The article is usually used. There are two types - uncertain and definite- the Indefinite and Definite articles.
In some cases, the article is missing.
Indefinite article ("a" or "an") is used only with a noun in the singular when talking about an object or concept that is not specified (not distinguished) by the context or situation or is named in speech, in the text for the first time, i.e. we don't know anything specific about this subject.
The form "a" used before consonants "an"- before vowels.
Compare:
a table an apple
a dictionary an orange
a horse an hour
Compare:
I am a teacher.
I'am a teacher.
We are teachers.
We are teachers.
The indefinite article is placed before the name of the profession, occupation. A noun with an indefinite article carries a concept - one of the subject, gender, concepts, categories, etc.
Definite article. Definite article "the" It is used in those cases when it is said about a certain, already known or already mentioned object or concept in the speech. The definite article is also used in all cases when an object or concept is specified by a context or situation. The definite article is used with a noun in both the singular and the plural.
Compare:
The book you are asking for is on the table.
The book you are asking about is on the table.
The books you are asking for are on the table.
The books you ask about are on the table.
Abstract and real nouns are usually used without an article.
For example:
The price of gold is rising.
The price of gold is rising.
In cases where abstract and material nouns are used in a specific sense and denote a certain quantity or quality, these words are preceded by a definite article. For example:
The gold of this ring is very old.
The gold of this ring is very old.
Without the article, the following are used: proper names, names of countries, cities, streets, if they perform the functions of nouns in a sentence.
For example:
Henry lives in New York city on the corner of Broadway and 72nd Street.
Henry lives in New York on the corner of Broadway and 72nd Street.
But if the names of countries, cities, streets, proper names are used as a definition, then they are preceded by a definite article.
Compare:
Helsinki is the capital of Finland.
Helsinki is the capital of Finland.
The Helsinki agreement was signed on September 1, 1975
The Helsinki Agreement was signed on September 1, 1975.
If the name of a country contains a definition or a defining word, then it is used with the definite article.
For example:
the United States of America.
USA.
the Soviet Union.
Soviet Union.
the United Kingdom.
United Kingdom.
You should remember the names of some countries, cities, localities, which, as an exception, are always used with the definite article:
the Netherlands Netherlands
Ukraine Ukraine
the Congo Congo
the Hague Hague
the Crimea Crimea
the Caucasus Caucasus
The names of rivers, seas, oceans, mountains (mountains) and islands in English are usually used with a definite article.
For example:
the Volga River Volga
the Urals Ural (mountains)
the Atlantic Ocean Atlantic Ocean
the north sea North Sea
The article is not used if the noun is preceded by a proper noun in the possessive case or a possessive pronoun.
For example:
John's house johnson house
my friend's house my friend's house
my book my book
our house our house
That is, the absence of the article. In this article, we will look at the indefinite article a \ an in English.
Article a or an?
The indefinite article has two forms: a and an. The rules for using them are very simple.
- Article in the form "a" used before a consonant: a boot, a tie, a lock, a house, a car, a job.
- Article in the form “an” used before vowels: an apple, an iron, an oven, an error.
Even if the word starts with a consonant but starts with a vowel, “an” is used. These cases include:
- unpronounceable h at the beginning of a word: an hour[ən ˈaʊə], an honor[ənˈɒnə].
- Some abbreviations that are read by individual letters: an FBI agent[ən ɛf biː aɪ ˈeɪʤənt].
The indefinite article a \ an in English is the basic rule
If we reduce the rules to the main general, it will be like this.
General rule: The indefinite article is used to denote not specific, but some, some object (that is why it is called indefinite). In Russian, we could instead say “some”, “some”, “some”, “one”.
By the way, the article a \ an comes from the word one (one) - knowing this, it is easy to understand its meaning and use. Consider examples.
I need a shovel. - I need (any) shovel.
I'd like to buy a ticket. - I would like to buy (one, any) ticket.
Compare, if you replace a \ an with the definite article the, the meaning will change:
I need the shovel. – I need (this particular) shovel.
I'd like to buy the ticket. - I would like to buy (that specific) ticket.
Rules for using the article a (an) in English
Let's look at more specific rules. So, the article a \ an is used when:
1. This refers to anyone, no matter which representative of a class of objects or persons.
A baby can do that. - A baby (anyone) can do it.
