ARTICLES

AND ITS USES

SADATUN NESA
Lecturer, Department of English
Port City International University
 What Are Articles?
Articles are words that define a noun as specific or unspecific. Consider
the following examples:

After the long day, the cup of tea tasted particularly good.
By using the article 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 the article a, we’ve created a general statement, implying that
any cup of tea would taste good after any long day.
English has two types of articles:
definite and indefinite.
The Indefinite Article
The indefinite article takes two forms. It’s the word a when it
precedes a word that begins with a consonant. It’s the
word an when it precedes a word that begins with a vowel. The
indefinite article indicates that a noun refers to a general idea
rather than a particular thing.

The Definite Article

The definite article is the word the. The definite article can be
used with singular, plural, or uncountable nouns.
 The definite article tells you that your friend is referring to a
specific party that both of you know about.

Below are some examples of the definite article the used in

context:

* Please give me the hammer.

* Please give me the red hammer; the blue one is too small.
* Please give me the nail.
* Please give me the large nail; it’s the only one strong enough
to hold this painting.
* Please give me the hammer and the nail.
The indefinite article only appears with singular nouns. Consider
the following examples of indefinite articles used in context:

Please hand me a book; any book will do.

Please hand me an autobiography; any autobiography will do.
(singular noun)

“Should I bring a gift to the party?”

Your friend will understand that you are not asking about a specific type
of gift or a specific item.

“I am going to bring an apple pie,”

your friend tells you. Again, the indefinite article indicates that she is not
talking about a specific apple pie. Your friend probably doesn’t even have
any pie yet.
 Exceptions: Choosing A or An

There are a few exceptions to the general rule of using a before words
that start with consonants and an before words that begin with vowels.
The first letter of the word honor, for example, is a consonant, but it’s
unpronounced. In spite of its spelling, the word honor begins with a
vowel sound. Therefore, we use an. Consider the example sentence
below for an illustration of this concept.

Incorrect : My mother is a honest woman.

Correct : My mother is an honest woman.
Similarly, when the first letter of a word is a vowel but is pronounced
with a consonant sound, use a, as in the sample sentence below:

Incorrect : She is an United States senator.

Correct: She is a United States senator.
This holds true with acronyms and initialisms, too: an LCD
display, a UK-based company, an HR department, a URL.
 Indefinite Articles with Uncountable Nouns

Uncountable nouns are nouns that are either difficult or impossible to

count. Uncountable nouns include intangible things (e.g., information,
air), liquids (e.g., milk, wine), and things that are too large or numerous
to count (e.g., equipment, sand, wood). Because these things can’t be
counted, you should never use a or an with them—remember, the
indefinite article is only for singular nouns. Uncountable nouns can be
modified by words like some, however. Consider the examples below for
reference:

Incorrect : Please give me a water.

Water is an uncountable noun and should not be used with the indefinite
article.

Correct : Please give me some water.

 Noncount nouns are those which usually cannot be counted. Following are
some common examples:
◊ Certain food and drink items: bacon, beef, bread, broccoli, butter, cabbage,
candy, cauliflower, celery, cereal, cheese, chicken, chocolate, coffee, corn, cream,
fish, flour, fruit, ice cream, lettuce, meat, milk, oil, pasta, rice, salt, spinach, sugar,
tea, water, wine, yogurt

◊ Certain nonfood substances: air, cement, coal, dirt, gasoline, gold, paper,
petroleum, plastic, rain, silver, snow, soap, steel, wood, wool

◊ Most abstract nouns: advice, anger, beauty, confidence, courage, employment,

fun, happiness, health, honesty, information, intelligence, knowledge, love, poverty,
satisfaction, truth, wealth

◊ Areas of study: history, math, biology, etc.

◊ Sports: soccer, football, baseball, hockey, etc.

◊ Languages: Chinese, Spanish, Russian, English, etc.

◊ Other: clothing, equipment, furniture, homework, jewelry, luggage, lumber,

machinery, mail, money, news, poetry, pollution, research, scenery, traffic,
transportation, violence, weather, work
 However, if you describe the water in terms of countable units
(like bottles), you can use the indefinite article.

Corrct : Please give me a bottle of water.

