Where is the article a written in English? Rules for using the definite and indefinite articles

1. Use the articles a or an.

1. … elephant 2. … English dictionary 3. … butterfly 4. … German car 5. … Italian bag 6. … American college 7. … Russian city 8. … French designer 9. … Indian river 10. … egg 11. … notebook 12. … elegant lady 13. … ice-cream 14. … Japanese phone

2. Place the articles a /an or the where necessary.

I’d like … chicken sandwich and … glass of … mineral water. (I would like a chicken sandwich and a glass of mineral water.)
Would you like … banana or … strawberries? (Do you want banana or strawberry?)
She always has … apple, … toast and … cup of … coffee for … breakfast. (She always eats an apple, toast and drinks a cup of coffee for breakfast.)
The fly is on … ceiling in … kitchen. (The fly is on the ceiling in the kitchen.)
My mother is … accountant and my father is … lawyer. They work in … same company in … center of … our town. (My mother is an accountant, and my father is a lawyer. They work in the same company in the center of our city.)
How much are … her Italian lessons? – Ten dollars... hour. (How much do her classes cost? Italian language? - Ten dollars an hour.)
Where are…dogs? – They are in... garden. (Where are the dogs? - They are in the garden.)
… cats like eating … fish. … cows like eating … grass. … birds like eating … insects. (Cats like to eat fish. Cows like to eat grass. Birds like to eat insects.)
My favorite subjects are … chemistry and … biology. (My favorite subjects are chemistry and biology.)
There is... parrot in... cage. And there are…pieces of…fruit in it. (There is a parrot in the cage. And there are pieces of fruit in it.)
My granny lives in … small village in … country. (My grandmother lives in a small village in the countryside.)
Your baby shouldn’t sit in … sun on … hot day. (Your baby should not sit in the sun on a hot day.)
Please open… book. … exercise is on … page 68. (Please open the book. The exercise is on page 68.)
Ann has been looking for … job for … long time. (Anya has been looking for a job for a long time.)
What's...matter? - I missed…6 o’clock train. (What happened? – I missed the 6 o’clock train.)
Do you like…vegetables? (Do you like vegetables?)
… mother has got … terrible headache today. (Mom has a terrible headache today.)
There were...tears in...her eyes. (There were tears in her eyes.)
She is... very nice woman but her sons are... bad boys. (She is a very good woman, but her sons are bad guys.)
Look at…woman. She is … neighbor I told you about. (Look at the woman. This is the neighbor I told you about.)

3. Place the articles a /an or the where necessary.

Yesterday I bought … pair of … shoes. Unfortunately...shoes are too tight. (Yesterday I bought a pair of shoes. Unfortunately, the shoes are too narrow.)
We had … dinner in … restaurant … last night. – What is ... name of ... restaurant? (We had dinner at a restaurant last night. – What is the name of the restaurant?)
Tony has two children: … boy and … girl. They are...twins. … girl is in … France now. (Tony has two children: a boy and a girl. They are twins. The girl is now in France.)
Would you like another piece of… cake? - No, ... cake is too fat for me. (Would you like another piece of cake? – No, the cake is too rich for me.)
His office is on … Floor 5. And I live on … tenth floor. (His office is on floor 5. And I live on the tenth floor.)
Little Mike leaves for … school very early because … school is quite far from … his home. (Little Mike goes to school very early because the school is quite far from his house.)
Lara saw... letter under... door. She read… letter and started crying. (Lara saw a letter under the door. She read the letter and began to cry.)
Did you enjoy … food at … party … last Friday? (Did you enjoy the food at last Friday night?)
Roger is … scientist, he works for … government. (Roger is a scientist and works for the government.)
We go to … gym twice … week. (We go to the gym twice a week.)

