Indefinite and Definite Articles

       

           Indefinite and Definite Articles

The words a, an, and the are special adjectives called articles.

Indefinite Articles-a, an

an-used before singular count nouns beginning with a vowel (a, e, i, o, u) or vowel sound:

• an apple, an elephant, an issue, an orange

a-used before singular count nouns beginning with consonants (other than a, e, i, o, u):

• a stamp, a desk, a TV, a cup, a book

Definite Article-the

Can be used before singular and plural, count and non-count nouns

1. Indefinite Article (a, an)

Used before singular nouns that are unspecified:

• a pencil
• an orange

Used before number collectives and some numbers:

• a dozen
• a gallon

Used before a singular noun followed by a restrictive modifier:

• a girl who was wearing a yellow hat

Used with nouns to form adverbial phrases of quantity, amount, or degree:

• I felt a bit depressed.

2. Definite Article (the)

Used to indicate a noun that is definite or has been previously specified in the context:

• Please close the door.
• I like the clothes you gave me.

Used to indicate a noun that is unique:

• Praise the Lord!
• The Columbia River is near here.

Used to designate a natural phenomenon:

• The nights get shorter in the summer.
• The wind is blowing so hard.

Used to refer to a time period:

• I was very naive in the past.
• This song was very popular in the 1990s.

Used to indicate all the members of a family:

• I invited the Bakers for dinner.
• This medicine was invented by the Smir.
  
  
  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

  Rule #2 - Specific identity known: Use the definite article the with any noun (whether singular or plural, count or noncountable) 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
  Rule #3 - All things or things in general: Use no article with plural count nouns or any noncountable 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.)
  
  
  Additional Information Regarding the Use of Articles
  • When indicating an unspecified, limited amount of a count or noncountable noun, use some.
  My cousin was seeking some advice from a counselor (not advice in general or advice about everything, but a limited amount of advice).
  I would love some coffee right now (not coffee in general, but a limited amount of coffee).
  We might get rain tomorrow. Some rain would be good for the crops (a certain amount of rain, as opposed to rain in general).
  There are some drops of water on the table (a limited number, but more than one drop).
  • Noncountable 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
  • 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
  Bangladesh
  Examples of the Use of Articles
  I do not want a gun in my house (any gun).
  The gun is in his closet (implies there is a specific gun).
  I am afraid of guns (all guns in general).
  She sent me a postcard from Italy (an unspecific postcard - not a letter, not an e-mail).
  It's the postcard that I have in my office (one specific postcard).
  Getting postcards makes me want to travel (any postcard in general).
  I have a dog (one dog).
  The dog is very friendly (the dog that I have already mentioned).
  Dogs make great pets (dogs in general).
  Greta needs furniture in her apartment (furniture is a noncountable noun).
  She is going to select the furniture that she needs (the specific furniture that she needs).
  She hopes to find some furniture this weekend (an unspecified, limited amount of furniture).
  We are going to see the Statue of Liberty this weekend (the only Statue of Liberty).

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