Incorrct : Please give me an ice.
Correct : Please give me an ice cube.
Correct : Please give me some ice .

Note that depending on the context, some nouns can be

countable or uncountable (e.g., hair, noise, time):

We need a light in this room.

We need some light in this room.
 indefinite articles.

Rule #1 - Specific identity not known: Use the indefinite article a or an only with a
singular count noun whose specific identity is not known to the reader. Use a
before nouns that begin with a consonant sound, and use an before nouns that
begin with a vowel sound.

Use the article a or an to indicate any non-specified member of a group or

category.
I think an animal is in the garage
That man is a scoundrel.
We are looking for an apartment.

Use the article a or an to indicate one in number (as opposed to more than
one).
I own a cat and two dogs.

Use the article a before a consonant sound, and use an before a vowel
sound.
a boy, an apple

◊ Sometimes an adjective comes between the article and noun:

an unhappy boy, a red apple

The plural form of a or an is some. Use some to indicate an unspecified,

limited amount (but more than one).
an apple, some apples
 (whether singular or plural, count or noncount) when the specific identity of the noun is
known to the reader, as in the following situations:

Use the article the when a particular noun has already been mentioned
previously.
I ate an apple yesterday. The apple was juicy and delicious.

Use the article the when an adjective, phrase, or clause describing the noun
clarifies or restricts its identity.
The boy sitting next to me raised his hand.
Thank you for the advice you gave me.

Use the article the when the noun refers to something or someone that is unique.
the theory of relativity
the 2003 federal budget
Something that is unique or there is only one.

the sun
the moon
the internet.
. Names of rivers, seas, oceans, mountain ranges and deserts (always in capitals).

The Mississippi River

The Black Sea
The Andes
The Sahara Desert
Directions (cardinal points).

the west
the south-east
the north-west.
 Rule #3 - All things or things in general:
Use no article with plural count nouns or any noncount nouns
used to mean all or in general.

Trees are beautiful in the fall. (All trees are beautiful in the fall.)
He was asking for advice. (He was asking for advice in general.)
I do not like coffee. (I do not like all coffee in general.)
•Geographical names are confusing because some require the
and some do not.
◊ Use the with: united countries, large regions, deserts, peninsulas,
oceans, seas, gulfs, canals, rivers, mountain ranges, groups of islands
the Gobi Desert
the United Arab Emirates
the Sacramento River
the Aleutians
◊ Do not use the with: streets, parks, cities, states, counties, most
countries, continents, bays, single lakes, single mountains, islands
Japan
Chico
Mt. Everest
San Francisco Bay
 
 Omission of Articles
Occasionally, articles are omitted altogether before certain
nouns. In these cases, the article is implied but not
actually present. This implied article is sometimes called a
“zero article.” Often, the article is omitted before nouns
that refer to abstract ideas. Look at the following
examples:

Incorrect: Let’s go out for a dinner tonight.

Correct: Let’s go out for dinner tonight.
Incorrect: The creativity is a valuable quality in children.
Correct :Creativity is a valuable quality in children.
Many languages and nationalities are not preceded by an
article. Consider the example below:

Incorrect : I studied the French in high school for four years.

Correct :I studied French in high school for four years.
 Sports and academic subjects do not require articles. See
the sentences below for reference:

Incorrect :I like to play the baseball.

Correct :I like to play baseball .
Incorrect :My sister was always good at the math .
Correct : My sister was always good at math .
When we refer to general ideas, plurals or uncountable nouns we do
not use THE.
Religion is an important issue. (NOT The religion is an important issue)
•Mexican food is spicy. (NOT The Mexican food is spicy).
Names of people, books and plays (unless it is part of the title).
•I have read Romeo and Juliet.
Towns, cities, states and countries.
•Cape Town
•Montana
•Vietnam
(Exceptions – The USA, The UK, The Netherlands, The Czech Republic,
The Philippines).
Lakes, single islands, continents or mountains.
•Lake Victoria
•Jamaica
•Asia
•Mt Fuji
Planets
•Mars
•Jupiter
•Saturn
Sports or games
•soccer
•tennis
•skiing
•monopoly
 Meals
•breakfast
•lunch
•dinner
•supper