Define and Indefinite Articles

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Definite and Indefinite Articles

English Language Institute(ELI)

ELCS 102

Level 5- Grammar

Prepared By: Amany Ismail Abuleil

What is an article?

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

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

The is used to refer to a specific or particular member of a group. For example, "I just saw the most popular book of the year." There are many books, but only one particular book is the most popular. Therefore, we use the.

• A/an

"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 plant." Here, we're not talking about a specific plant. We're talking about any plant. There are many plant and I want to see any plant. I don't have a specific one in mind.

Let's look at each kind of article a little more closely.

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 sister really wants a bag for school"

This refers to any bag. We don't know which bag because we haven't found the bag 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. So...

• a + singular noun beginning with a consonant: a boy; a car; a bike; a zoo; a cat

• an + singular noun beginning with a vowel: an elephant; an egg; an apple

• 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

• In some cases where "h" is pronounced, such as "historical," use an: An historical event is worth recording.

In writing, "a historical event" is more commonly used. Remember that this rule also applies when you use acronyms:

Introductory Composition at Purdue (ICaP) handles first-year writing at the University.

Therefore, an ICaP memo generally discusses issues concerning English 106 instructors.

Another case where this rule applies is when acronyms start with consonant letters but have vowel sounds: An MSDS (material safety data sheet) was used to record the data. An SPCC plan (Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures plan) will help us prepare for the worst.

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:

1. a broken egg
2. an unusual problem
3. a European country (sounds like 'yer-o-pi-an,' i.e. begins with consonant 'y' sound)

Definite Article: a/an

Remember, too, that 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: 

1. "The cat that saw to me ran away." Here, we're talking about a specific cat, the cat that smile to me. 
2. "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. ”
3. "I saw the elephant at the zoo." Here, we're talking about a specific noun. Probably there is only one elephant at the zoo.

Count and Noncount Nouns

The can be used with noncount nouns, or the article can be omitted entirely.

• "I love to sail over the water"

(some specific body of water) or "I love to sail over water" (any water).

• "He spilled the milk all over the floor"

(some specific milk, perhaps the milk you bought earlier that day) or "He spilled milk all over the floor" (any milk).

A/an can be used only with count nouns.

• "I need a bottle of water." 

• "I need a new glass of milk." 

Most of the time, you can't say, "She wants a water," unless you're implying, say, a bottle of water.

Geographical use of “the”

There are some specific rules for using the with geographical nouns.

Do not use the before:

• names of most Countries/territories

Italy, Mexico, Bolivia; however..

1. The Netherlands
2. The Dominican Republic
3. The Philippines

• names of Cities, Towns, or States

1. Seoul
2. Nusantara
3. Miami

• names of Streets

1. Washington Blvd.,
2. Main St.

• names of Lakes and Bays

1. Lake Titicaca
2. Lake Erie except with a group of lakes like the Great
3. Lakes

• names of Mountains

1. Mount Everest
2. Mount Fuji, except with ranges of mountains like the Andes or the Rockies or unusual names like the Matterhorn

• names of Continents

1. Asia
2. Europe

• names of Islands

1. Easter Island
2. Maui
3. Key West, except with island chains like the Aleutians, the Hebrides, or the Canary Islands

Do use the before: 

• names of Rivers, Oceans and Seas

1. The Nile
2. The Pacific

• points on the Globe

1. The Equator
2. The North Pole

• geographical Areas

1. The Middle East
2. The West

• Deserts, Forests, Gulfs, and Peninsulas

1. The Sahara
2. he Persian Gulf
3. The Black Forest
4. The Iberian Peninsula

Omission of Articles

Some common types of nouns that don't take an article are: 

1. Names of languages and nationalities: Chinese, English, Spanish, Russian (unless you are referring to the population of the nation: "The Spanish are known for their warm hospitality.
2. Names of academic subjects: mathematics, biology, history, computer science
3. Names of sports: football, hockey, baseball

Summary

The is use to be specific, that could be includes descriptive and narrative things.

A/an is use to be general, that could be includes persuasive, no further explanation of the things.

Exercises

Exercises (1)

Fill in the gaps with the correct article (a, an, the, 0) when necessary. 

I am from Winchester, Hampshire. Winchester is______ city in ____ United Kingdom. I live in ____ town called _____ Taunton which is on ______ River Tone. I live in ___ house in ______ quiet street in _____ countryside. ____ street is called “Hudson Street” and _____ house is more than 100 years old! I am ___ English lecturer at _____ college near _____center of _____town. I like _____ books, and taking _____ photographs. I usually have _____ lunch at college. I usually go --___home____ by___ car. We have all kinds of food in _____ England. I like ______ Polish food very much. Sometimes, I go to _____ Polish restaurant in Bath. ____ restaurant is called “Magda’s”. _____ Polish food is delicious.

Exercise (1)

I am from Winchester, Hampshire. Winchester is a city in the United Kingdom. I live in the town called a Taunton which is on the River Tone. I live in the house in a quiet street in a countryside. The street is called “Hudson Street” and the house is more than 100 years old! I am an English lecturer at a college near a center of the town. I like a books, and taking a photographs. I usually have a lunch at college. I usually go --to the home by a car. We have all kinds of food in the England. I like a Polish food very much. Sometimes, I go to a Polish restaurant in Bath. The restaurant is called “Magda’s”. The Polish food is delicious.

Exercise (2)

1. ____ college is closed today.
2. I recommend you try ____ tomato soup at this restaurant.
3. ____ syrup is not good for you.
4. Would you like to see ____ plant?
5. ____ apple a day keeps ____ doctor away.
6. Do you have ____ dictionary that I can borrow?
7. There were many cats in the park. One cat was ____ Kampung
8. Pandas and ____ tigers are both endangered animals.
9. Bornholm is ___ island in the Baltic Sea.
10. ___ owl is ___ bird.
11. The Nile is ____ river.
12. Jane went to the shop to buy ____ bread.
13. Tom took ____ umbrella as it was raining heavily.
14. This is ____ easy question.
15. Stephen could you speak ____ little louder.
16. May I have your ____ phone number?
17. I have never seen ____ UFO.
18. May I ask you ___ question?
19. Ismail is ____ best teacher in our school.
20. What is ____ name of the next station?
21. My friend has ____ my car today.
22. I went to ____ sea during my summer holiday.
23. Is there ____ cash machine near here?

Exercise (2)

1. The college is closed today.
2. I recommend you to try the tomato soup at this restaurant.
3. () syrup is not good for you.
4. Would you like to see a plant?
5. An apple a day keeps the doctor away.
6. Do you have a dictionary that I can borrow?
7. There were many cats in the park. One cat was the Kampung
8. Pandas and () tigers are both endangered animals.
9. Bornholm is an island in the Baltic Sea.
10. An owl is a bird.
11. The Nile is a river.
12. Jane went to the shop to buy a bread.
13. Tom took an umbrella as it was raining heavily.
14. This is an easy question.
15. What is the name of the next station?
16. My friend has () my car today.
17. I went to a sea during my summer holiday.
18. Is there a cash machine near here?
19. Stephen could you speak a little louder.
20. May I have your () phone number?
21. I have never seen an UFO.
22. May I ask you a question?
23. Budi is the best student in our school.