4. Place articles where necessary.

I come to ... work by ... bus. Today…bus was a bit late. (I go to work by bus. The bus was a little late today.)
… Jack is … youngest but … cleverest boy at … school. (Jack is the youngest but smartest boy in school.)
It rained, so I stayed at … home in … evening. But today…sun is shining brightly in…sky. (It rained, so I stayed at home in the evening. But today the sun is shining brightly in the sky.)
On … Monday … kids were tired and they went to … bed very early. (On Monday the children were tired and went to bed very early.)
My wife is … best woman in … world and I’m … happiest husband! (My wife is the best woman in the world, and I am the happiest husband!)
They are having … test on … third of December. (They will have a test on the third of December.)
What...beautiful painting! … artist is such … talented person. (What a beautiful picture! The artist is such a talented person.)
Robin Hood robbed … rich and helped … poor. (Robin Hood robbed the rich and helped the poor.)
David is...old friend of mine. He plays... guitar perfectly. His sister has been playing … tennis since … age of ten. (David is an old friend of mine. He plays the guitar very well. His sister has been playing tennis since she was 10.)
… Jacksons live in that lovely cottage with … fantastic garden. (The Jackson family lives in that lovely cottage with a fantastic garden.)
Sam used … drugs and was sent to … prison in … August. What...shame! (Sam used drugs and was sent to prison in August. What a shame!)
… Harrisons are not religious and they never go to … church. (The Harrison family is not religious and they never go to church.)
He has been in … hospital for … month. (He has been in the hospital for a month.)
… English are very fond of … gardening. (The British are very fond of gardening.)
I’ve tried to learn… Japanese many times. (I tried to study Japanese many times.)
She is … famous actress and she often appears on … TV. (She is a famous actress and often appears on television.)
It’s such… original idea! Besides you’ve got… good sense of humour. (This is such an original idea! Plus, you have a good sense of humor.)
On … rainy day … castle looks like … prison. (On a rainy day the castle looks like a prison.)

5. Use articles with proper nouns if necessary.

… Cairo is … capital of … Egypt. (Cairo is the capital of Egypt.)
It was so picturesque in … Crimea … last summer. (It was so picturesque in Crimea last summer.)
... London stands on ... Thames. (London stands on the Thames.)
I had … my holiday in … northern Italy … last year but I’m going to cross … Atlantic ocean and visit … USA … next year. (I vacationed in northern Italy last year, but next year I'm going to cross the Atlantic and visit the US.)
…Moon moves round…Earth. (The moon moves around the Earth.)
… Great Patriotic war started in 1941. (The Great Patriotic War began in 1941.)
… Volga is … longest river in … Russia. (The Volga is the longest river in Russia.)
… Ukraine and … Turkey are separated by … Black sea. (Ukraine and Turkey are separated by the Black Sea.)
My friend usually goes to … Alps in … spring by … plane. (My friend usually goes to the Alps in the spring by plane.)
... Urals are lower than ... Caucasus. (The Ural Mountains are below the Caucasus.)
… Great Britain is located on … two large islands. (Great Britain is located on two large islands.)
… Christmas and … Easter are my favorite holidays. (Christmas and Easter are my favorite holidays.)
It takes about … hour to get from … Domodedovo airport to … Lenin street. (It takes about an hour to get from Domodedovo Airport to Lenina Street.)
What’s … weather like today in … Australia? (What is the weather in Australia today?)
… Colorado river flows through … Grand Canyon. (The Colorado River flows through the Grand Canyon.)
My English friend took me to see … National gallery, … Houses of … Parliament and … Tower bridge. (My English friend took me to see the National Gallery, the Houses of Parliament and Tower Bridge.)
… Statue of … Liberty was … present from … French people. (The Statue of Liberty was a gift from the French people.)
… Galaxy where we live is called … Milky Way. (The galaxy we live in is called the Milky Way.)

You can also analyze the exercises individually with

27.11.2014

An article is a word that defines a noun.

IN English language There are two types of articles: definite (the) and indefinite (a/an).

Based on the names, the indefinite article is used when we are talking about a phenomenon that we encounter for the first time, an object in general, and the definite article is used when we are talking about something specific, or something that has already been encountered in a conversation.

The concept of the article is present in many languages of the world, but in the same number of languages it is absent.

Therefore, do not panic if articles are not used in your native language.

The data will help you make fewer mistakes when speaking English.

It is very important to be able to use the correct articles in your speaking or writing.

1. With the names of countries and continents

In this case we do not use articles at all, BUT if the name of the country consists of parts, such as, USA, UK, UAE, then our article appears the, and it will be: the USA, the UK, the UAE, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands.

This also applies to continents and islands: usually we do not use the article, but if the name is a composite name, the definite article takes place.

For example: Africa, Europe, Bermuda, Tasmania BUT the Virgin Islands, the Bahamas.

