Definite and Indefinite Articles

Lipovac Tatjana

• Use a/an with the singular noun, the- with singular or noun in plural.A cat- some catsThe cat- the cats

• Use 'a' with nouns starting with a consonant (letters that are not vowels), 'an' with nouns starting with a vowel (a,e,i,o,u) a boy

• an apple• a car• an orange• a house• an operaNOTE:

An before an h mute - an hour, an honour.A before u and eu when they sound like 'you': a european, a university, a unit

ARTICLE (Članovi)

DEFINITE (određeni) INDEFINITE (neodređeni)

the a, an

INDEFINITE ARTICLE (a/an)USE EXAMPLE NOTES

to refer to something for the first time

An elephant and a mouse fell in love.Would you like a drink?I've finally got a good job.

Yesterday I met a boy near my house. The boy wanted to comunicate with me.

meaning 'one', referring to a single object or person:

I'd like an orange and two lemons please.

Notice also that we usually say a hundred, a thousand, a million.NOTE: that we use 'one' to add emphasis or to contrast with other numbers: I don't know one person who likes eating elephant meat.We've got six computers but only one printer.

with names of jobs: John is a doctor.Mary is training to be an engineer.He wants to be a dancer.

with nationalities and religions:

John is an Englishman.Kate is a Catholic.

John is British.

INDEFINITE ARTICLE (a/an)

USE EXAMPLE

to refer to a kind of, or example of something The mouse had a tiny nose.The elephant had a long trunk.It was a very strange car.

with singular nouns, after the words 'what' and 'such'

What a shame!She's such a beautiful girl.

after ‘There is” There is a book on the table.

DEFINITE ARTICLE (the)USE EXAMPLE

to refer to something which has already been mentioned.

An elephant and a mouse fell in love.The mouse loved the elephant's long trunk,and the elephant loved the mouse's tiny nose.

when both the speaker and listener know what is being talked about, even if it has not been mentioned before.

'Where's the bathroom?''It's on the first floor.'

in sentences or clauses where we define or identify a particular person or object

The man who wrote this book is famous.'Which car did you scratch?' 'The red one.My house is the one with a blue door.'

to refer to objects we regard as unique the sun, the moon, the world , the Internet, the Earth, the Eiffel TowerThe equator, the North/ South Pole,

before superlatives and ordinal numbers(only, last, first, second)

the highest building, the first page, the last chapter

DEFINITE ARTICLE (the)USE EXAMPLE NOTES

with adjectives, to refer to a whole group of people (as plural nouns), families, nationalities ending in – sh, -ch, -ese

the Japanese, the English, the Dutch, the Greens, the old, the poor, the rich

Other plural nationalities are used with or without “ the” The Greeks, the Italians, Latvians (the Latvians)

with the words: beach, cinema, country (side), ground, jungle, radio, sea, seaside, theatre, world, station, shop, pub, library

He laiks going to the theatre.She went to the station to meet Jim.

We often say “ television” without “ the” .We often watch television.But! Turn on the television (set).

before “ most” (as a superlative) She is the most beautiful girl.

Don’t use “ the” if “ most” is as a determiner followed by a noun.Most people believe he is a liar.

morning, afternoon, evening I’ll be at home in the evening.

But don’t use with: at night, at noon, at midnight, at 4 o’clock, by day/ night

historical references/events The Renaissance, the Middle Ages, the First World War

But: World War I

DEFINITE ARTICLE (the)USE EXAMPLE

with the manes of: rivers, seas, groups of islands/ states, mountain ranges, deserts, oceans, canals, directions

The Danube, the Black Sea, The Bahamas, the USA, the Alps, the Sahara desert, the Atlantic, the north/south, east/ west

With the names or nouns with “ of” The Tower of London, the Statue of Liberty

musical instruments, dances The piano, the tango

with the titles The Queen, the Prince, (but not with Queen Victoria)

with the names of:cinemas, theatres, hotels, museums, newspapers/magazines, ships

The Odeon, the Sheraton, the Prado, the Guardian

with decades, or groups of years She grew up in the seventies.

There is no Article (the)USE EXAMPLE NOTES

with names of countries (if singular)

Germany is an important economic power.He's just returned from Zimbabwe.

But: I'm visiting the United States next week.The United Kingdom, the European Union

with the names of languages

French is spoken in Tahiti.English uses many words of Latin origin.Indonesian is a relatively new language.

But: I’m studying the English language.

with the names of meals Lunch is at midday.Breakfast is the first meal of the day.

with people's names (if singular)

John's coming to the party.George King is my uncle.

But: we're having lunch with the Morgans tomorrow.

after the 's possessive case His brother's car. Peter's house.

with professions Engineering is a useful career.He'll probably go into medicine.

There is no Article (the)USE EXAMPLE NOTES

with years: 1948 was a wonderful year.Do you remember 1995?

With uncountable nouns: Rice is the main food in Asia.Milk is often added to tea inEngland.

But: I don’t usually like rice, butthe rice I ate yesterday wasreally tasty.

with the names ofindividual mountains, lakesand islands:

Mount McKinley is the highestmountain in Alaska.She lives near LakeWindermere.Have you visited Long Island?

But: The Alps

with most names of towns, streets, stations andairports:

Victoria Station is in the centreof London.Can you direct me to BondStreet?She lives in Florence.They're flying from Heathrow.

Let’s do some exercises!

1. Robert and Jim went to ____the__ party last night.2. Can you tell me how to get to ___the____ cinema from here?3. ___The____ college is closed today.4. George is one of ___the___ strangest people I know.5. I recommend you try ___x____ tomato soup at this restaurant.6. Would you like to see ___a___ film? ___The___ film I saw yesterday was excellent.7. ___An___ apple __a__ day keeps __the____ doctor away.8. I can't believe I failed ___the___ yesterday's test!9. Do you have ____the___ dictionary that I can borrow?10. ____x__Maria is wearing _a__ blue dress with red shoes11. Christmas comes once _a__ year.12. Jane went to the shop to buy _x__ bread.13. ____x__mum broke __a_ glass when she was washing-up.14. This is _an__ easy question. This is ___the__ easiest exercise I have ever seen.15. Stephen could you speak __a_ little louder.16. May I have your _x__ phone number?17. May I ask you __a_ question?18. __x____Alex is __the_ best teacher in our school.19. My girlfriend has __x_ my car today.20. I went to _the__ sea during my summer holiday.21. This is Joanna. She's ___a__ doctor.22. Is there __a_ cash machine near here?

I am from___x____ Winchester, _x___Hampshire. Winchester is __a___city in ___the____United Kingdom. I live in ___a____town called Taunton which is on ___the___River Tone. I live in ___a___house in ___a___quiet street in __the____ countryside. ___The___street is called ___x___ "Hudson Street" and ____the___house is old - more than 100 years old! I am ____an__English lecturer at___a___ college near ____the___centre of __the____town. I like ___x___books, ____x___music and taking ___x______photographs. I usually have____x___ lunch at_____the__ college. I usually go __x_____home by car. We have all kinds of food in___x_____ England. I like__x___ Polish food very much. Sometimes, I go to ____a___Polish restaurant in ____x______Bath. ____The______restaurant is called "Magda's". ____x____Polish food is delicious!