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• The Article is a kind of determiner used

to identifies or classifies the noun.

• In the English language, the articles are

classified into 3 kinds:

1. Indefinite articles ( a, an)

2. Definite articles (the)

3. Zero articles (Omission of

articles)

I. Indefinite articles ( a, an)

A. “a, an” and common nouns

1. “A, an” are used with countable singular nouns in general sense.

EX: A small car is more practical than a big one.

2. “A, an” are used with the meaning : One- each- every

3. “A, an” are used with nouns of occupation,

politic,.. etc.

Ex: A teacher, an artist, a spy,…

A politician, a president, a mayor,…

4. A, an are used to refer to illnesses:I’ve got a headache, a cold, a pain in my heart,….

5. A, an are used in idiomatic expressions:

- To be in a hurry, to be at a loss, as a rule,…

6. A, an are used after the following words: what, such,

many, quite, half,..

What an interesting story!Such a beautiful day!He is quite a good fellow.Half an hourMany a (great number) famous film

star has been ruined by drug.

B. “A. an” and proper nouns

1. A, an can be used before a title ( Mr., Mrs. Miss,…with a sense of “ a certain person I don’t know.

A Mr. Dan phoned and left a message for you.

2. “A, an” are used with nouns of nationality,

religion.

Ex: An American, a German, A Chinese,…

A Christian, a Buddhist, An Islam,…

II. Definite articles II. Definite articles (the)(the)A. The and common nounsA. The and common nounsA common noun is used with THE when both A common noun is used with THE when both the speaker( writer) and listener( reader) the speaker( writer) and listener( reader) know exactly which one (s) is / are know exactly which one (s) is / are mentioned. mentioned.

There are 4 cases in which the speaker There are 4 cases in which the speaker assumes the listener knows exactly which assumes the listener knows exactly which one (s) is / are meant.one (s) is / are meant.

1.There is only one in our world or 1.There is only one in our world or immediate surroundingsimmediate surroundings..

1.1. There is only one in our world.1.1. There is only one in our world.a.a. The sunThe sun is shining. is shining.b.b. We must take care of We must take care of the environmentthe environment..

1.2. There is only one in our immediate 1.2. There is only one in our immediate surroundings( in our country, neighborhood, surroundings( in our country, neighborhood, house,...).house,...).

a.a. The rosesThe roses are beautiful. are beautiful.b.b. There is a vase on There is a vase on the TV.the TV.

1.3. Even though there may be more than one in 1.3. Even though there may be more than one in the area, we use the with the area, we use the with park, cinema, park, cinema, movies, bus, and trainmovies, bus, and train because we can figure because we can figure out that it is the one closest or most out that it is the one closest or most convenient to us, or the one we usually go to.convenient to us, or the one we usually go to.

a.a. I took I took the busthe bus to the town. to the town.

b.b. I went to I went to the parkthe park yesterday. yesterday.

22. The person or thing is identified in the . The person or thing is identified in the context (or conversation) through what has context (or conversation) through what has been mentioned or what is going to be been mentioned or what is going to be mentioned, so the reader knows “ which mentioned, so the reader knows “ which specific one” is mentionedspecific one” is mentioned..

2.1. Text- reference back (2.1. Text- reference back (what has what has

been mentionedbeen mentioned))

a.a. I bought a skirt and a dress. I bought a skirt and a dress. The dressThe dress is is much more expensive than much more expensive than the skirt.the skirt.

b.b. I took a taxi to the airport today and I took a taxi to the airport today and the the driverdriver told me that told me that the planesthe planes were running were running late.late.

2.2. Text- reference forward (2.2. Text- reference forward (what is what is

going to be mentionedgoing to be mentioned))

a.a. She is studying She is studying the historythe history of Vietnam. of Vietnam.

b.b. How did you get How did you get the mudthe mud on your coat. on your coat.

3 . There is only person or thing that can 3 . There is only person or thing that can be meant logically. In this case the be meant logically. In this case the word like only, most, first, last, make word like only, most, first, last, make clear that only one can be meantclear that only one can be meant..

a.a. He is He is the most popularthe most popular teacher in this school. teacher in this school.

b.b. Mary hurt herself on Mary hurt herself on the forehead.the forehead.

4. The class as a whole is referred to. In 4. The class as a whole is referred to. In this case one example stands for the this case one example stands for the whole class; as a result, “ THE” is used whole class; as a result, “ THE” is used with singular count noun. with singular count noun.

a.a. The peacockThe peacock is the nicest of all animals. is the nicest of all animals.

b.b. Life would be more difficult without Life would be more difficult without the the telephone.telephone.

