Definite and Indefinite Articles

An African Safari

3

Focus on Grammar 5Part III, Unit 8By Ruth Luman, Gabriele Steiner, and BJ WellsCopyright © 2006. Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Trip to Kenya

Dear Marta,

We took ____ most wonderful trip lastmonth. We went on ____ great safari.____ safari was in Kenya and we saw____ lions and ____hippos up close!____ experience was great. ____only problem was my husband was bitten by ____ mosquito, but since wehad taken malaria medicine beforewe came, ____ Dr. Matuka saidhe would be okay.

Love, Gloria

Look at theletter. Fill in the blanks

with a, an, the or no article.

Explain your answers to a partner.

You will checkyour answersat the end of

the presentation.

Indefinite Article 1When we don’t have a particular person, place, or thing in mind, we use non-specific nouns. Use the indefinite article a/an with non-specific singular count nouns.

I’d love to hold a baby lion.

any baby lion; no particular lion

in mind

Indefinite Article 2

A noun is often indefinite the first time a speaker mentions it. It is usually definite after the first mention.

1st Mention

2nd Mention

We went on a safari last year.

The safari was very educational.

Zero Article 1

Use zero article (no article) with non-specific plural count nouns and non-specific non-count nouns.

MeerkatsMeerkats are very interesting animals to watch.

HipposHippos feel at home in waterwater.

Non-Specific Non-Count Noun Zero Article

Non-Specific Plural Count Noun

Zero Article

Generic NounsA noun is generic when it represents all members of a class or category. There are three ways to use count nouns generically.

2. A cheetahA cheetah is a predatory animal.

1. CheetahsCheetahs are predatory animals.

zero article + plural count noun

3. WaterWater is essential for all animals to survive.

indefinite article + count noun

zero article + non-count noun

Zero Article 2

Use zero article before the names of people or their titles, names of most countries, and habitual locations.

Kanika spends four days a week at work and two days a week in school.

Ambassador Mukasa was born in Tanzania but spent most of his life in Kenya.

Practice 1Look at the sentences. Complete them with an indefinite article or no article. Explain your answers to a partner.

Example: _____ zebra came right up to me!AA

1. We stayed in _____ nice lodge. _____ game reserves usually have lodges nearby.

2. That kind of bird is usually found in _____ Zambia.

3. Have you ever seen _____ elephant up close?

4. This is _____ great vacation.

5. I would love to be _____ game warden.

6. A: Do you often see _____ warthogs at game reserves?

B: Oh, yes. There are some right over there.

aa

anan

aa

aa

Definite Article 1A noun is definite when we know the particular person, place, or thing being talked about. Use the definite article the with non-count nouns and singular and plural nouns that are definite.

TheThe vultures

have found something to

eat.

Yeah, I see them. Let’s get closer and take a

picture.

Definite Article 2

Use the definite article with nouns that describe something unique.

Nanyuki, Kenya, is located on the equator.

There is only one equator.

Definite Article 3An adjective can often make a noun represent something unique. Examples of such adjectives are right, wrong, first, only, and the comparative and superlative forms.

The first giraffe is eating.

That is the tallest giraffe I’ve ever seen!

UniqueAdjective

SuperlativeAdjective

Definite Article 4The definite article is used with the names of public places, some countries, and many geographical regions or features.

I went to the library to learn more about Kenya.My friends from the Netherlands are visiting Tanzania this year.Kenya is located along

the Indian Ocean.

Dear Marta,We took ____ most wonderful trip lastmonth. We went on ____ great safari.____ safari was in Kenya and we saw____ lions and ____hippos up close!____ experience was great. ____only problem was my husband was bitten by ____ mosquito, but since wehad taken malaria medicine beforewe came, ____ Dr. Matuka saidhe would be okay.Love, Gloria

Practice 2Look at the letter again and fill in the blanks. Did your ideas on article usage change? Check your answers.

thetheaa

TheThe

TheThe TheThe

aa

References

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education and its licensors. All rights reserved.