Articles

THE- definite article

Developed from the word meaning this.

Signals a particular person or thing- the student sitting next to you.

Used with singular or plural nouns.

Uses:

1. For known persons or objects in the environment. He walked into the house and hung
his coat in the closet.
2. For persons, things, or ideas particularized by the verbal context
a. Preceding context- A strange dog came onto the porch. The dog seemed very
friendly.
b. Following context- The man standing near the window will be our guest
speaker tonight.

3. For a class as a whole. The lion is an animal.

4. With a “ranking” adjective. The best way; the fifth lesson.
5. With nouns or gerunds + of phrases. The election of officers; The changing of the
guards.
6. In of phrases after words of quantity. Most of the men in the factory; four of the
children from that school.
7. For place names. The Mississippi River; The Alps

The word “A” as an indefinite article

Developed from the word meaning one. An used before vowel sounds.

Signals an unspecified one of others-- A student sitting in the front row.

Used chiefly with singular countable nouns.

Uses:

1. In the sense of one or each. I waited an hour. His rent is $700 a month.
2. For an unidentified member of a class. We saw a lion at the zoo.
3. For a representative member of a class.
a. Identifying an individual member. That animal is a lion.
b. Defining a smaller class. The lion is an animal.

Indefinite Articles “a”, “an” / Definite Article “the”

A/an are indefinite articles meaning one and are used before singular count nouns.
A is used before words beginning with a consonant sound (a house, a wide avenue, a
university); an is used before words beginning with a vowel sound (an apple, an hour, an
unhappy boy.)

The definite article the, meaning this one or that one, is used before the following:

ordinal numbers the tenth name on the list

superlatives the best in the country

family names used in the plural the Browns, the Smiths

geographical areas the South, the East

names of certain countries the United States

specific rivers, seas, oceans, gulfs the Columbia River

mountain ranges the Rocky Mountains

nouns modified by a clause the house which we bought

a language when the word language follows the English language

certain illnesses the flu

The is omitted before certain nouns:

a language when the word language is not included French, German, Spanish

countries, with few exceptions Venezuela, Italy, Egypt

streets, avenues Third Street, Fifth Avenue

cities Kansas City, London, Paris

games, sports football, jogging

proper names Henry, Mrs. White, Professo Jones

certain parts of the day sunset, dawn

cardinal numbers ten, sixteen, twenty-three

school subjects chemistry, algebra, history

plural of uncountable nouns used in a general sense Coffee is grown in Brazil.

meals breakfast, lunch, supper

holidays Thanksgiving, Christmas

days of the week Monday, Thursday, Saturday

months of the year January, March, August

lakes (except groups of lakes) Lake Huron (but: the Great Lakes)

bays Hudson Bay

islands Treasure Island

parks Central Park

continents South America, Asia

Article Worksheet 1
(Article vs. No Article)

The most important rule about the use of articles is that an article is required with a singular
countable noun.

I need ______ furniture (noncountable noun).

I need ______ chairs (plural countable noun).

I need the or a chair (singular countable noun).

The article is required even if a descriptive adjective accompanies the singular countable
noun.

I need a comfortable chair.

However, if a determiner other than the article accompanies the singular countable noun, the
article is not used.

I need this (or my, another, one) chair.

Supply the article a if it is required.

Example: a. He requested a prompt reply to his letter.

b. He deserves ___ admiration for his work.

c. There will be a brief pause for intermission.

1. She likes to eat ________ good food.

2. He made _______ bad mistake in his report.

3. He has accumulated _______ great wealth from his investments.

4. She wants to become ______ doctor.

5. They asked him _____ difficult question.

6. _____ honesty and ______ loyalty are rare virtues.

7. The celebrated their victory with ______ big dinner.

8. _____ youngster was hit by _____ car while he was crossing the street.

9. What _____ bad weather we are having today.

10. He wants to hire ______ good housekeeper.

11. The lawyer gave his client ____ good advice.

12. What ____ problem that was!

13. New York City has _____ large population.

Article Worksheet 1 Key

(Article vs. No Article)

Supply the article a if it is required.

Example: a. He requested a prompt reply to his letter.

b. He deserves ___ admiration for his work.

c. There will be a brief pause for intermission.

Answers:

1. She likes to eat ________ good food.

2. He made a bad mistake in his report.

3. He has accumulated _______ great wealth from his investments.

4. He is consulting with an authority on urban development.

5. She wants to become a doctor.

6. They asked him a difficult question.

7. ____ honesty and ____ loyalty are rare virtues.

8. The celebrated their victory with a big dinner.

9. A youngster was hit by a car while he was crossing the street.

10. What ____ bad weather we are having today.

11. He wants to hire a good housekeeper.

12. The lawyer gave his client ____ good advice.

13. What a problem that was!

14. New York City has a large population.