The document discusses the use of definite and indefinite articles (a/an and the) in English. It provides rules for when to use a/an, the, or no article with different types of nouns including:
- Countable and uncountable nouns
- Proper nouns like country names
- Singular vs. plural nouns
- Parts of the body
- Transportation terms
- Units of measurement
- Describing qualities
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Articles and determiners Aina Fiol
2. Definite articles
THE
A / AN
"I'd like a glass of orange juice, please," John said.
"I put the glass of juice on the counter already,"
Sheila replied.
3. ï‚— No article is used before uncountable and plural
nouns when used in a general sense.
I like music.
She’s interested in animals and wants to be a vet.
ï‚— When there is a following phrase or clause specifying
exactly what is being talked about, the definite article
is required before uncountable and plural nouns.
I like the music they play at the jass club in town.
Are the animals in the rainforest safe in their
enviroment?
4. ï‚— A or an is used the first time a singular countable
noun is mentioned, but after this, the is used
since the reader or listener is clear about what is
being referred to.
A bird was trapped in the room and Anna called
her brother to help her free the poor creature.
ï‚— Singular countable nouns must always have an
article or some other determiner (like each, my,
this) except for a few fixed expressions like :
By car
In hospital
…
5. ï‚— The is not used with te names of most countries.
It is, however, used with plural names or names
of countries which contain a common noun.
The Pilippines Behave like singular nouns with
The United States verbs
ï‚— The is used with playing instruments but no
article is used with playing games.
Mary’s hobby is playing the guitar and mine is
playing chess.
6. ï‚— The can often be used before car, train, bus, plane,
ferry or boat when talking about the use of different
types of transport in general, even when the mode
of transport has not previously been referred to. A is
also used.
Are you going to take the train / a train /the bus/ a
bus to London tomorrow?
ï‚— Parts of the body are usually preceded by a
possessive pronoun rather than an article when they
are talked about in the context of their relation to a
specific body or bodies. When parts of the body are
talked about in general, the is normally used.
Sally has sprained her ankle
The liver is the largest organ in the body
7. ï‚— The word own must be preceded by a possessive
pronoun rather than the or a
When did you first get your own car?
ï‚— When we talk about the units in which commodities
are generally bought or sold, we often use by + the.
When we talk about price, we usually use a / an.
Her parents used to buy coal by the ton.
Those chocolates are nearly $100 a kilo.
ï‚— If we miss out a before few and little, the meaning is
changed to mean not many / not much
She had a few friends (some)
She had few friends (less than you expected)
8. ï‚— We use a /an when describing someone or
something in a way that applies to others
Kim is an interesting character (there are other
interesting characters in the world)
ï‚— Each and every precede singular nouns.
Every girl has her own locker and each class has
its own cloakroom