Rules for using the indefinite article. Definite article (the)

In this lesson we will consider the topic “Articles in English”. Let's study what articles exist and the basic rules of use in constructions. The analysis is carried out at a level understandable for children and adults.

The use of articles together with nouns in English is a rather voluminous topic, so you should be patient.

In English, the article (The Article) is the main definition of nouns. When constructing a sentence, the first thing they start with is thinking about articles, the speaker defines a definite or indefinite noun and then puts the articles. In other words, we are talking about something specific or something general. There are no articles in the Russian language, which is why this topic causes certain difficulties for many.

When composing a construction in English, the article is used in almost all cases. There are:

The Definite Article or the definite article to which it refers The;
The Indefinite Article or indefinite article, which refers to an And a.

We will study 3 cases of using the article - the use of the indefinite, definite article and cases when the article is not used at all in the construction.

Definite Articles in English (The Definite Article)

This part of speech has only one form, the. From a grammatical point of view, it comes from the demonstrative pronoun “that - that”.

The definite article The Definite Article is used in a sentence when talking about an object that has already been talked about or in cases where the interlocutor understands what the conversation is about.
For example, Please show me the book. - Show me this book, please.
This part of speech is also used in a sentence when interlocutors talk about an object that is one of a kind.
For example, The sun is in the sky. - The sun is in the sky.
applies in all cases when interlocutors talk about a musical group, newspaper, cinema, restaurant.
For example, The Beatles - The Beatles.
The name of nationality, when not talking about someone specific, but generalizing all representatives of the clan, is used with the part of speech in question.
For example, the Americans. - Americans.
The definite article is used in some phrases.
For example, at the cinema/ the theater - to the cinema/theater. A stable design was used here.
If a proper name contains the words kingdom (kingdom), union (union), republic (republic), this article is used together with them.
For example, The United Kingdom - United Kingdom.
This part of speech is used in sentences after prepositions of place.
If there is a construction “next, last + some time period,” we put this article in front of the entire construction.
For example, the next day - the next day.
For example, There is a cat in front of the monitor. – There’s a cat in front of the screen.
If we are talking about the whole family, then the article in question is also placed before the surname.
For example, The Petrovs are at home. - Petrov's houses.
objects are also used in construction with the part of speech in question.
For example, the Arctic - Arctic and the Alps - Alps.
Attention, the article is not used in the names of countries, streets, airports, islands.
If a proper name is expressed by a title and after it there is such a meaning of, the article in question is used.
Example, The Prince of Wales - Prince of Wales.
In English, as in Russian, there is an adjective that is used without a noun, but denotes a group of people. This form should also be preceded by this part of speech .
For example, The old - old people.
If the construction contains a superlative adjective, articles definite are also used before it.
Example, the quickest - the fastest.
The is used whenever there is an "of" before the noun.
For example, The Tower of London - Tower in London.
With cardinal points, this article is always used in the design.
For example, the Northern part of our country - the north of our country.
If the sentence contains the word only (meaning only), then here we also use the article in question.
For example, She was the only beautiful woman in his life. - She was the only beautiful woman in his life.
And the last case of using articles is before an ordinal number.
Example: We are on the fourth floor. - We're on the fifth floor.

This article in question is used with nouns used in the singular and plural.

Indefinite article

Greetings, my dear readers.

I know I usually start somewhere else, but today I have a task for you right away. I want you to look at these sentences and tell me what the difference is.

Tommy sat down on a chair while waiting for his turn.- Tom sat down on a chair while he waited his turn.

Tommy sat on the chair nearest to the door while waiting for his turn.- Tom sat down on the chair closest to the door while he waited his turn.

You have probably already noticed that the difference is in the very articles and the meanings that they carry. And yes, my dears, today an exciting journey awaits us, where there will be an important topic for you and me - articles in English. I will tell you the basic rules, give you many examples, both for children and adults. I also immediately give you links to and on the topic of articles.

What is it and what is it used for?

Let's define it right away: article- this is what should always come before a noun. He, to put it very roughly, defines the noun so that we can better understand what is being said.

What are they and what are they used with?

There are three of them in total: a, an and the.

And their use depends on what noun follows. There are two types of nouns in English:

Countable- those that we can count. For example:

Pen

Earring - earring

Uncountable- those that we cannot count. For example:

Sugar - sugar

Water - water

To understand when articles are used, we also need to remember that nouns are singular (diamond - diamond) or plural (diamonds - diamonds).

And now, to make it absolutely clear to you, here you go table with examples where you can clearly see where and with what they are used.

