1

The Use of
Articles
LTC Eastbourne: Martin Sketchley 2012
06/28/12
2
Articles
Do you know what Articles are?
When should Articles be used?
What is the Zero Article?
What are the rules of Articles?
What are the Definite and Indefinite
Articles?
06/28/12
3
The Different Articles
There are three types of articles in English:
Definite Articles (the)
Indefinite Articles (a / an)
Zero Articles (no article )
The proper use of articles is difficult to master,
especially when you get into advanced use of
English.
Often you have to work it out by what sounds right
but this can be frustrating.
06/28/12
4
Indefinite Articles
Indefinite Articles refer to something not known by
the person you are communicating with.
It is also used before nouns to introduce something
or someone which was not mentioned before.
Example:
I saw a monkey this morning at the zoo. It was eating a
banana.
Indefinite Articles are used to talk about your job.
Example:
Im an English teacher OR I am a builder.
06/28/12
5
Definite Articles
Definite Articles are used when the speaker and
listener knows or can figure out what you are talking
about.
Example:
I saw a monkey at the zoo today. The monkey ate a
banana but the banana was rotten!
The definite article is usually used after the particular
object or noun has been introduced.
Whats the difference with the examples below?
The books are expensive!
Books are expensive!
06/28/12
6
Zero Article (No Article)
We usually use no article to talk about things in general:
Inflation is rising.
People are worried about crime.
We do not use an article when talking about sports:
My son plays football.
Tennis is difficult to pick up.
Articles are generally not used with uncountable nouns:
Information is important to any organisation.
Coffee is bad for you.
Countries do not use an article except where they indicate
multiple areas or contain the words (state, kingdom, republic,
union): The Netherlands, the UK, the USA, the Republic of
Korea.
06/28/12
7
Exceptions
There are many exceptions to the rules above and
you need to learn from practice how best to use
articles.
Do you know when to use a and an?
Usually you use a with consonants and an with
vowels.
But do you say:
a university or an university?
a honest man or an honest man?
06/28/12
8
Choose The Correct Article
____ Himalayas
____ Mount Everest
0 (a / an / the / )
06/28/12
9
Choose The Correct Article
____ Italy
0 (a / an / the / )
06/28/12
10
Choose The Correct Article
____ UK
0 (a / an / the / )
06/28/12
11
Choose The Correct Article
____ river is flooded.
0 (a / an / the / )
06/28/12
12
Choose The Correct Article
He was ____
accountant for five
years.
0 (a / an / the / )
06/28/12
13
Choose The Correct Article
I enjoyed ____ course in
____ morning but by ____
midday it was ____ bit
boring.
0 (a / an / the / )
06/28/12
14
Choose The Correct Article
I generally go to work by
____ bus.
I generally take ____
bus to work.
0 (a / an / the / )
06/28/12
15
Choose The Correct Article
I shall see you in ____
New Year.
0 (a / an / the / )
06/28/12
16
Choose The Correct Article
____ Pacific Ocean.
0 (a / an / the / )
06/28/12
17
Any Questions?