A triangle has three sided. - A triangle (any) has three sides.
The article does not necessarily stand immediately before , between them it can be denoting the attribute of a noun.
I need a cheap ball pen. I need (some) cheap ballpoint pen.
I want to buy a good hockey stick. I want to buy (some) good hockey stick.
Note that if, in a similar case, the definite article the is used, the meaning will change dramatically, for example:
I want to buy the hockey stick. I want to buy a (certain) club.
2. A noun refers to who or what an object or person is.
Most often this is a profession, if it is a person, or the name of an object (class of objects), if it is about something inanimate. In this case, the article is difficult to “translate” into Russian. You need to understand that a noun denotes an object \ person as a whole, not as a separate instance, but as a generalizing concept.
I am a doctor. - I am a doctor.
He is anexperienced graphicdesigner. – He is an experienced graphic designer.
This is a snowboard. - It's a snowboard.
If you use the, it will not be about the class of objects as a whole, but about a specific representative:
Hi is the experienced designer. – He is an experienced designer.
3. We are talking about one object or person.
That is, literally about the subject in the amount of one piece. Here the article a \ an means almost the same thing as one.
I'd like a cup of hot chocolate. I would like (one) cup of hot chocolate.
I need a day to rest. I need (one) day to rest.
With the article the, it will also, in general, be about one subject, but about a specific one. For example, not just about a cup of chocolate, but about the cup that you brewed first, her foam came out prettier:
I'd like the cup of hot chocolate. I would like (that) cup of hot chocolate.
4. We are talking about an object or person mentioned in a conversation for the first time ...
... and when we speak for the second, third, tenth time, we use the article the.
Here the use of articles is dictated by simple logic. Speaking about an object for the first time, we usually speak of it as “something”, “something”.
– You know, I watched interesting movie yesterday. – You know, I watched (some) interesting movie yesterday.
Five minutes have passed, we have already discussed the film inside and out, and we are no longer talking about it as some but how about quite certain movie:
– Yeah, I think, I’m going to rewatch the movie!– Yes, I think I will review (this) film.
In general, this rule is very easily violated. For example, I decided to intrigue the interlocutor and say right off the bat that I watched not just some movie, but THE SAME movie:
– You know, I watched the movie yesterday. – You know, I watched THAT movie yesterday.
Or in this particular conversation, the subject may be mentioned for the first time, but both interlocutors perfectly understand what it is about.
Mary: Honey, where is mirror? “Darling, where is the mirror?”
John: Your mom's present is in the bathroom, as always. “Your mom’s gift in the bathroom, as usual.
5. In a number of stable expressions
Basically, they are related to time and quantity:
- in a day \ week \ month \ year - in a day \ week \ month \ year
- in an hour - in an hour
- in a half an hour - in half an hour
- a few - a few
- a little - a little
- a lot (great deal) of - a lot
The indefinite article a \ an is often used in set expressions like to have (to take) + noun, implying some kind of one-time action:
- to have (take) a look - look
- to have a walk - take a walk
- to have (take) a seat - sit down
- to take a note - make a note, write down
Notes:
- Some expressions according to this scheme are used with a zero article, for example: to have fun - have fun.
- With the definite article the in most cases, the words are used: the future, the past, the present.
- The names of the seasons are used with the or zero article: in (the) winter, in (the) summer, etc.
Indefinite article before adjective and pronoun
Articles (any) can be used before adjectives. In this case, they serve as determiners not to adjectives, of course, but to the noun, the sign of which these adjectives designate:
- She is a nice beautiful girl. – She is a nice beautiful girl.
- I need the red hat. - I need a red hat.
Articles are not used before a noun if it is already defined by a possessive (my, your, his, her, etc.) or a demonstrative pronoun (this, these, that, those). The point is that if the subject is said to be “whose -that”, this already means that the subject is specific, definite - this makes the article a \ an impossible, and the article the superfluous.
- Not right: I am looking for a (the) my dog.
- Correctly: I am looking for my dog.
Greetings, my dear readers.
I know that I usually start with something else, but today I have a task for you right away. I want you to look at these sentences and tell me what is the difference.