Brother "a"

This article also bears the not at all proud name “ uncertain » ( ). This is because it is usually placed in front of objects, of which there are many all over the world. And it is used only with nouns that can be counted, and even then if they are singular. That is, if there is a lot of something, and you need to mention one thing, you need to use this particular article. Let's look at examples:

This morning I bought a magazine.- This morning I bought a magazine. (Not a specific magazine, but one that was in the store).

I had a sandwich for lunch.- I had a sandwich for lunch. (Just one sandwich).

My sister has got a job. - My sister got a job. (One of the existing works all over the world).

By the way, the article “a” has a small, modest brother who appears quite rarely - before words starting with vowels. This is "an". His goal is the same, so don’t be afraid - you won’t get confused.

I've got an apple and an orange with me. - I have an apple and an orange with me.

Brother "the"

The article the, also called definite , is used when we know the subject that will be discussed. Next to it, countable and uncountable nouns, both singular and plural, coexist calmly ( You can find out more about him).

In addition, it is very often used with place names and set expressions that you just need to learn. But it is important to remember that everywhere, including in the names of places, there are exceptions, which we will study separately ( Come in to find out about it).

Rosy doesn't feel well. She went to the doctor. - Rosie doesn't feel well. She went to the doctor. (To the doctor she usually goes to).

Did Molly get the job she applied for?- Did Molly get the job she applied for? (Exactly the job she applied for).

When is he not there at all?

OK then,- you say. - When these articles are used, we understand. But we don’t always use only them!

And here you will be right, because the English language has prepared a little test for us and created cases where the article is not needed at all. And this phenomenon even got its name - zero article. Its use is mainly associated with exceptions to the previous rules. Or if we use in speech proper names(Tom, Mary, Ritha) or any concepts in general.

Apples grow on the trees.- Apples grow on trees. (In general, all apples as a species).

Tom bought a bike.- Tom bought himself a motorcycle. (The article is not placed before proper names.)

There are also situations when you don’t need to put anything in front of a noun. It happens after pronouns(my, our, his, this, that, etc.).

By the way, my dears, after completing the lesson with the rules, never forget to practice. I have something for you that will help you secure the new material for a long time. You can also, which will help you remember the rules for using articles for a long time. Of course, articles are not the simplest rules for children, be it 2nd grade or 8th grade. And adults usually suffer with them too. But with my help, I hope you can figure them out faster.

Don't forget that you can receive news from my blog much faster by simply subscribing to the newsletter. Be the first to know about all important events.

An article is a word that adds a shade of certainty or uncertainty to the meaning of a noun: “After the long conference, the mug of hot chocolate is especially good.” / “After a long conference, a mug of hot chocolate is especially good.” In the first case, we transmit information about a specific conference and a mug of hot chocolate. In the second, they formulated a general statement, implying that any mug will be in place after any long conference. English has several ways of conveying this certainty, or lack thereof. Let's take a closer look.

Definite article

Definite article ( definite article) is the English word " the" It seems to limit the semantic meaning of the noun. For example, your friend might ask: “Are you planning to visit the party this Monday? - “Are you planning to attend the party this Monday?” The definite article in English communicates that a friend is referring to a particular party that is well known about. The article “the” is used with plural and singular nouns, as well as with uncountable nouns. Below are some examples of the use of the definite article in context:

Could you give me the screwdriver, please?- Could you give me a screwdriver, please?
Give me the orange screwdriver, please. The green one is too big.- Give me an orange screwdriver, please. The green one is too big.
Could you give me the chisel, please?- Could you give me a chisel, please?
Could you give me the small chisel, please? That"s the only one convenient enough to make holes in this plank.- Could you please give me a small chisel? This is the only tool that is convenient for drilling holes in this board.
Give me the screwdriver and the chisel then, please.- Give me a screwdriver and a chisel then, please.

Indefinite article

The indefinite article ( indefinite article) there are two main forms. Firstly, this is a service part of speech " a", preceding a word that begins with a consonant. Secondly, this is the article " an", used with a word that begins with a vowel. The indefinite article in English “a/an” indicates that the noun is used in a general sense rather than a specific one. For example, you ask a friend: “Should I take a present then? “Should I bring a gift then?” The friend understands that you are not asking about a specific type of gift or a specific item. "I would like to bring an almond cake “I would like to bring some almond cake.” Again, the indefinite article indicates that no particular almond cake is being referred to. Whether it is homemade or bought at a local confectionery shop does not matter. The indefinite article is characterized by monogamy, so it can only be found with singular nouns. Consider the following examples of the indefinite article in context:

Could you fetch me a smartphone, please? Any of them will be fine.- Could you please hand me a smartphone? Any of them will do.
Gimme a bottle of wine real quick now, ok? Any is good.- Give me a bottle of wine quickly, okay? Any will do.

