In many foreign languages there is such a thing as an article. To start learning grammar from this topic will be a good option for those who want to know English. The article (the rule of use will help to understand the question) is a service part of speech in English. It shows the definiteness or indefiniteness of the noun. Further in the text, the rules for its use are given when the article a (an), the is omitted.
Types of articles
There are two kinds of articles in English:
- certain - the;
- indefinite - a (an) (two forms).
The definite article shows that we are talking about some well-known or familiar subject that is more individualized, somehow stands out from others. And the indefinite one indicates a more generalized meaning or an object that appears in the text for the first time. Examples:
The girl has a dog./The girl has a dog.
From this sentence it can be understood that we are talking about a particular girl who is already familiar to the reader and she was previously mentioned in the text, but the word "dog" is more generalized, which dog is unknown.
Next, we will learn the rules, and also do exercises on articles to reinforce the material.
Origin
We have already found out that in English there is such a part of speech as the article: a (an), the. They originally came from other words and to some extent retained their old meaning.
For example, the definite article is an abbreviated form of the word that (that, that), which is why it carries such a specific meaning.
The indefinite article comes from the word one (someone, some).
Definite article
In English, the definite article has two functions: the first of them is concretizing, and the other is generalizing. And this part of speech is used if a person knows exactly what subject is being discussed, or if this subject is unique.
Definite article in concretizing meaning
Used when one object stands out from the whole set, it has some excellent parameters, stands out by a unique case, context. Before superlative adjectives
He is the best player in our team./He is the best player in our team.
Place before ordinal numbers, the words following, last, next, only and very. They make the noun more specific
And not the next day./And not the next day.
Adjectives in the superlative degree are also preceded by the definite article
It is the worst day in my life./This is the worst day of my life.
Definite article in general meaning
In general -when a noun can be attributed to a whole kind of objects
Examples include the German Shepherd - the double coat is straight, and short length./For example, a German Shepherd. Wool has two characteristics: straight and short.
Here we are talking about all dogs belonging to a particular breed.
Omitted if replaced by a possessive pronoun
She sure had some love for her German Shepards.
If you can put the word "this" before a noun
The hotel also features easy access to the several subway stations.
When indicating the era, significant events
The First World War./The First World War.
Before uncountable nouns, only if we are talking about a certain amount of substance
And then the farmer has to find another way to deliver the juice.
Before the names of body parts
The hand/hand.
Before social classes and strata of society
The police./Police officers.
Definite article with proper names and some titles
To help you better understand how to use articles with proper names and some names, the table below. All of the following words must be preceded by the definite article the.
| Proper names | Examples |
| Rivers | the Nakdong |
| Names of newspapers | the Washington Post |
| Geographic names | the North Pole |
| Objects from astronomy | the Moon |
| Mountain names | the Andes |
| Dimensions | in the East |
|
Plural surnames (meaning all family members) |
the Adamsons |
| Channels | the Nicaragua Canal |
| Districts of cities | the West End |
| Nationalities | the Italian |
| Unique architectural structures | the Winter Palace |
| Deserts | the Bolivian |
| Names of water bodies | the Black Sea |
| Court names | the Aurora |
| Some countries | the Argentina |
| Nicknames | the Tall Ben |
The definite article. Plural
If the definite article is used before a word in the singular, then it is placed before it in the plural as well
You can bring the ball with, if you want./If you want, take the ball with you.
You can bring the balls with, if you want./If you want, take the balls with you.
Also, the article remains in front of the plural when referring to a group as a whole
Themembers of Golf club can breathe fresh air./Golf club members can breathe fresh air. (Everyone can breathe fresh air.)
Indefinite article a (an)
Use "a" if the first letter in the word is a consonant, "an" if it is a vowel:
- a table, a carpet, a dog
- an elephant, an eagle, an orange
Exceptions to the rule:
- The article "a" is always placed before words that begin with the letter "u" when it is pronounced /ju:/ (English is a universal language);
- the words "one", "ones" always use the article "a" (a one-parent family);
- if abbreviations start with a consonant but read with a vowel (F is pronounced like /ef/), they are always preceded by the indefinite article "an" (an FBI agent).
Classifying, generalizing and numeral meaning of the indefinite article
In expressive sentences, in exclamatory sentences that begin with the word what, the indefinite article is used
What a great!
With singular nouns preceded by words such as rather, quite, such and most
In a rather prescient way./Very far-sighted.
If a noun is a generic value for the entire class, species, layer, etc., then it is preceded by an indefinite article. Most often, such a noun is at the beginning of a sentence and does not carry any important information. More significant details are described later in the text
A newspaper text is a very laconic and relevant essay.
In the numerical value, the article denotes its original meaning - one
I can stay in Paris for only a day. (Here it is clear that the particle -a can be replaced by one, the word from which the article a (an) was formed (the - from that). In this sentence, the particle takes its usual place).
Indefinite article a (an). Plural
Articles used before singular nouns are not used in the plural.
She had a book of astrology.
She had two books./She had two books. (As you can see, the article is omitted.)
Proper nouns and the article a (an)
The article a (an) is used before proper names if they are:
unknown
A Anderson has come to see you./A certain Mr. Anderson has come to see you.
used as common nouns
You think, I am a Leonardoda Vinci?
point to individual family members
It is no wonder; in fact, she is a Smith.
describe the position of a place or object
We saw a rebuild Rome.
ExceptIn addition, there are stable expressions that, regardless of the context, never change and always remain in their place. These phrases just need to be learned:
a few/a few, it is a pity/sorry, a little/a little, etc.
When the article is not needed
In English there is such a thing as "zero article", that is, when it is absent in sentences before nouns. Above in the article, cases were already mentioned when the article is omitted. Consider a few more characteristic rules.
If nouns are preceded by adjectives old/old, little/small, poor/poor, lazy/lazy, honest/honest
She is little girl./She is a little girl.
If there is no definition for a noun
I do not like Peter./I don't like Peter.
Before titles, titles
Lord Green./Lord Green.
Article exercises
To consolidate the acquired knowledge, you need to do a few exercises. Then check your answers with the keys, analyze the errors. For example, you can do the task below.
Insert the missing article a (an), the:
Paris is … beautiful town./Paris is a beautiful city.
What's going on? I think it's … salute./What's going on? I think it's fireworks.
Britney Spears is … singer./Britney Spears is a singer.
This is Nick. He is … engineer./This is Nick. He is an engineer.
… spider has eight legs./Spiders have eight legs.
It is … tomato./This is a tomato.
I am… nurse./I am a nurse.
She is … best./She is the best.
To take … seat./Sit down.
In … country./In the country.
Answers to exercise. How to correctly insert the article a (an), the:
1. a. 2. a. 3. a. 4. an. 5. a. 6.a. 7. a. 8. the. 9 a. 10. the.