Tommy sat down on a chair while waiting for his turn. Tommy sat down on a chair while waiting for his turn.
Tommy sat on the chair nearest to the door while waiting for his turn. Tommy sat down on the chair closest to the door while he waited his turn.
You have probably already noticed that the difference is in the very articles and the meanings that they carry. And yes, my dears, today we will have an exciting journey, where there will be an important topic for you and me - articles in English. I will tell you the basic rules, give many examples, both for children and adults. And I also immediately give you links to and on the topic of articles.
What is it and what is it used for?
Let's define right away: article is something that should always come before a noun. He defines the noun, very roughly speaking, so that we can better understand what is being said.
What are they and what are they used for?
There are three of them in total: a, an and the.
And their use depends on which noun follows next. There are two types of nouns in English:
- Countable- those that we can count. For example:
Pen
Earring - earring
- Uncountable The ones we can't count. For example:
Sugar - sugar
water - water
To understand when articles are used, we also need to remember that nouns are singular (diamond - diamond) or plural (diamonds - diamonds).
And now, just to be absolutely clear, here is table with examples where you can clearly see where and with what they are used.
Brother "a"
This article also bears the not at all proud name " uncertain » ( ). This is because it is usually placed in front of objects, of which there are many throughout the world. And it is used only with nouns that can be counted, and even then if they are in the singular. That is, if there is a lot of something, and you need to mention one thing, it is necessary to use this particular article. Let's look at examples:
This morning I bought a magazine.- I bought a magazine this morning. (Not any specific magazine, but one of those that were in the store).
I had a sandwich for lunch.- I had a sandwich for lunch. (Some one sandwich).
My sister got a job. - My sister got a job. (One of the existing works around the world).
By the way, the article "a" has a small, modest brother, which appears quite rarely - before words that begin with vowels. This is "an". His goal is the same, so do not be afraid - do not get confused.
I've got an apple and an orange with me. - I have an apple and an orange with me.
Brother "the"
The article the, it also bears the name definite , is used when we know the subject to be discussed. Next to him, countable and uncountable nouns both in the singular and in the plural calmly coexist ( You can learn more about him).
In addition, very often it is used with geographical names and set expressions that you just need to learn. But it is important to remember that everywhere, including the names of places, there are exceptions that we will learn separately ( Come in to find out about it.).
Rosy doesn't feel well. She went to the doctor. Rosie doesn't feel well. She went to the doctor. (To the doctor she usually goes to).
Did Molly get the job she applied for? Did Molly get the job she applied for? (Exactly the job she applied for).
When is it not at all?
OK then,- you say. - When these articles are used, we understand. But we do not always use only them!
And here you will be right, because the English language prepared a small test for us and created cases where the article is not needed at all. And this phenomenon even got its name - zero article. Its use is mainly associated with exceptions to the previous rules. Or if we use in speech proper names(Tom, Mary, Ritha) or any concepts in general.
Apples grow on the trees.- Apples grow on trees. (In general, all apples as a species).
Tom bought a bike. Tom bought himself a motorcycle. (There is no article before proper nouns.)
There are also situations when nothing needs to be put before a noun. It happens after pronouns(my, our, his, this, that, etc.).
By the way, my dears, after completing the lesson with the rules, never forget to practice. I have for you that will help to consolidate new material for a long time. You can also, which will help you remember the rules for using articles for a long time. Of course, articles are not the easiest rules for children, whether it's 2nd grade or 8th grade. And adults usually suffer with them too. But with my help, I hope you can figure them out faster.
Do not forget that you can receive news from my blog much faster by simply subscribing to the newsletter. Be the first to know about all important events.
Continuing to talk about articles, we will finally look at the definite article. How to understand that before a noun you need to put the?
By the way, I’ll start with the good news that in English the definite article the is one and does not change, neither by numbers, nor by gender, nor by any other grammatical categories. German learners will certainly appreciate this - after der / die / das (and at the same time dem with den) - using only one form - the - is a pleasure.
Now about when to use it. In its most general form, the rule looks like this: if the noun that we tell the interlocutor is already known to him (or we think that he is aware), the article the is used before this noun. Let's take a closer look at the main cases where it happens.
1. With a noun that has already been mentioned before
This is the basic rule. After the first mention with the indefinite article a, the object becomes known, becomes "thus". And therefore, in any subsequent time, the article the must be used with it.