She lived in America.
They live in England.
My friend is from the Czech Republic.

2. With the words breakfast, dinner, lunch

When talking about eating in general, there is no article. But if you're talking about a specific breakfast, dinner or lunch, use the.

Eg:

I don't eat breakfast.
We didn't like the dinner.

3. With names of work, profession

In this case the indefinite article is used a/an.

For example:

I want to be a politician.
My younger brother wants to be a vet.

4. With the names of the cardinal points

Usually the names of the cardinal directions are written with a capital letter, so they are easy to recognize: the North, the South, the East, the West .

True, if a noun indicates a direction, then it should be used without an article and written with a small letter.

For example:

They went east.
The North is cooler than the South.

5. With the names of oceans, seas, rivers and canals

Remember that the definite article is always used with the names of these bodies of water.

For example: The Amazon, the Indian Ocean, the Red Sea, the Suez Canal .

I would like to swim in the Red Sea, and you?
The Amazon is the longest river in the world.

6. With names of unique phenomena

This means that a phenomenon or object exists in one copy, one of a kind, in particular, the sun, the moon, the inter net , the sky , the earth.

Eg:

The sun is a star.
We looked up at all the stars in the sky.
He is always on the internet.

7. With uncountable nouns

This category of nouns implies those units and concepts that we cannot count. Plus, as an identifying mark in most cases, they have no ending –s– indicator plural.

But do not forget that there are ten exceptions to one rule, that is, if you are talking in general about some uncountable concept, there will be no article, but again, if the case is particular, use the.

For example:

I like bread/milk/honey.
I like the bread/the milk/the honey. (Specifically this and nothing else.)

8. With last names

If we are talking about members of the same family, you can put the article the before the surname. This way you define a group of people, a family, in one word.

Eg:

The Smith are coming for dinner today.
Have you seen the Johnson recently?

These are not all the uses of articles in English. However, first remember these rules, gradually deepening your knowledge

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Indefinite article a/an in English (the indefinite article) has two forms:

a[ə] - used before consonants. That is, if a word begins with a consonant, use a:

a b ook, a t able, a m an a g irl a c computer, a t omato, a yacht [ jɒt], a unit[ ˈj uːnɪt]

an[ən] - used before vowels. That is, if a word begins with a vowel sound, use an:

an a pple, an e ngineer, an i dea, an o range an a nswer, an hour [ˈ aʊə(r)]

Please note that the choice of the form of the indefinite article is determined not by spelling, but by pronunciation.

For example, the word hour starts with a vowel sound, so we use the article an (an hour), although the first letter in writing is a consonant h. Or, for example, the word yacht (yacht) written with a vowel y, but the consonant sound [j] is pronounced, so we choose a (a yacht). Using different forms of the same article helps make speech harmonious, easy, and natural. Try to pronounce an apple or an book, and you will feel how difficult and uncomfortable it is.

Remember:

Indefinite article a/an used only with singular:

a pen(pen), a story(story), a chair(chair), a child(child), a flower(flower)

If the noun is used in the plural form, then there is no indefinite article. The absence of an article before a noun is usually called the "zero article".

pens(pens), stories(stories), chairs(chairs), children(children), flowers(flowers)

When to use the indefinite article a/an

Below you will find a description of the main uses of the indefinite article a/an in English.

№1

Indefinite article a/an used when we first mention an object or person. In this case, we assume that our interlocutor does not know what or who exactly we are talking about.

Yesterday I bought a handbag. — Yesterday I bought a handbag.
Up until this point, I hadn’t even talked about how I was going to buy a bag. That is, I mention this for the first time (my interlocutor knows nothing about this bag), hence the indefinite article a/an.

If you continue to talk about this bag, then the noun handbag (bag) will already be used with the definite article the, since this time the interlocutor knows which specific bag we are talking about:

Yesterday I bought a handbag. The handbag is very beautiful. — Yesterday I bought a handbag. The handbag is very beautiful.

Although most often a personal pronoun is used instead of a noun, it sounds more natural and avoids repetition:

Yesterday I bought a handbag. It is very beautiful. — Yesterday I bought a handbag. She is very beautiful.

