1. ARTICLESBetsey Whitaker NealDarlan Nunes SilvaAline R. S.
Souza de Souza
2. ARTICLES Most English speakers recognize threearticles: the
indefinite articles: a and an andthe definite article: the, but
there is another article problem that occurs as well: the use of no
articles
3. For ELLs these little words canwreak havoc with their
English
4. Here are five examples of the most common mistakes. Can you
identify and explain these errors?1. I live in the apartment, close
to thesupermarket.2. Id like to go to the good restaurant.3. I
stayed in the hotel near the park. The hotelwas very nice, and a
park had some wonderfulpaths.4. Remember a presentation we went to
lastweek?5. The apples are generally very tasty in season.
5. Key1. I live in an apartment, close to a supermarket. (Note
that I know the apartment and supermarket, but you, the listener /
reader, do not.) Indefinite articles are used (a, an) the first
time something is presented in a sentence.2. Id like to go to a
good restaurant. (Use indefinite articles with anything that is not
specifically known to BOTH the writer and the reader).3. I stayed
in a hotel near a park. The hotel was very nice, and the park had
some wonderful paths. (Related to the first two: Use a definite
article when referring to something that has already been
mentioned).4. Remember the presentation we went to last week?
(Conversely, Use a definite article (the) when referring to an
object which is known to both the writer and the reader).5. Apples
are generally very tasty in season. (Use no definite or indefinite
article (nothing, in other words) when speaking in general using a
plural with a countable noun, or the singular with a uncountable
noun).
6. GRAMMAR EXPLANATION
7. Indefinite articles a and an Use only before singular count
nouns Use with singular count nouns that are notspecific and are
being mentioned for the 1sttime. A penguin is a small black and
white bird. An igloo is a dwelling that is made of ice.
8. Indefinite articles: a, anRule Example1. Use a before a noun
or an A feather, a gray featheradjective (+ noun) that begins with
aconsonant sound.2. Use an before a noun or anadjective (+ noun)
that begins with aan idea, an absurd idea.vowel sound.3. The use of
a or an with the lettersh or u depends on the beginningA hat, an
hour, an hotelsound of the word. Note: The use ofa or an is
determined by the nextA university, an umbrellawords initial sound,
not spelling.
9. Definite article: theRule Example1. Use the when you are
talkinggeneral: All of them have a book. about something specific.
specific: The book on the table is not mine.2. Use the when the
speaker andgeneral: Every house has a door. listener are talking
about thespecific: Paul, dont forget to close the door! same
specific item. first reference: James and I bought a new3. Use the
for the second and allcomputer last month. other references to the
samesecond reference: The computer lets us access noun. the
internet quickly.4. Use the with the superlative form comparative:
At the mall, clothes are more of an adjective, which means with
expensive than in town. the word most, or with the ending
superlative: At the mall, clothes are the most est. expensive
item.
10. Definite article: theRuleExample5. Use the for the names of
the Philippines, the Netherlandsthe United States, the Soviet
Unioncountries that look plural, the Dominican Republic, the
Republic ofincluding countries that end in Angola, the United
Kingdom, thes, or have the words united, Kingdom of Saudi
Arabiaunion, republic or kingdom.In a classroom, there is a desk, a
chair, a6. Use the for the parts of clock, a white board, and a
teacher.something (Exception: we do In the new classroom, the desk
is small,not use the for body parts).the chair is uncomfortable,
the clockdoesnt work, but the teacher is great.
11. Definite article: theRule Example7. Use the with most
bodies of the Xingu Riverwater except with individual the Atlantic
Oceanlakes. the Black Sea the Great Lakes (but Lake Conceicao)8.
Use the with geographic the Greenwich Meridianparts of the globe,
andthe South Pole and the North Polegeographic areas, deserts, and
the Sahara Desertpeninsulas.the Punta del Este Peninsula
12. A common error for some ELLs is to omit allarticles b/c
there languages have no articles. An especially common, but very
serious erroris the omission of an article of any kind beforea
singular count noun. I have wife and twodaughters. If you get wife
you will be veryhappy. This type of error is especially common
amongspeakers of Chinese, Japanese, and Russian.
13. No Articleor null article ()RuleExample1. When you want to
talkGeneral: Cats can be great petsabout a category or group
inspecific: The cats in the pet store aregeneral, use no
article.expensive2. Use no article beforeWrong: A persons future
successdepends on the educationabstract nouns such as feelingsor
ideas. Correct: A persons future successdepends on educationWrong:
The patience is a virtue.Correct: Patience is a virtue.
14. Common mistakes. Watch out! Do not use a singular count
noun withoutan article or other determinerWrong: job, apple,
reason, best choice, delicioussandwichCorrect: a job, an apple, the
reason, thebest choice, a delicious sandwich
15. Common mistakes. Watch out! Do not use a with a noun that
begins with avowel soundWrong: a hour, a heir, a honorable
colleague, a hourly rateCorrect: an hour, an heir, an
honorablecolleague, an hourly rate*Sounds of mute H and aspired H.a
hat, a hateful place an heirloom
16. Common mistakes. Watch out! Do not use the with a plural
count nounthat refers to the whole categoryWrong: I dont trust the
politicians. They are an ornerybunch of peopleCorrect: I dont trust
politicians. They arean ornery bunch of people
17. Common mistakes. Watch out! Do not use the with abstract
nouns orideasWrong: The education is the most important thing inmy
lifeCorrect: Education is the most importantthing in my life
18. What is your native language?Comparison of English with
other languages ARABIC ENGLISH Arabic has a definite articleEnglish
has the definite article theUnlike English, Arabic requires the
definite article with abstract nouns.The honesty is important
Honesty is importantThe definite article is used for specificthings
as in English, but it is also used inArabic when referring to the
wholegroup.My favorite sport is tennisMy favorite sport is the
tennis I am afraid of spidersI am afraid of the spiders Arabic has
no indefinite articleEnglish has the indefinite articles a and
an
19. What is your native language?Comparison of English with
other languagesCHINESE, JAPANESE, KOREAN, RUSSIAN ENGLISHThese
languages have no articles. SomeEnglish has the definite article
the andof these languages have a word for thisthe the indefinite
articles a and an and/or that, so students may overuse these two
words in lieu of articles
20. What is your native language? Comparison of English with
other languages FRENCH, SPANISHENGLISHThese languages have
indefinite andEnglish has the definite article the anddefinite
articles the the indefinite articles a and an The definite article
is used for specific things as in English, but it is also usedwhen
referring to the whole group. My favorite sport is the tennisMy
favorite sport is tennisI am afraid of the spidersI am afraid of
spidersIndefinite articles are not used whentalking about
professions:My mother is teacher My mother is a teacherUnlike
English, both French and Spanish In English articles invariable.
have singular and plural forms of theira/an is a phonetic
alternance indefinite and definite articles.
21. Comparison of differences in article usageHow would you
translate the following sentences into your native language? I have
a brother. He is the best brother in theworld. Politicians are
corrupt in many countries. I lived in Columbia before I moved to
theUnited States. I dont like cookies or chocolate. I prefer
thingsthat are not sweet. If you buy a car, you need to take care
of it.
22. Tips for learning faster Every time you learn a new noun,
write it down witha or an in front: a book, a cat, an excuse Be
careful not to overuse the:Correct: I think honesty is the most
important humancharacteristic.Wrong: I think the honesty is the
most important human characteristic. Pay attention to the article
usage on individualexpressions or idioms:Correct: once upon a
timeWrong: once upon the time