NOTA BENE: Uncountable nouns are nouns that are difficult or impossible to count. They include intangibles(information, air), liquids(beer, rum) and things, that are too large or numerous to count(equipment, sand, wood). Since these things cannot be taken into account, never use"a" or "an". Remember that the indefinite article in English is only for singular nouns. However, uncountable nouns can be used without problems with the word some.

"A" vs "an". Exceptions to use

There are a number of exceptions to the general rule of using the indefinite article before words that begin with a consonant and a vowel.

The first letter of the word “honourable ["ɔn(ə)rəbl] - generous”, for example, the consonant “h”, however, it is silent (unpronounceable). Despite the spelling, the word “honourable” begins with vowel sound[ɔ]. That's why the choice of article falls on « an" Consider the example below for illustration:

WRONG
Thomas is a honorable person

RIGHT
Thomas is an honorable person

Translation: Thomas is a generous person.

In the same way, when the first letter of a word vowel, But pronounced with a consonant sound, use " a", as in the example below:

WRONG
Elizabeth was an

RIGHT
Elizabeth was a United States prime minister.

Translation: Elizabeth was Prime Minister of the United States.

Acronyms, initial abbreviations And reductions the first letters also obey this rule: a UK-based corporation, an HR management etc.

Zero article

Sometimes before some nouns the articles are omitted altogether. In these cases, the article is implied, but not actually present. This article is sometimes called zero ( zero article). Often there is no article before nouns that refer to abstract ideas. Look at the following examples:

WRONG
Let's have a dinner today.

RIGHT
Let's have dinner today.

Translation: Let's have dinner today.

WRONG
The enthusiasm is my strong point.

RIGHT
Enthusiasm is my strong point

Translation: Enthusiasm is my strong point.

Many languages and nationalities are not preceded by an article:

WRONG
Mary is fluent in the Korean and the Japanese.

RIGHT
Mary is fluent in Korean and Japanese.

Translation: Mary speaks fluent Korean and Japanese.

Athletic activities, sports and academic subjects do not require an English article before them. For comparison, take a look at the offers below:

WRONG
Bobby is keen on the soccer.

RIGHT
Bobby is keen on soccer.

Translation: Bobby loves to play football.

WRONG
The literature isn't my favorite subject.

RIGHT
Literature isn't my favorite subject.

Translation: Literature is my least favorite subject.

Article + pronoun

Possessive pronouns help determine whether you are talking about a specific or indefinite subject. And although, as you already know, articles in English are used to indicate definiteness, nevertheless, if you use both a possessive pronoun and articles at the same time, the recipient will definitely be stunned. Possessive pronouns are words such as: my, his, her, its, their And our. Articles of the English language cannot be used in tandem with pronouns. " The" And " my” are not used together because both are intended for a similar purpose. The differences lie in the nuances of conveying the required meaning. Consider the following examples:

WRONG
Dexter is using the my tablet right now.

RIGHT
Dexter is using the tablet right now.

RIGHT
Dexter is using my tablet right now.

Translation: Dexter is currently using (my) tablet.

Article + adjective

In most cases, the article determines not only the noun, but also the adjective that comes before it. Usual word order: article + adjective + noun. If you mean the indefinite article, then the choice is between “ a" And " an" is based on the letter that begins the word that follows it.

WRONG
What a interesting magazine!

RIGHT
What an interesting magazine!

Translation: What an interesting magazine!

WRONG
Merriam will cook an banana cupcake.

RIGHT
Merriam will cook a banana cupcake.

Translation: Merriam will make banana cake.

Set expressions with articles

Useful phrases with definite articles in English.

Useful phrases with indefinite articles in English.

Useful phrases with the zero article

So, today your knowledge bank has been replenished with the rules for using articles in English. We hope that the article was useful and to your liking and, in the future, you will no longer experience discomfort when recognizing, and, most importantly, understanding the use of this or that article in various situations. You're welcome!

Big and friendly EnglishDom family

One of the first topics that should be learned or explained to an English language learner is the topic of articles. In English, the indefinite article (a\an) and the definite article (the) are used only in relation to the category of a noun. Therefore, before you start talking about the article, you need to learn the topics “Uncountable nouns in English” and “Singular and plural nouns in English”. After studying these topics, it will be easy for you to explain the rules for using the article, and for the student it will be easy and simple to learn the main points of using the definite article (the). So, the choice of article depends on the following factors:

the noun is used in singular form. number or plural number;
countable or uncountable noun;
whether it was mentioned in the speaker's previous speech or not.