№2

Indefinite article a/an is used when we are not talking about a given (specific) object or person, but simply about any, some, one of a group of the same objects or people. In other words, when we talk about an object or person in general, without having a specific one in mind skirt, work, handle or dog:

I want to buy a skirt. — I want to buy a skirt. (some kind of skirt, I don’t know which one yet; I only know that I want a skirt, not a dress)
He refused to look for a job. — He refused to look for work. (some kind of work)
Give me a pen, please. - Give me a pen, please. (any, any)
It is a dog. - This is a dog. (some dog, any dog)

When we are not talking about a specific object or person, but about anyone, then further, if we need to re-designate it, we do not use personal pronouns or the definite article the. And again we use the indefinite article a/an or pronoun one.

She wants a car but he says they don’t need one. “She wants a car, but he says they don’t need it.”
or
She wants a car but he says they don’t need a car. — She wants a car, but he says they don’t need a car.
She wants to have a car (not a motorcycle, not a bicycle, but some kind of car, so a car), but he says that they don’t need a car (they don’t need any car at all, not just a specific one). Since in the second part of the sentence we are again talking about any / indefinite machine, we again use a car.

№3

Indefinite article a/an we also use it to describe or give any information about something that has already been mentioned earlier. In this case, an adjective is often used before the noun. Please note that although the article comes before an adjective, it refers to a noun:

It is a beautiful place. - This a nice place. (describe what this place is)
He is a clever boy. - He's a smart boy. (we characterize what kind of boy he is)
Do you live in a big house? — Do you live in big house? (we ask which house)

When we talk about a person’s profession or work, we also use the indefinite article a/an:

She is a teacher. - She is a teacher.
I am a doctor. - I am a doctor.

№4

Historically indefinite article a/an came from the numeral one (one). Hence the possibility in some cases to replace the article a/an numeral one. Such a replacement is possible when the article a/an essentially means "one". For example, this meaning of the indefinite article is observed in numerals a hundred (one hundred), a thousand (thousand), a million (million) and in the word a dozen (dozen) when they are used independently or before a noun:

This toy costs a thousand roubles. = This toy costs one thousan d roubles. — This toy costs a thousand rubles (one thousand rubles).
Give me a dozen, please. = Give me one dozen, please. - Give me a dozen, please (one dozen).

It is precisely with the origin from the numeral one (one) and the meaning of the singularity of the indefinite article is associated, which is especially evident when expressing measures of time, distance, weight or quantity:

This chocolate bar costs a dollar. — This chocolate bar costs a dollar. (=one dollar, we can replace a dollar on one dollar)
I'll call you in an hour. - I'll call you in an hour. (=in one hour, we can replace an hour on one hour)
Can I have a kilo of tomatoes, please? — Can I have a kilogram of tomatoes, please? (=one kilogram, we can replace a kilo on one kilo)

Please note that the numeral one instead of an article a/an should only be used when you want to emphasize that you are talking about just one thing or person, that is, when you want to be very precise:

I have gotone sister. - I have one sister. (not two sisters, not three, but only one)
I have got a sister. - I have a sister. (in this case I just say that I have a sister)

The meaning of the singularity of the indefinite article can be seen in some stable phrases that convey the one-time action:

have a look- take a look
have a snack- have a snack
have a try- try, try
have a rest- relax
have a good time- have a good time
give a chance- give a chance
give a hint- hint
give a lift- give me a ride
make a mistake- make a mistake
play a trick- play a trick

№5

Indefinite article a/an also used when it is necessary to indicate the quantity per unit of measurement. For example, when we talk about the price of oranges per kilogram, the amount of wages per month, the number of classes per week, or the speed of a car per hour. A noun denoting this same unit of measurement will be used with the indefinite article.

The oranges were 80 rubles a kilo. — Oranges cost 80 rubles per kilogram.
She works 8 hours a day. — She works 8 hours a day.
I go to aerobics twice a week. — I go to aerobics twice a week.

№6

Indefinite article a/an can also be used with some uncountable abstract nouns (for example, humor - humor, hatred - hatred, anger - anger, magic - magic) in the case when they have an adjective with them. Typically, such use of the indefinite article is characteristic of book style and expresses the author’s desire to emphasize the individual, special character of this or that abstract concept.

Please note that in the above case, the use of the indefinite article is optional. If you do not want to highlight in a certain way the special character of any emotion, character trait, etc., the article a/an may not be used.

