Articles a/an , the or zero article (O)
Summary • a/an shows that we are talking about one person or thing: This is a book. • a/an says what something is: She’s an engineer. • The usually indicates that we know which thing is being talked about: The Queen’s name is Elizabeth II. • Nouns used without articles often have a special meaning (abstract nouns or things in general)
Countable and uncountable nouns • a/an is only used before singular countable nouns . • a: used before consonants • an: used before vowels (a-u-i-o-e) • zero article (O) is used for uncountable nouns. It is often used to describe what something is made of.
a or an ? Consonants and vowel sounds 1) ___ book 2) ___ coat 3) ___ orange 4) ___ umbrella 5) ___ university 6) ___ house 7) ___ hotel 8) ___ European country
Put a/an or nothing (O) 1. Jakes’ father makes _ (O) _ films 2. I need __ new bicycle. 3. I never drink ___ milk. 4. Jane is ___ old friend. 5. Their house is made of ___ wood. 6. I often listen to ___ music. 7. That child wants ___ new shoes. 8. My room has got ___ really big window.
We often use a/an to talk about something for the first time; and the when we talk about the person or thing again. A man walked up to a policeman. The man took out a map and asked the policeman for help.
Talking about something / somebody both speaker and listener know about. THE A/AN • Could you open a window? • Could you close the door? (I don’t mind which one.) (You know which door.) • He looked at the moon. • Let’s go and see a film. (I (There’s only one.) don’t mind which one.) • She came on the 8.15 • He looked at a tree. (There train. (You know which may be more than one, train – I’m telling you.) and the one he’s looking at is not specified.) • How much is the red • I ’ve just bought a new coat? (You know which one – I’m telling you.) coat. (Not specific.)
Superlatives and ordinal numbers – Which article? • Mount Everest is ____ tallest mountain. • Yesterday was ____ hottest day of the year. • We are ____ fastest runners in the group. • What time is ____ first train tomorrow? • Who was ____ last person to leave the classroom?
Add a/an or the • This is a true story. Last year I went into 1 ___ big sports shop because I wanted 2 ___ sports bag. 3 ___ assistant came up to me, and I told him what I wanted. 4 ___ assistant brought me three different bags. I chose 5 ___ smallest one and paid for it. 6 ___ assistant put 7 ___ bag in 8 ___ large plastic bag. He did so, but he looked very unhappy as I walked out of 9 ___ shop.
We use a/an when we say what something is, or what job somebody does: • I’m a pilot. • Canada is a big country. • My sister is an electrician.
Talking in general Particular Thing (O) (the) GENERAL PARTICULAR (O) People are funny. The people in that house I like (O) music. are funny. (O) Sugar is fattening. The music is too loud. She’s interested in (O) Could you pass the sugar? dogs and (O) horses. Why are the dogs barking?
Names without the • People: (O) Mary works for (O) Dr Andrews. • Languages: Sorry, I don’t speak (O) French. • Most countries and places: He’s from (O) Spain. (O) Cuba (O) England (O) Dublin (O) Africa (O) Australia (O) Lake Geneva (O) Piccadilly Circus
Names with the • Deserts, rivers, seas, oceans (NOT LAKES) the Sahara the Thames the Rhine the Mediterranean the Atlantic • Names of states the Netherlands the United States/ the USA • Expressions with Republic/Kingdom etc. the Czech Republic the UK • Large areas of the world and directions: the West the Middle East the Far East
Organisations • the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (O) NATO • Exceptions: Two-word organizations • the United Nations the UN the Security Council
Buildings with the • Most names of buildings: the Hilton Hotel / the Eiffel Tower / the British Museum / the Great Pyramids • name + possessive (O) St Paul’s Cathedral (O) McDonald’s
Recommend
More recommend
