1. Indefinite articles

2. a / an: which one to use? a before consonants, or vowels pronounced as consonants a European a universal truth an before vowels, or consonants pronounced as vowels an honour an hour an MRI scan

3. indefinite article before occupations also professions, nationalities, religions, titles, or other states in life: My grandfather was a doctor. Are you single / a bachelor? If you are a student, you get a reduction. He’s not a Catholic, but he still celebrates Carnival. The profession of a plumber (the plumbing profession) is not popular with girls. Mijn opa was arts. Bent U vrijgezel? Als je student bent, krijg je korting. Hij is geen Katholiek, en toch viert hij Carnaval. Het beroep van loodgieter is niet in trek bij meisjes.

4. no indefinite article… …when the occupation is held by only one person at a time He was captain of the All Blacks. Boadica was Queen of Iceni. …when two qualities of one person are contrasted Jennifer Lopez as actress and diplomat …after certain expressions: the post of … the office of… the rank of…

5. indefinite article after as Translate these sentences into Dutch. What can you conclude about use of the indefinite article after as? 1.As a service to our customers, we now offer a free cleaning service after every paintball reservation. 2. She was given fifty euros as a reward. 3. As a result of their hard work, they passed their grammar exam the first time round. 4. Because of its spectacular acoustics, the cathedral is being used as a concert hall.

6. Marc Quinn, Portrait of an artist as a young man, 2005

8. indefinite article after with and without Translate the following sentences into English. What can you conclude about the use of the indefinite article after with and without? 1.Ze ging zonder sleutel weg. 2.Wij kochten een auto zonder achterbank. 3.Ik kreeg een dagboek met slot. 4.Hij had een kamer met uitzicht op de gracht.  the indefinite article is not used before more than one word: a hotel room with mini-bar, jacuzzi, sauna, microwave, and home cinema

9. indefinite article before hundred and thousand the indefinite article is used before hundred and thousand:

10. indefinite article for Dutch ‘een zekere’( when there is a title) A Ms Bardot called to see you. Does a Dr. Seuss have a mailbox here? A certain Mr Bond left his watch here.

11. indefinite article in a number of fixed expressions (see pages 210-211) to have a fever to be in a hurry to have an appetite to come to a standstill to go on a journey 59p a kilo

12. indefinite article in a number of fixed expressions (see pages 210-211) What a pity! two at a time to sell at a loss in a loud voice What a pity! have a headache With or without the indefinite article (depending who you talk to): toothache, backache, stomachache, earache, pain in the butt

13. indefinite article in Dutch but not in English before part of een deel van het probleem part of the problem gedurende een deel van de studie during part of the academic programme after what before noncount nouns and plural nouns Wat een mooie torens! What beautiful towers! Wat een energie! What energy!

14. Final task: translate the sentences and indicate which rule you apply to the indefinite article (a – i) There are two indefinite article rules per sentence. 1.Als je buikpijn hebt, moet je een deel van het etentje missen. 2. Als student woonde hij in een kamer zonder raam. 3. Was hij lid van een vakbond? 4. Duizend demonstranten stonden te wachten op een zekere Mr Bush. 5. Wat een onzin om nu met verlies te moeten verkopen! a.A before consonants, AN before vowels (+ exceptions) b.before nouns denoting an occupation etc. c.After ‘as’ d.After ‘with’ / ‘without’ e.before ‘hundred’ and ‘thousand’ f.for Dutch ‘een zekere’ g.in fixed expressions h.Not before ‘part of’ i.not after ‘what’ (noncount / plural nouns) KEY: 1.g, h 2.c/b, d 3.b, a 4.e, f 5.i, g

15. a few final words… So, the English definite article ‘the’ walks into a bar with his old friend, the English indefinite article ‘a’. They sit down, order some drinks, and then ‘a’ asks, “So, what’re you up to these days? Still marking noun phrases?” ‘the’ nods its head, taking a drink. “Definitely.”