INDEFINITE ARTICLESa and an

Grammar Review Duration: 30 minutes

NOTICING TASK

My wife likes would like to buy a house near our children’s school.

Read the dialogues below , then answer the questions which follow.

Ben: Ali, this is my friend Yousef. Yousef, this is Ali, an engineer here at Caltech.Ali: Nice to meet you Yousef.Yousef: Same here Ali.

Which house does the man’s wife like to buy?

What is Ali’s job?

USAGE 11. We use the indefinite article, a/an, with count nouns when the hearer/reader does not know exactly which one we are referring to:

Ex. Police are searching for a14 year-old girl.

2. We also use it to show the person or thing is one of a group:

Ex. She is a pupil at London Road School.

The case of a missing girl.

USAGE 23. We do not use an indefinite article with plural nouns and uncount nouns:

Ex. She was wearing blue shoes. (= plural noun)Ex. She has short blonde hair. (= uncount noun)

4. We use a/an to say what someone is or what job they do:

Ex. My brother is a doctor.Ex. George is a student.

5. We use a/an with a singular noun to say something about all things of that kind:

Ex. A man needs friends. (= All men need friends)Ex. A dog likes to eat meat. (= All dogs like to eat meat)

QUICK PRACTICE

Now lift the box to show the answers.