounds like 'yer-o-pi-an,' i.e. begins with consonant /j/
sound)
In English, the indefinite articles are used
to indicate membership in a group:
I
am a teacher. (I am a member of a large group known as teachers.)
Brian
is an Irishman. (Brian is a member of the people known as Irish.)
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.
Do not use the:
Breakfast,
lunch, dinner
Got
to school, be at school, start school, leave school…
Go
to university, be at university…
Omission of Articles:
Some
common types of nouns that don't take an article are:
Names
of languages and nationalities: Chinese, English, Spanish, Russian
Names
of sports: volleyball, hockey, baseball
Names of academic subjects:
mathematics, biology, history, computer science
Made By: MAYANK BHASIN
Sec: 2MAE-5Y,B.TECH(MAE)+M.TECH(AE)
ENROLLMENT NO.-A2325312012
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