The Article
The Indefinite, Definite and Zero
Article
THE INDEFINITE ARTICLE
• 1. We use the indefinite article, a/an,
with countable nouns when
the hearer/reader does not know exactly
which one we are referring to:
• Police are searching for a 14-year-old girl.
• 2. We also use it to show that the person or
thing is one of a group:
• She is a pupil at London Road School.
Examples: indefinite article
• Police have been searching for a 14 year-old girl who
has been missing since Friday.
Jenny Brown, a pupil at London Road School, is
described as 1.6 metres tall with short blonde hair.
She was last seen wearing a blue jacket, a blue and
white blouse and dark blue jeans and blue shoes.
Anyone who has information should contact the local
police on 0800349781.
Plural and uncountable nouns
• We do not use an indefinite article with plural
nouns and uncountable nouns:
• She was wearing blue shoes. (= plural noun)
She has short blonde hair. (= uncountable
noun)
Plural & uncountable nouns cont.
• Police have been searching for a 14 year-old girl who
has been missing since Friday.
Jenny Brown, a pupil at London Road School, is
described as 1.6 metres tall with short blonde hair.
She was last seen wearing a blue jacket, a blue and
white blouse and dark blue jeans and blue shoes.
Anyone who has information should contact the local
police on 0800349781.
Rules for a / an
• We use a/an to say what someone is or
what job they do:
• My brother is a doctor.
George is a student.
• 5. We use a/an with a singular noun to say
something about all things of that kind:
• A man needs friends. (= All men need friends)
A dog likes to eat meat. (= All dogs like to eat
meat)
• (BBC World Service)
‘An’ before a vowel
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6. We use an before a vowel.
I don’t like being in an argument with her.
Learning to ride an elephant isn’t easy.
She’s an intelligent girl. BUT She’s a highly
intelligent girl.
He is going into hospital for an operation.
Go and buy an umbrella – it’s raining!
6a. What about words which don’t start with
vowels but which sound like vowels?
Example: I’ll be an hour late.
‘An’ and H-words
• The initial sound of hour is /aʊ/, a vowel (well, actually, a
diphthong), and not the consonant /h/. Hour is pronounced the
same way as our -we say the h is unaspirated. The 'rule' is to use an
rather than a before a word beginning with a vowel sound.
• (English.stackexchange.com)
• Other examples:
• An honourable man
• An honest appraisal
• But:
• A holiday
• A habitat
• A horrible experience
The definite article
• The definite article the is the most frequent
word in English.
• We use the definite article in front of a noun
when we believe the hearer/reader
knows exactly what we are referring to
because there is only one:
The Pope is visiting Russia.
The moon is very bright tonight.
I am going to take the 8.30 train to work.
Definite article with superlative
adjective
• This is why we use the definite article with a
superlative adjective:
• He is the tallest boy in the class.
It is the oldest building in the town.
• • because there is only one in that place or in
those surroundings:
• (British Council.org)
The Zero article
• Nouns usually have an article; the indefinite articles 'a' or 'an' or the
definite article 'the'. Sometimes though there is no article
associated with a noun and this can be called the 'zero' article.
Today we learn some simple rules for when not to use an article.
• 1. to talk about plural and uncountable nouns or when talking
about things in general:
• I'm terrified of heights
I'm into drum and bass.
I hate cheese.
• 2. before countries, towns, streets, languages and single mountains:
• I'm from China.
I've climbed Mount Everest.
She speaks French.
Last examples
• 3. Before some places and with some forms of
transport:
I live at home with my parents.
I came here by car.
He goes to work by bus.
• 4. In exclamations with what + uncountable noun:
• What beautiful weather!
What loud music!
What disgusting food!
Exercises on the article
•
Complete the dialogues with a / an, the OR zero article. Where more than one answer is
possible, consider any differences in meaning.
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1 A: What’s the matter?
B: I’ve been working in the garden all …………….. afternoon and my back aches.
2 A: Can you remember when we last saw Alex?
B: It was ………… Sunday in June, I think.
3 A: When did you get your laptop?
B: July 15th last year. I remember because it was also …….. day I passed my driving test.
4 A: I haven’t seen Subin for months.
B: He’s been away in South Africa for ……. Winter.
5 A: I’ve spent ……… afternoon on the phone to my mother.
B: Why? Is there a problem?
6 A: Shall we go out walking on ……. Sunday? B: No, I’m busy this weekend.
7 A: Do you remember when Mateo did all the cooking?
B: Of course. It was …….. Christmas the rest of us had flu.
Exercises on the article cont.
•
Complete the sentences using the words from the box (more than once). Add any other
necessary words.
air
car
email
post
1 A: I got …………………. from Carla yesterday. B: How is she now?
2 The train was cancelled so I had to come ……………
3 Research has found that living plants are efficient at absorbing pollutants in ……………
4 The application forms came in ………….. this morning.
5 The exam results will be sent …………….. on 24th August.
6 It’s raining so I think I’ll take …………….
7 A: Shall I send Goran a letter? B: No, the quickest way to get in touch with him is …………
8. Thailand – Getting there …………………………: The main international airport in Thailand is
Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Complete both sentences in this pair, using the word ‘children’ and add where necessary.
1 a …………………… as young as ten are working in the clothing industry.
2 b While you’re painting the sitting room, I’ll take ………… over to the park.
Answers to exercises
• 1 A: What’s the matter?
•
B: I’ve been working in the garden all afternoon and my back aches.
• 2 A: Can you remember when we last saw Alex?
•
B: It was a Sunday in June, I think.
• 3 A: When did you get your laptop?
•
B: July 15th last year. I remember because it was also the day I passed
my driving test.
• 4 A: I haven’t seen Subin for months.
•
B: He’s been away in South Africa for the Winter.
• 5 A: I’ve spent the afternoon on the phone to my mother.
•
B: Why? Is there a problem?
• 6 A: Shall we go out walking on Sunday? B: No, I’m busy this weekend.
• 7 A: Do you remember when Mateo did all the cooking?
•
B: Of course. It was the Christmas the rest of us had flu.
Answers to exercises cont.
air
car
email
post
1 A: I got an email from Carla yesterday. B: How is she now?
2 The train was cancelled so I had to come by car / by air.
3 Research has found that living plants are efficient at absorbing pollutants in the air.
4 The application forms came in the post / an email this morning.
5 The exam results will be sent by post / by email on 24th August.
6 It’s raining so I think I’ll take the car.
7 A: Shall I send Goran a letter? B: No, the quickest way to get in touch with him is
by email.
8. Thailand – Getting there by air: The main international airport in Thailand is
Suvarnabhumi Airport.
children
1 a Children as young as ten are working in the clothing industry.
2 b While you’re painting the sitting room, I’ll take the children over to the park.