B. Proper nouns and THEB. Proper nouns and THE

Most proper nouns do NOT have an article, Most proper nouns do NOT have an article, but sometimes, “ THE” is the part of the but sometimes, “ THE” is the part of the name. Here is the list:name. Here is the list:

1. Plural names:1. Plural names:

- People: The Taylors, The Jonhsons- People: The Taylors, The Jonhsons

- Countries: The Netherlands, The Midlands, The - Countries: The Netherlands, The Midlands, The United States,..United States,..

- Groups of Islands: The Bahamas, The Groups of Islands: The Bahamas, The Philippines,Philippines,

- Ranges of mountains: The Himalayas, The Ranges of mountains: The Himalayas, The Alps,… Alps,…

2. Names with the compass point in 2. Names with the compass point in themthem

The North, The West, The North West,… The North, The West, The North West,…

3. Names consisting of a common 3. Names consisting of a common noun with post modification.noun with post modification.

The District of ColombiaThe District of Colombia The Tower of LondonThe Tower of London The Great wall of ChinaThe Great wall of China The Bank of EnglandThe Bank of England The House of CommonsThe House of Commons

4. Names consisting of proper nouns 4. Names consisting of proper nouns and common nounsand common nouns

The White HouseThe White House The Grand HotelThe Grand Hotel The British MuseumThe British Museum The Tate GalleryThe Tate Gallery The British Broadcasting CoorporationThe British Broadcasting Coorporation

5. Names of water ways, big bodies 5. Names of water ways, big bodies of waterof water

Rivers: The Avon, The Nile river, The Thame Rivers: The Avon, The Nile river, The Thame Seas: The North sea, The Red sea, The Black Seas: The North sea, The Red sea, The Black

sea, The China sea,..sea, The China sea,.. Oceans: The Pacific, The Atlantic, The Indian Oceans: The Pacific, The Atlantic, The Indian

ocean, The Mediterranean,..ocean, The Mediterranean,.. Canals: Suez Canal, Panama canal,..Canals: Suez Canal, Panama canal,..

6. Names of people to refer to the people 6. Names of people to refer to the people of that country in a general senseof that country in a general sense

The VietnameseThe Vietnamese The ChineseThe Chinese The GermansThe Germans The ItaliansThe Italians The FrenchThe French The Americans.The Americans.

III. Zero articleIII. Zero articleA. A. Zero articleZero article and common nouns and common nouns

1.1. Zero article is used with plural countable, Zero article is used with plural countable, abstract nouns, and material nouns in abstract nouns, and material nouns in general sense.general sense.

Ex: Cats catch mice.Ex: Cats catch mice.

Women are fighting for their rights.Women are fighting for their rights.

life is short, and art is long.life is short, and art is long.

Gold is valuable metal.Gold is valuable metal.

2. Zero article is needed with 2. Zero article is needed with names of meals, colors, illnesses, names of meals, colors, illnesses,

seasons,… in general sense.seasons,… in general sense.

Ex:Ex: Breakfast is ready. Breakfast is ready.

I like blue.I like blue.

Influenza often occurs in spring.Influenza often occurs in spring.

3. Zero article is used with names of 3. Zero article is used with names of subjects, art, sports, games, means of subjects, art, sports, games, means of transport with by, headline news,….transport with by, headline news,….

Ex: Chemistry is an interesting subject to learn.Ex: Chemistry is an interesting subject to learn.

She is studying fine art.She is studying fine art.

Football is the most popular sport.Football is the most popular sport.

They play chess when they have time.They play chess when they have time.

We went there by bus.We went there by bus.

Fire in Dong Xuan market is unidentified.Fire in Dong Xuan market is unidentified.

4. Zero article is used with fixed 4. Zero article is used with fixed phrases.phrases.

Arm in armArm in arm Hand in handHand in hand Day by dayDay by day Face to faceFace to face From beginning to endFrom beginning to end From west to eastFrom west to east

5. Zero article is used with some 5. Zero article is used with some special places.special places.

Go to churchGo to church Go to schoolGo to school Go to bedGo to bed Go to marketGo to market Go to prisonGo to prison

B. Zero article and proper nounsB. Zero article and proper nouns

1.1. Personal names: Dr. Watson, President Personal names: Dr. Watson, President Barrack Obama,…Barrack Obama,…

2.2. Calendar items: festivals, months, days of the Calendar items: festivals, months, days of the week.week.

3.3. Geographical names: Continents, countries, Geographical names: Continents, countries, states, counties, cities, towns, lakes, states, counties, cities, towns, lakes, mountains, mountains,