Articles: Articles: aa / / anan / / thethe / / ––

mgr Anna Waligórska – Kotfas mgr Anna Waligórska – Kotfas PWSZ KoninPWSZ Konin

Indefinite ArticleIndefinite Article: : aa // anan

used before singular countable nounsused before singular countable nouns that are that are unspecified:unspecified:a pencil, an orangea pencil, an orange

anan:: used before singular countable nouns beginning with used before singular countable nouns beginning with a vowel (a, e, i, o, u) or vowel sound:a vowel (a, e, i, o, u) or vowel sound:an apple, an elephant, an issue, an apple, an elephant, an issue, but:but: a university a university

aa: used before singular countable nouns beginning with : used before singular countable nouns beginning with consonants (other than a, e, i, o, u):consonants (other than a, e, i, o, u):a stamp, a desk, a TV, a cup, a booka stamp, a desk, a TV, a cup, a book

Definite ArticleDefinite Article: : thethe

can be used before can be used before singular and plural, singular and plural, countable and uncountable nounscountable and uncountable nouns  

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

Please close Please close the doorthe door..

I like I like the clothesthe clothes you gave me. you gave me.

No ArticleNo Article

we use zero article (we use zero article (––) when we are talking ) when we are talking about people or things in generalabout people or things in general::

Books are expensive.Books are expensive.

Life is complicated.Life is complicated.

I love cheese.I love cheese.

aa // an an vsvs. the. the

Compare:Compare:She took She took a glassa glass of water and started to drink. of water and started to drink.

(one of many glasses of water)(one of many glasses of water)

She took She took the glassthe glass of water nearest to her. of water nearest to her.(It is clear which glass we are referring to.)(It is clear which glass we are referring to.)

She took She took the glassthe glass of water and started to drink. of water and started to drink.(There is only one glass of water.)(There is only one glass of water.)

aa // an an vsvs. the. the

Compare:Compare:I need to see I need to see a doctora doctor..

(n(not any specific doctorot any specific doctor))I have to see I have to see the doctorthe doctor tomorrow. tomorrow.

((It's clear I am talking about my usual doctorIt's clear I am talking about my usual doctor.).)

How many people have walked on How many people have walked on the moonthe moon??((There is only one moonThere is only one moon.).)

The bestThe best film I've ever seen is Top Gun.  film I've ever seen is Top Gun. ((There can only be one best filmThere can only be one best film.).)

thethe vs. vs. ––

CompareCompare: : Carrots are good for you.Carrots are good for you.

((carrots in generalcarrots in general))The carrots in my garden are almost ready to The carrots in my garden are almost ready to eat.eat. ((specific carrotsspecific carrots))

English people drink a lot of tea.English people drink a lot of tea.((English people in generalEnglish people in general))

The English people in this hotel are very nice.The English people in this hotel are very nice.((specific English peoplespecific English people))

thethe vs. vs. ––

with with school, university, prison, hospital, church, school, university, prison, hospital, church, bed, work bed, work andand home home we use:we use:

thethe when we are talking about a particular one when we are talking about a particular one zero articlezero article when we are talking about the  when we are talking about the ideaidea of  of

school, university...school, university...The church The church on our street was built in the 17th Century.on our street was built in the 17th Century.

((a particular churcha particular church))

I go to I go to churchchurch every Sunday. every Sunday.((the idea of church, not a particular the idea of church, not a particular

buildingbuilding))

thethe vs. vs. ––

My friend works at My friend works at the prisonthe prison outside the city centre. outside the city centre.

My husband is in My husband is in prisonprison..

The workThe work isn't finished yet. isn't finished yet.

I was feeling sick yesterday so I didn't go to I was feeling sick yesterday so I didn't go to workwork..

The new bedThe new bed is bigger than the old one. is bigger than the old one.

