1. The Use of Articles

2. Articles are words used in front of nouns to identify them as being... general (indefinite) a a woman specific (definite) the the woman in the library or

3. In English, there are three choices involving articles: the smoking chicken chickens a chicken the no article. a/an

4. How do you know which one to use? no article? a/an? the? We need to take three things into consideration:

5. 1.Is the noun definite or indefinite? 2. Is it countable or uncountable? 3. Is it singular or plural?

6. A noun is INDEFINITE when either the speaker or the listener of the information do not have a specific thing in mind. A game

7. I brought you a book. (one out of many possible books)

8. When a noun is indefinite, to decide what article to use we need to know the kind of noun it is: Singular or pluralCountable or uncountable

9. When the noun is countable and singular, use : a an (in front of words beginning or (in front of words beginning with a consonant sound) an with a vowel sound) dog university hotel owl herb hour

10. clothes bags pets dishes pans pictures people shoes socks players When the noun is countable and plural, use nothing.

11. When the noun is uncountable, use nothing. fish light sand ice freedom emptiness water sky beauty food

12. The indefinite article (a/an) is often used to classify and define things (that is, to say what something is or what somebody does). A poodle is a type of dog. Mrs. Jonas is an English teacher.

13. The indefinite article (a/an) is also used in exclamations with “What…! What a beautiful ring! What an enormous house!

14. Use the indefinite article (a/an) also in expressions of frequency I play golf twice a week I fly to London once a month

15. A DEFINITE noun is one that is specifically recognized by both the speaker and listener Look! The White House!

16. When a noun is definite, the object is unique to both the speaker and the listener, and you use the article the. Here’s the teddy bear, Jeff.

17. “I’ll get you the book.” The person who says this sentence knows that the person who hears it already knows which book he is referring to.

18. Use the definite article when the context makes it clear what is being talked about, so it becomes unique. I saw a man and a woman at the park yesterday. The man looked just like you. Who was the first man on the moon?

19. You also use the definite article when the noun is intrinsically unique (there is only one). The sun is at the center of our solar system.

20. Use the definite article also with superlatives. The Everest is the highest mountain in the world.

21. The definite article is also used with places in a town. How often do you go to the gym?

22. We don’t use an article, as we have already said, when we are speaking in general (with plural countable nouns and uncountable nouns). But also: - With some nouns (such as home, work, school, church,…) after the prepositions at, to and from. e.g. I came back from work at 8.30. - Before meals, days and months. e.g. Lunch is at 12.30. - Before next and last + day, week, month, year,… e.g. I moved to Málaga last year.

23. To summarize: With definite nouns: THE With indefinite, singular, nouns: 1. with words starting with a vowel sound: AN 2. with words starting with a consonant sound: A With indefinite, plural nouns and uncountable nouns: NOTHING

24. Complete the sentences with a, an, the or – (no article): - I saw ________ old man with ________ dog. ________ dog was barking. - This is ________ fastest way to get to ________school. - My father is ______ pilot. He loves flying _______ planes. anaThe the __ - This is ______ cocroach. I hate _______cocroaches. - I always have ______ breakfast at 7.30, before I go to _______ gym. Then I go to ______ work. a __ a - I bought a new car ______ last week. __ - I play tennis twice ______ week. an The- What ______ awful day! ______ sky is dark gray. a the