The Article

byJuliana Canielo, Patrícia Gonçalves and Bruna Sardinha

Article

It is a word used with a noun to indicategrammatical definiteness.

Three categories: definite, indefinite and zero article.

Indefinite Ar-ticle

Definite Article

Zero Article

Indefinite Article

a/an

We use the indefinite article before singular count nouns and adjectives.

a is used before a noun or an adjective + noun, that begins with a consonant sound.

She gave me a beautiful flower.

an is used before a noun or an adjective + noun, that begins with a vowel sound.

It's an elephant.

Indefinite Article

What is important to know: The indefinite article used before words

beginning with the letters h or u depends on these letters sound.

a unique (begins with consonant sound /y/). an unexpected visit (begins with a vowel

sound). a house (begins with consonant sound /h/). an hour (begins with a vowel sound).

Indefinite Article

What is important to know: A and an are moderns forms of the word one.

In some time back in History the speakers separated one as a numeral and started to use an only as article. The form a emerged after that.

Indefinition means uncertain or undecided. The indefinite article is used to show that the statement, idea or word is not a particular one.

Indefinite Article

Its uses: Something mentioned for the first time.

I have a new book. The book is called “The Iliad”.

Irrelevant identity. It's just a book.

General statement. An idea is never ideal.

Indefinite Article

Common ELL Mistakes Omission of an article.

Wrong: Anna is girl. Correct: Anna is a girl.

This case is frequent with Chinese, Japanese and Russian speakers. It happens because their language do not have

articles. Wrong: Daniel is Police Officer. Correct: Daniel is a Police Officer.

This happens a lot with Latin languages speakers. It is a misuse of direct translation. It is specific to sentences with professions after the verb be.

Definite Article

the:

We use the definite article to show that the noun is a particular one.

This is the book I've told you about.

Definite Article

What is important to know It is used for singular and plural nouns.

John is the book writer. The birds that were in the cage have escaped.

Definite Article

Its uses: To specify:

The box on the table is empty. When the speaker and the listener are talking

about the same item. Jake, leave the TV on!

Second and on references. We are looking for a new apartment. The

apartment must be near the park.

Definite article

Its uses: Superlative form

That's the best pizza I've ever tasted. Names of country names that look plural or

end with -s Have you ever been to the United States?

Parts of something (except body parts). I saw his new car at the other day. The color is

great and the wheels are fantastic.

Definite Article

Its uses: Bodies of water (except individual lakes)

There it is! The Arno River is beautiful. Geographic sites.

I've been through the desert on a horse with no name.

Definite Article

Common ELLs mistakes: Overuse

Wrong: I like the football. Correct: I like football.

This happens when speakers want to refer to the whole category of something.

Wrong: The love is my vice. Correct: Love is my vice.

In English Language we should not use article before abstract nouns.

Zero Article

It is the abscence of an article.

[ ] Kindness is a virtue.

Zero Article

What is important to know: There are a few situations that we do not use

any article in English. In some languages the lack of article means that the noun is definite;

In some cases the definite article can be omitted .

Zero Article

Its uses: Category or group in general

[ ]Brazilians are usually friendly.

Before abstract nouns I believe in [ ] faith.

Zero Article

Common ELLs mistakes: ELLs tend to overuse articles, using them in

unecessary places. The rules are:

1. When you talk about a category or group in general, use no article;

2. Use no article before abstract nouns such as feelings or ideas.

Article

What Your Students Should Know:

1. Do not use a singular count noun without an article;

Wrong: list, elephant, huge house

Correct: A list, an elephant, the huge house

2. Do not use a with a noun that begins with a vowel sound;

Wrong: A honor

Correct: An honor

Article

What Your Students Should Know:

3. Do not use the with plural count nouns that refers to the whole category;

Wrong: I like the Italians.

Correct: I like [ ] Italians.

4. Do not use the with abstract nouns or ideas.

Wrong: The justice is blind.

Correct: [ ] Justice is blind.