So, let's look at all the rules for using the definite article the

The subject of the conversation is known

If the subject has already been discussed in previous phrases, then automatically we have defined, so to speak, designated it. In this case, when mentioned again, we must put an article in front of the noun, for example: David bought a new car. The car is very expensive but fast.

Something unique

The article should be used when talking about something rare and unique, for example: the sun (the sun), the moon (the), etc. This rule can also include wonders of the world or unique places and attractions: the Parthenon, the Eiffel Tower, the White House.

With geographical objects

In English speech, many geographical names must be preceded by a definite article:

names of all rivers, oceans, seas, group of lakes (the Nile, the Red sea, the Pacific ocean, the Great lakes etc.);
the names of mountain ranges and not individual islands, but their groups (the Caucasus, the Bahamas etc.);
deserts (the Sahara);
countries that have the words “united” in their names: the United Kingdom, the USA, etc.

With cultural objects

You must use the definite article with the names:

most museums (the National Museum);
many galleries (the Tate Gallery);
hotel for all (the National Hotel);
cinemas (the Star);
theaters (the National Drama Theatre);
newspapers (the Times).

The article is not used:

with personal names;
with the names of countries, cities, streets, parks, continents, bridges, squares, individual islands and lakes (Russia, Asia, Time street, `Mann island, Baikal lake);
with the names of meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner - breakfast, lunch, dinner);
with names of sports or sports games (basketball, rugby, swimming);
with the names of the months of the year (June, August, January);
with demonstrative pronouns: this, these, that, those;
when using names of transport (by train, by bus, by plane etc.);
with names of colors (red, black, white) and drinks (coffee, tea, Coke).

To effectively master the rules for using the indefinite article in English, you should select a thematic block of grammar exercises for the lesson, as well as create speech models for oral speech practice.

27.11.2014

An article is a word that defines a noun.

There are two types of articles in English: the definite (the) and the indefinite (a/an).

Based on the names, the indefinite article is used when we are talking about a phenomenon that we encounter for the first time, an object in general, and the definite article is used when we are talking about something specific, or something that has already been encountered in conversation.

The concept of the article is present in many languages of the world, but in the same number of languages it is absent.

Therefore, do not panic if articles are not used in your native language.

The data will help you make fewer mistakes when speaking English.

It is very important to be able to use the correct articles in your speaking or writing.

1. With the names of countries and continents

In this case we do not use articles at all, BUT if the name of the country consists of parts, such as, USA, UK, UAE, then our article appears the, and it will be: the USA, the UK, the UAE, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands.

This also applies to continents and islands: usually we do not use the article, but if the name is a composite name, the definite article takes place.

For example: Africa, Europe, Bermuda, Tasmania BUT the Virgin Islands, the Bahamas.

She lived in America.
They live in England.
My friend is from the Czech Republic.

2. With the words breakfast, dinner, lunch

When talking about eating in general, there is no article. But if you're talking about a specific breakfast, dinner or lunch, use the.

Eg:

I don't eat breakfast.
We didn't like the dinner.

3. With names of work, profession

In this case the indefinite article is used a/an.

For example:

I want to be a politician.
My younger brother wants to be a vet.

4. With the names of the cardinal directions

Usually the names of the cardinal directions are written with a capital letter, so they are easy to recognize: the North, the South, the East, the West .

True, if a noun indicates a direction, then it should be used without an article and written with a small letter.

For example:

They went east.
The North is cooler than the South.

5. With the names of oceans, seas, rivers and canals

Remember that the definite article is always used with the names of these bodies of water.

For example: The Amazon, the Indian Ocean, the Red Sea, the Suez Canal .

I would like to swim in the Red Sea, and you?
The Amazon is the longest river in the world.

6. With names of unique phenomena

This means that a phenomenon or object exists in one copy, one of a kind, in particular, the sun, the moon, the inter net , the sky , the earth.

Eg:

The sun is a star.
We looked up at all the stars in the sky.
He is always on the internet.

7. With uncountable nouns

This category of nouns implies those units and concepts that we cannot count. Plus, as an identifying mark in most cases, they have no ending –s– plural indicator.

But do not forget that there are ten exceptions to one rule, that is, if you are talking in general about some uncountable concept, there will be no article, but again, if the case is particular, use the.

For example:

I like bread/milk/honey.
I like the bread/the milk/the honey. (Specifically this and nothing else.)

8. With last names

If we are talking about members of the same family, you can put the article the before the surname. This way you define a group of people, a family, in one word.

Eg:

The Smith are coming for dinner today.
Have you seen the Johnson recently?

These are not all the uses of articles in English. However, first remember these rules, gradually deepening your knowledge