I have an apple and a banana. the apple is sour and the banana is rotten. I have an apple and a banana. The apple is sour and the banana has gone bad.
2. The interlocutor knows what kind of object they are talking about
If the noun has not yet come up in a conversation, but the interlocutor should already understand which of the many objects they are talking about, use the. For example, if you, while visiting, ask the owner where the toilet is - most likely, you mean the toilet in his apartment, and not the toilet in general: therefore “Where is the bathroom?” would be a perfectly correct use of the definite article.
Dude, are you going to the party? – You mean tonight at John's? no. man, I can't. Dude, are you going to the party tonight? Which one does John have? No, I can't.
3. There is an indication of which object in question
That is, the absence of the article. Consider when the article the is used, which, by the way, according to linguists, is the most common word in the English language, although, of course, it is difficult to call it a word.
How to use the definite article THE - the basic rule
Most of the rules for using the definite article the are as follows: the is placed before a noun denoting something specific. The article the itself comes from the word that (this, that) - knowing this, it is easier to understand how it is used.
This is the place that we were talking about. - This is the place we were talking about.
You have the file what I need. – Do you have the document that I need.
The article here defines not, of course, but the noun defined by this adjective. The article the is needed because the superlative degree of a sign or person distinguishes it as unique:
This is the most delicious ice cream in the world. - This is the most delicious ice cream in the world.
He is the smartest student in the university. He is the smartest student at the university.
5. Before a number of adjectives implying the uniqueness of the subject.
These are words like the same(same), only(the only one), left\right(left \ right). Like superlative adjectives, they indicate the specificity of what is being said.
This is the only way out. - This is the only way out.
turn the left valve, please. – Turn the right valve, please.
My sister had the same problem. My sister had the same problem.
6. Before ordinal numbers.
Ordinal - denoting a number, not a quantity. If an item is "first" or "twentieth", this implies its relative uniqueness (in the context of the conversation). This also applies to words like the last(last), the previous(previous), which are similar in meaning to ordinal numbers.
Who was the first human in the space? Who was the first man in space?
I am reading the third chapter now. I am currently reading the third chapter.
Let's invite the previous candidate again. Let's invite the previous candidate again.
This is the last warning. “This is the last warning.
7. Before the names of people, when it comes to the family as a whole.
The surname is used in the plural, as in Russian.
I don't know the Allens, but they seem to be nice people. “I don't know the Allens, but they seem like nice people.
The Petrovs moved out on Monday. The Petrovs moved out on Monday.
8. Before wordspast, present, future, winter, spring, summer, autumn (fall).
These words are worth highlighting separately, because many expressions of time use the indefinite or zero article, for example: a week ago(a week ago) on Monday- on Monday. Speaking of the past, future, present, we use the:
That is my plan for the future. Here is my plan for the future.
Whatever happened in the past, stays in the past. Whatever happened in the past, it will remain in the past.
When we talk about the seasons, we use the when we mean, say, the fall of a particular year. Speaking about the season in general, we use the zero or definite article:
- I moved to London autumn of 2010. – I moved to London in autumn 2010.
- Poets love (the) autumn. Poets love autumn.
Note: the words autumn and fall mean "autumn" autumn is the British version fall- American.
9. Before some place names
- a rather confusing topic, I will highlight the main cases:
- The article the is not needed before names of single-word countries (Russia, Spain), but is needed before names that include words like federation, kingdom, states: the Russian Federation, the Kingdom of Spain, the United Stated of America.
- The is also placed before place names used in the plural: the Netherlands(Netherlands), the Virgin Islands(Virgin Islands), the Urals(Ural Mountains).
The article THE before adjectives and pronouns
Any article, both the and a\an, can be used before an adjective. The article at the same time determines the noun, the attribute of which denotes this adjective:
This is the new guy I told you about. “This is the new guy I told you about.
Have a nice day. - Have a nice day.
Neither the article the nor a\an is used before a possessive (my, his, your, etc.) or demonstrative (this, these, that, those) pronoun that defines a noun - it already speaks of belonging in itself, and therefore the specificity of the subject.
- Not right: Where is my car?
- Correctly: Where is my car?
