1. Articles: Indefinite and Definite7
Articles: Indefinite and Definite
The Rules of the Game
Focus on Grammar 3
Part V, Unit 22
By Ruth Luman, Gabriele Steiner, and BJ Wells
Copyright © Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

2. Chess
Chess is a game for two players. Each player begins with a set of sixteen white or black pieces. Some chess sets are plain, but some are very unusual. The players take turns moving their pieces on a board with 64 squares. Each type of piece moves in a different way. The Queen is the most powerful piece, but the King is the most important. The primary goal in chess is to checkmate your opponent’s King. The game is over when a King cannot avoid capture.

3. You’ll need some luck to beat me.
Indefinite Nouns 1
A noun is indefinite when you and your listener do not have a specific person, place, or thing in mind.
Let’s play a game!
You’ll need some luck to beat me.

4. Indefinite Nouns 2
Use the indefinite article a / an with singular count nouns that are indefinite.
singular count noun
Chess is a game for two players.
singular count noun
You may capture an enemy piece.

5. A or An 1 Use a before consonant sounds. A chessboard has 64 squares.
with a
sound
A chessboard has 64 squares.
vowel
with a
consonant
sound
Chess is a unique game.

6. A or An 2 Use an before vowel sounds. The game lasted over an hour.
consonant
with a
vowel
sound
The game lasted over an hour.
vowel
with a
sound
Chess is an interesting game.

7. Indefinite Nouns 3 Some chess sets are very unusual.
Use no article (  ) or some with plural count nouns and non-count nouns that are indefinite. Some means an indefinite number.
plural count noun
Some chess sets are very unusual.
non-count noun
Most players enjoy competition.

8. Identifying Nouns 1
Use a / an with singular count nouns to say what someone or something is.
singular count noun
Chess is a board game.
singular count noun
Chess is an interesting game .

9. Identifying Nouns 2 Kings, queens, and bishops are chess pieces.
Use no article (  ) with plural count nouns and non-count nouns to say what someone or something is.
plural count noun
Kings, queens, and bishops are chess pieces.
non - count nouns
Some chess sets are made of marble or glass.

10. Make General Statements
Use no article (  ) with plural count nouns and non-count nouns to make general statements.
plural count noun
Players often play with chess clocks.
non - count noun
Special software is needed to play chess online.

11. Practice 1   an a a an Some a
Complete the sentences with a, an, some, or  (no article). 
Example: Can you play ______chess? 
1. In chess, ______ pawns move one square at a time.
2. Chess is ____ interesting game. an a
3. The white Queen begins on ______ white square. a
4. A pawn can be promoted to ______ Queen. an
5. A verbal call of “check” is ______ insult.
Some a
6. ______ games end in ______ tie.

12. Definite Nouns
A noun is definite when you and your listener both know which person, place or thing you are talking about.
Right here. It’s part of the furniture.
Where is the chessboard?

13. The 1 Players with the white pieces move first.
Use the with most common nouns (count and non-count, singular and plural) that are definite.
plural count noun
Players with the white pieces move first.
singular count noun
The queen is the most powerful piece.
non - count noun
Some players record the time between moves.

14. The 2 Use the when a person, place, or thing is unique.
There’s
only
one
winner.
The player who checkmates is the winner.
There’s
only
one
web.
People can play chess on the web.

15. The 3
Use the when the context makes it clear which person, place, or thing you mean.
Will you let me win
the game?
They know
he is
talking
about their
card game.

16. Practice 2
Complete the sentences with a, an, the, some, or  (no article).
It started in China, but people play Mahjong all over ______ world. Mahjong is played with ______ tiles. They are made from ______ bamboo or ivory. ______ tiles display ______ flowers, numbers, or ______ unique animal. Players shuffle the tiles by building ______ wall. There are several mahjong patterns such as a Chow and a Pong. ______ Kong contains four tiles of ______ same number and suit. ______ Eye contains two tiles of the same number and suit. The object of ______ game is to collect ______ set of fourteen tiles in four groups of three tiles and ______ matched pair. Now you can download ______ Mahjong and play it over ______ Internet.
the  
The  a a
Mahjong A
the An
the a a 
the

17. References Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education and its licensors.
All rights reserved.
Chess Table ©