I put my children to I put my children to bedbed a 8pm. a 8pm.

a a // an an: special uses: special uses

We use We use aa / / anan:: to say what kind of person or thing someone or to say what kind of person or thing someone or

something is (often with an adjective, or to say it belongs something is (often with an adjective, or to say it belongs to a particular group)to a particular group)::You have You have a nice housea nice house..That's That's a very expensive cara very expensive car!!A cat is A cat is an animalan animal and a bus is  and a bus is a vehiclea vehicle..

talk about someone's jobtalk about someone's job::My wife is My wife is an opticianan optician..She works as She works as a mechanic.a mechanic.

a a // an an: special uses: special uses

We use We use aa / / anan:: in expressions of price, speed, ratio in expressions of price, speed, ratio

((aa / / anan = = perper):):

5p a kilo5p a kilo

four times a dayfour times a day

six kilometers an hoursix kilometers an hour

thethe: specific use: specific use

We use We use thethe:: to refer to a time period:to refer to a time period:

I was very naïve in I was very naïve in the pastthe past..

This song was very popular in This song was very popular in the 1980sthe 1980s..

to indicate all the members of a family:to indicate all the members of a family:

I invited I invited the Bakersthe Bakers for dinner. for dinner.

This medicine was invented by This medicine was invented by the Smithsthe Smiths..

thethe: specific use: specific use

We use We use thethe:: to talk about a type of thing:to talk about a type of thing:

The computerThe computer was invented in the 20th Century.  was invented in the 20th Century. (not a particular computer)(not a particular computer)

The crocodileThe crocodile is very dangerous.  is very dangerous. (this type of animal)(this type of animal)

She plays She plays the pianothe piano. . (not a particular piano but this type (not a particular piano but this type

of of instrument)instrument)

thethe: specific use: specific use

We use We use thethe:: + adjective+ adjective to talk about a group of people  to talk about a group of people

(including nationalities).(including nationalities).

I always give money to I always give money to the homelessthe homeless..

The unemployedThe unemployed receive money from the  receive money from the government.government.

The FrenchThe French produce good wine. produce good wine.

thethe: specific use: specific use

We use We use thethe:: if the country contains Kingdom, Republic, State, if the country contains Kingdom, Republic, State,

UnionUnion::TheThe United Kingdom United Kingdom

with plural names of people and placeswith plural names of people and places::thethe Smiths,  Smiths, thethe Netherlands,  Netherlands, thethe Bahamas, Bahamas, thethe Alps Alps (also  (also thethe Caribbean Caribbean))

with oceans, seas, rivers and canalswith oceans, seas, rivers and canals::thethe Atlantic Atlantic Ocean, Ocean, thethe Red Red Sea,Sea, thethe Nile,  Nile, thethe Panama Canal Panama Canal

– – : specific use: specific use

We use  We use  – – :: with continents, countries, regions, cities, with continents, countries, regions, cities,

streets, mountains, lakes and parks.streets, mountains, lakes and parks.Asia Asia Main StMain St

Italy Italy Mount EverestMount Everest

California California Lake SuperiorLake Superior

BristolBristol Central ParkCentral Park

BibliographyBibliography

1.1. Bourke K.: Bourke K.: Verbs and Tenses: Intermediate. Test it, Fix it.Verbs and Tenses: Intermediate. Test it, Fix it. Oxford: Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006. Oxford University Press, 2006.

2.2. Leech G., Cruickshank B., Ivanic R.Leech G., Cruickshank B., Ivanic R.:: An A-Z of English Grammar & An A-Z of English Grammar & Usage.Usage. Harlow: Longman, 2004. Harlow: Longman, 2004.

3.3. Murphy R.: Murphy R.: English Grammar in UseEnglish Grammar in Use. Cambridge: Cambridge . Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006.University Press, 2006.

4.4. Swan M.: Swan M.: Practical English UsagePractical English Usage. Oxford: Oxford University . Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005.Press, 2005.

5.5. Thomas A. J., Martinet A. V.: Thomas A. J., Martinet A. V.: A practical English GrammarA practical English Grammar. Oxford: . Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1986.Oxford University Press, 1986.

6.6. Vince M.: Vince M.: Intermediate Language Practice (New Edition)Intermediate Language Practice (New Edition) . Oxford: . Oxford: Macmillan Education 2010. Macmillan Education 2010.

ESLBase: Teach English, ESLBase: Teach English, http://http://www.eslbase.comwww.eslbase.com//grammargrammar//articlesarticles. [19.11.2013].. [19.11.2013].