english cia

ARTICLES

ENGLISH CIA

Indefinite Articles: A and An

The indefinite articles are used when we are referring to an unspecified thing or quantity. We use them when we don’t know (or don’t care) which thing we’re talking about.

Idefinite Article: An

Examples

Let's Practice!!

We use an before words which begin with a vowel sound or a soft H sound.

An egg

An hour-glass

An antique necklace

There once was a sheep.

I don’t know which sheep it was – don’t know its name or where it’s from, or anything about it – so I can’t say the sheep.

1) I like _____ blue T-shirt over there better than ___ red one.

2) Their car does 150 miles ___ hour.

3) Where's ___ USB drive I lent you last week?

4) Do you still live in ___ Bristol?

5) Is your mother working in ___ old office building?

6) Carol's father works as ___ electrician.

7) The tomatoes are 99 pence ___ kilo.

8) What do you usually have for ___ breakfast?

9) Ben has ___ terrible headache.

10) After this tour you have ___ whole afternoon free to explore the city.

More Practice!

Indefinite Article: A

This Rule Also Applies to Acronyms.

We use a before nouns or adjectives which begin with a consonant, or when U sounds like a Y, or O sounds like a W.

A cat

A dog

A university

A young puppy

A one-eyed pirate

1) Lucy has __ dog.

2) Let's sing __ song.

3) Emily needs __ new desk in her room.

4) I need __ blue pen.

5) Ben has __ old bike.

6) Peter has __ aunt in Berlin.

7) We listen to __ English CD.

8) She has __ exercise book in her school bag.

9) The speed of this car was 160 __ miles hour.

10) They finished __ unit.

A Society of Writers member was quoted in the article.

A S.O.W. member was quoted in the article.

An S.O.W. member was quoted in the article.

Because S sounds like it begins with a vowel (ess), an should be used in front of it.

What is an Article?

The articles in English are the (definite article), a, and an (indefinite articles).

Articles define a noun as specific or unspecific.

Examples

Articles for Added Intensity

The Article: An

Uses of Articles

Uses of Articles

Articles can also be used when emphasizing a point.

He had a hard time with the exam.

He had the hardest time with the exam.

Using the definite article the makes the point very clear.

After the long day, the cup of tea tastes particularly good. (By using the, we’ve shown that it was one specific day that was long, and one specific cup of tea that tasted good. )

After a long day, a cup of tea tastes particularly good.

(By using a, we’ve created a general statement, saying that any cup of tea would taste good after any long day.)

An should be used before any noun – or any adjective modifying the noun – which begins with a vowel or a voiceless H.

He is a man.

He is an ugly man.

He is an honest man.

We use the to refer to specific nouns, either singular or plural.

Please hand me the book that’s on the table.

Please hand me all the books that are on the tables.

A and an are used to refer non-specific nouns.

Please hand me a book; any book will do.

Please hand me an autobiography; any autobiography will do.

Articles should be placed just in front of the noun they’re modifying. However, if the noun is also being modified by one or more adjectives, the article should go in front of the adjective(s).

Please fetch me a warm sweater.

Please fetch me the brown sweater.

Please fetch me the fuzzy blue sweater.

Definite Articles

The definite article refers to a noun, either in the singular or plural. It can be used with uncountable nouns. The refers to a specific thing or quantity. It should be placed before the noun, or before the adjective which directly modifies the noun.

Please give me the hammer.

Please give me the red hammer; the blue one is too small.

Please give me the large rug; it’s the only one big enough to cover the floor.

Please give me the bowls of salsa.