On a note

To learn to use the indefinite article a/an more or less automatically, try to form a rule in your head: use the indefinite article with singular countable nouns when there is no other reason for using the definite article the or some other determiner (possessive or indefinite pronoun).

You already know what an article is and the simplest ones. Next are waiting for you Exercises on the topic “Articles in English (for beginners).”

I. Article A (an). Exercises

Exercise 1. Place the articlea ( an )

This is... boy. That is... girl.
This is...cat. It is my… cat.
Is this your… dog? No, I have no… dog. I have...cat.
Is that his... car? No, it isn’t his... car. It is his father’s…car.
She has...sister. Her sister’s … husband is … dentist.
They have got two... children.
Their daughter’s … name is … Nancy.
Nancy is...kind of girl. She is... 15.
He has many... friends.
Her... brother is... very clever.

Exercise 2. Place the articlea ( an ) before the noun, where necessary.

This... cat is very... nice.
That... dog is very... big.
My… dog has three… puppies.
I can see…animal in the picture.
This...monkey is...funny.
Give me... pencil, please.
I will draw... dolphin.
Would you like to draw… animals?
… lions are very … strong.
This... family has no... pet.

Exercise 3. Place the articlea ( an ) before the noun, where necessary.

This is...cup. This is... my mother's cup.
This is... apple pie. These are... apple pies.
There is ... shop in the street. There is no … kiosk in the street.
It's...nice yellow jacket. This... jacket is Kate's.
I have got... child. My…child is clever.
That...man is...pilot. Those... men are... pilots, too.
My hamster eats … apples, … carrots and … potatoes.
I like … sweets and … cakes.

II. Article the. Exercises

Exercise 4. Place the articlethe before the noun, where necessary.

…sun is a star.
… sky is gray today.
… earth is a planet.
… the weather was fine yesterday.
There are ... apples on ... table.
You can’t see ... moon in ... sky tonight.
It is very dark in… room.
I went to the shop and bought … bananas. I like…bananas.
I always help about … house.
… girls are at home. Where are... boys?

Exercise 5. Place the articlethe before the noun, where necessary.

I live on…fifth floor.
Who is…the cleverest student in class?
... monkeys are ... funniest animals.
What is…longest river in Russia?
Where is... kitten?
... girls are in ... first form.
… the most difficult language is … German.
… father’s car is in …. garage.
I like...winter.
What is...best season?

Exercise 6. Add articles a (an), the before the noun, where necessary.

1. Pete has...small family. He has … father and … mother. He has no…brother, but he has…sister. His sister is... good girl.

2. I have ... many Russian books, but I have no ... English books.

3. There is ... writing desk in ... room. … writing desk is large. There is… lamp on… writing desk.

4. My uncle has... large family. They are six in his… family. … family is big.

5. My father is... engineer. He works in… big factory.... factory is near his ... house.

6. We have... good library. We keep books in… big bookcase. ... bookcase has three ... shelves.

As a rule, the article a is placed before a noun that is circumstance of place if he has definition.

COMPARE The book is on the table. VS The book is on a big round table.

Exercise 7. Add articles a (an), the before the noun, where necessary.

Ann has got two children: … boy and … girl. ... boy's name is Steve. ... girl's name is Susan.
I have got ... pets: ... dog and ... cat. ... dog is black and ... cat is white.
What... clever dog! … dog can understand my questions.
What... lazy cat! … cat sleeps all day.
We bought…vase yesterday. …vase was very large.
I like...sun. … the sun gives us light and warmth.
I like to see…. stars. …stars are always beautiful.
… forth poem was … shortest.
… garden has no … flowers.
I can see...birds in the trees. ...birds are crows.

This lesson will examine in detail the topic: Articles "a", "an" and "the" in English with examples from song lyrics.

Theoretical part.

Articles are absent in Russian, but are present in English and are noun determiners. There are two types of articles: classifying (a or an) and individualizing (the).

Articles perform certain functions in speech. Firstly, they mean that the word that comes after them is a noun. Secondly, the article can be used to determine whether the subject is known to the reader or not. So, for example, a classifying article indicates that the subject is still unknown to the reader, and an individualizing article indicates that the subject is known to the reader. Perhaps this subject has already been mentioned in the text, then we use the article (the).

