Definite and Indefinite Articles
Definite and Indefinite Articles
Definite and Indefinite Articles
What is an article?
Basically, articles are either definite or indefinite. They combine to a noun to indicate the type of reference
being made by the noun.
I met a friend.
a dog.
a pilot
a teacher.
a university
NOTE:
Although 'university' starts with the vowel 'u', it is not pronounced as such. It is pronounced as a consonant
sound /ju:.niv3:.si.ti/
The indefinite article an is used before a vowel sound:
an engineer.
an elephant.
an athlete
When we speak of something or someone for the first time we use a or an, the next time we repeat that
object we use the definite article the.
I live in a house. The house is quite old and has four bedrooms.
No article:
1. Do not use an article with countries, states, counties or provinces, lakes and mountains except when the
country is a collection of states such as "The United States".
2. we do not normally use an article with plurals and uncountable nouns to talk about things in general.:
He writes books.
Exercise
Choose the correct definite or indefinite article: "the", "a", "an" or "x" (zero article)
.
1. I bought pair of shoes.
2. I saw movie last night.
3. They are staying at hotel.
4. I think man over there is very unfriendly.
5. I do not like basketball.
6. That is problem I told you about.
7. . night is quiet. Let's take a walk!
8. . price of gas keeps rising.
9. John traveled to Mexico.
10.Juan is . Spanish.
11.I read .. amazing story yesterday.
12.My brother doesn't eat .chicken.
13... love is such beautiful thing.
14.I live in . apartment. . apartment is new.
15.I would like piece of cake.
16.I was in . Japanese restaurant. . restaurant served good food.
18. I bought a
19. I saw a
pair of shoes.
hotel.
basketball.
problem I told you about.
24. The
25. The
Mexico.
27. Juan is X
Spanish.
28. I read an
love is such a
31. I live in an
beautiful thing.
apartment. The
chicken.
apartment is new.
piece of cake.
Japanese restaurant. The
guitar.