Using Articles

“A”, “AN”, AND “THE”

O MA R J I ME NE Z
 What is an article?
• An article is an adjective. Like adjectives, articles modify nouns.
• English has two articles: the and a/an
• The is used to refer to specific or particular nouns.
• a/an is used to modify non-specific or non-particular nouns.
• We call the the definite article and a/an the indefinite article.
• the = definite article
• a/an = indefinite article
• Example:
• Let's read the book
• Let's read abook
A/AN
• "A/an" is used to refer to a non-specific or non-particular member of
the group.
• Example: "I would like to go see a movie.“
• "A" and "an" signal that the noun modified is indefinite, referring
to any member of a group. For example:
• "My daughter really wants a dog for Christmas." This refers
to any dog
• "Somebody call a policeman!" This refers to any policeman.
 The using a or an depends on the sound that
begins the next word.

• a + singular noun beginning with a consonant: a boy; a car; a bike; a zoo; a dog
• an + singular noun beginning with a vowel: an elephant; an egg; an apple; an idiot; an orphan
• a + singular noun beginning with a consonant sound: a user , begins with a consonant 'y'
sound: a university
• an + nouns starting with silent "h": an hour
• a + nouns starting with a pronounced "h": a horse
 The
• The definite article is used before singular and plural nouns when the
noun is specific or particular. The signals that the noun is definite,
that it refers to a particular member of a group. For example:
• "The dog that bit me ran away."
• "I was happy to see the policeman who saved my cat!"
• The can be used with noncount nouns, or the article can be omitted
entirely.
• "I love to sail over the water “ or “ I love to sail over water“
• "He spilled the milk all over the floor“ or "He spilled milk all over the
floor“
• "A/an" can be used only with count nouns.
• Example:
• "I need a bottle of water."
• "I need a new glass of milk."
Review exercise, place the corresponding
article for each sentence
• 1)Susana Works in ___ office. She is ___ secretary .
• 2)Martin Luther King es considered as ___ hero for many people
around ___ world.
• 3) Omar is ___ youngest teacher in our school.
• 4) My song goes to ___ school that id next to ___ bakery.
• 5) In ___ afternoon I ate ___ Hamburguer and french fries. ___
hamburger was nice but ___ french fries were too salty.
Review exercise, place the corresponding
article for each sentence
• 1)Susana Works in an office. She is _a_ secretary .
• 2)Martin Luther King es considered as _a_ hero for many people
around the world.
• 3) Omar is the youngest teacher in our school.
• 4) My song goes to the school that id next to the bakery.
• 5) In the afternoon I ate a Hamburguer and french fries. The
hamburger was nice but the french fries were too salty.
• 1: Sally has a got ___ cat
• 2: What is ___cat´s name?
• 1: Can you give me ___ envelope, please?
• 2: Certainly. Oh! Where´s ___ envelope?
• 1: Can you play ___ guitar?
• 2:No, I can´t, but I can play ___ piano.
• 1: Sally has a got _a_ cat
• 2: What is the cat´s name?
• 1: Can you give me an envelope, please?
• 2: Certainly. Oh! Where´s the envelope?
• 1: Can you play the guitar?
• 2:No, I can´t, but I can play the piano.