The classifying, or as it is called in traditional grammar, the indefinite article, as stated above, has two forms: a and an. We use A before nouns starting with a consonant, and an before nouns starting with a vowel. This article was formed from the numeral one - one, so it can only be used with singular countable nouns.

Example:
A note - note
An umbrella

The individualizing article, or as it is otherwise called in traditional grammar, the definite article, has one form - the. It was formed from the word that - that. You can use this article with both singular and plural countable nouns, as well as with uncountable nouns.

Example:
The book - book
The songs - songs

As already mentioned, we use articles before nouns, but it is necessary to remember that if there are definitions in front of a noun, then the article is placed in front of them.

Example:
An interesting article - interesting article
A loud voice - loud voice
The strong man – strong man

Using articles correctly is quite difficult, although there is nothing difficult in the topic. Very often students make mistakes on this topic. There are many difficult points and exceptions that need to be studied separately. The purpose of this lesson is to give a general concept of the article and show its application in practice.

On this theoretical part ends, let's get down to the practical one, based on the lyrics of your favorite songs.

Practical part.

1) Consider the lyrics of the famous song Neneh Cherry – Woman.

…I"ve crackled in the fire
And was called a liar…
Translation:
...My body burned with a crash on the fire,
And they called me a liar...

As you can see, two articles are used in these lines: a and the. The fire is fire, and liar is a liar. Also, looking at the name, remember the plural of the noun Woman (Woman) - Women (Women).

2) Let's study the lyrics of the song by the English pop-rock band Duran Duran - Falling Down.

…Why did the luck run dry?
Laugh in my face, so pleased to desert me.
Why do the cruel barbs fly?...
Translation:
...Why did my luck turn away from me?
Smiling in my face, she was so happy to leave me
Why these merciless barbs Are they flying apart right now?...

This example shows the use of the definite article the when the noun is preceded by a modifier. The cruel barbs - merciless barbs.

3) Let's study the lines of the song by American rapper Eminem - Bad Influence.

... People say that
I"m a bad influence…
Translation:
…People says,
That I am a bad influence on others (literally, I am a bad influence)…

This example shows us the use of the article a when there is a modifier before a noun. A bad influence - bad influence.

4) Consider the lines of the currently popular song B.o.B. feat. Hayley Williams – Airplanes.

…Yeah somebody take me back to those days
Before this was a job before I got paid
Before it ever mattered what I had in my bank…
Translation:
...Yeah, somebody take me back to the days
Before it was a job, when I didn't get paid,
When it didn't matter what my bank account was...

Thanks to the lines of this song, you will see the use of the individuating article the with plural nouns: ... me back to the days ... - ... me back to the days ... Also in this example, remember that if in a noun the letter y is preceded by a vowel, then the action general rule formation of the plural of nouns: day (day) – days (days).

In the same song the indefinite article a is used.

…I could really use a wish right now
I could really use a wish right now…
Translation:
...I could use my wish right now,
I could use my wish right now...

A wish - desire.

5) Consider the lyrics of the first verse of the song by the American metalcore band As I Lay Dying - An Ocean between Us.

… My heart never reached the sea
With only delusions of an endless journey
I am left with an ocean between you and me…
Translation:
...My heart never reached the sea,
Misled endless journey.
I was left alone with the ocean between you and me...

In this example, you can reinforce the use of the article an twice. An endless journey – an endless journey (note the article is before the definition). An ocean - ocean. Always remember that if a noun begins with a vowel sound, then we use an instead of a.

This is also an excellent example for consolidating the objective case of pronouns: in our case us - by us, me - by me, you - by you.

Thus, you have consolidated the use of articles using the example of compositions by your favorite performers. Listen to music and repeat the necessary rules. Combine business with pleasure.

From this lesson you need to remember the following words.

umbrella [ʌm"brelə] - umbrella
book - book
loud – loud
interesting ["intrəstiŋ] - interesting
article ["a:tikl] - article
voice - voice
strong - strong
fire ["faiə] - fire
liar- ["laiə] liar
luck - luck
face - face
cruel ["kru:əl] - cruel
to fly - to fly
bad - bad
influence ["influən(t)s] - influence
bank - bank
to use - to use
wish - desire
sea - sea
journey ["dʒз:ni] - journey
ocean ["əuʃ(ə)n] - ocean