Articles in English
4 articles a/an/the/ø
The /ø/ is often called the Zero Article. And articles are used before
nouns ( = people, places, or things/objects).
Articles are used to help us separate (or understand) new vs. old
information or specific vs. general information. And they help us
understand if you are talking about many vs. all vs. one.
General Rules on How to Use Articles in English
A/An- indefinite article
The first time you mention or refer to a noun
Example: I bought a new pair of shoes yesterday! (First mention). Can you believe the
shoes were 50% off!! (Second mention – now it is clear which shoes: the shoes you
bought yesterday.)
To name a member of a group
Jobs (I’m a teacher.)
Nationalities (He’s an American.)
Religions (She’s a Buddhist.)
When you also mean “one”
Example: I had an ( =one) apple at lunch.
A Unit a e i o u /j/ an hour/a/
Expressions that quantify
A little (bit) of
A lot of
A ton of
The--definite article
With something already mentioned (see example for the first
mention with a/an above)
I bought a new pair of shoes yesterday! (First mention). Can you believe the shoes
were 50% off!! (Second mention – now it is clear which shoes: the shoes you bought
yesterday.)
When there is just one of something*
I took a walk in the forest. (There is only one forest where you live.)
When you define a specific person, object or place
I loved the book that/which my dad gave me for my birthday. (Not just any book, but
specifically the books your dad gave you for your birthday.)
With things that are unique (there is only one)*
The sun
The President of the U.S.
The CEO of Apple
With ordinal numbers and superlatives
The first, the second, the third the first stage
The biggest, the best, the fastest
With some proper nouns:
Rivers (The Nile)
Mountains Ranges (The Rockies, The Alps)
Oceans (The Pacific Ocean)
Groups of Islands or Countries with Plural
The Hawaiian Islands
The Netherlands
This means everyone already knows about the person/place/thing so we don’t have to
explain it or define it. For example, everyone around the world knows about the sun. We
don’t have to explain the sun, so we always use the sun (not a sun).
Ø (Zero Article)
Talk about things in general (all things everywhere)
I love watching whales! (All whales everywhere, not just one specific whale.)
I love Italy. 鲸鱼
Countries
He’s from Germany.
Have you visited Algeria?
Languages
French
Japanese
Meals
Breakfast
People’s names and titles
Huhe
Mr.
Mrs.
With possessives 所属
My coffee …
Her dog …
Uncountable nouns (unless referring to a specific example)
I love adding milk (uncountable) to my coffee (uncountable + possessive).
Specific mountains, lakes, and islands
Mt. Fuji
Most cities, towns, streets, and airports
Kiev
New York
Main Street
Quantifiers
a lot of, lots of
These phrases are mainly used in informal English – lots of sounds a bit
more informal than a lot of. Both forms are used in singular and in plural
sentences.
It is not the phrase a lot of or lots of which determines singular or plural,
but the noun of the sentence (here: water and computers).
1. Informal English
Singular
A lot of water is wasted.
Lots of water is wasted.
Plural
A lot of computers are needed at schools.
Lots of computers are needed at schools.
2. Formal English
In formal English we use plenty of or much and many instead of
a lot of/lots of.
Singular
Plenty of water is wasted.
Much water is wasted.
Plural
Plenty of computers are needed at schools.
Many computers are needed at schools.
Each & every
The words each and every have similar meanings.
Each/Every time I go to work, the red car is parked in front of the office.
But each and every are not always interchangeable. There are situations
where you can either use each or every.
Use
each is used when you see the persons in a group as individuals.
every is used when you see the persons in a group as a unit. /j/
1 each
The word each can be used alone or before an of-phrase. Each of city/every of city
1.1.can be used for two persons or things
There are two boys. Each is smiling.
1.2. can be used as a pronoun 代词
There are 5 worksheets. Please take one of each（worksheets）.
1.3. can be used before a verb 副词+动词/ 形容词+名词
The students each received a free copy of the magazine.
Each：形容词，副词，代词
2. every
2.1. used for three or more persons or things
The manager wants to speak to every employee in his office.
2.2. has to be used before a noun 形容词
They enjoyed every minute of their holidays.
2.3. used for repeated actions
I get up at 6 o'clock every morning.
The show will be broadcast every other Monday.
Every time I go shopping I choose the wrong queue.
There's a tram every ten minutes.
3. Singular or plural and each, every
If each is used after a subject in the plural (the girls), the verb is used in the
plural (have):
The girls each have written an e-mail.
The girls each have written e-mails.
If every should be used in this sentence, the singular of the verb is used (has):
Every girl has written an e-mail.
much, many – a little, a few
much: uncountable nouns (milk, marmalade, money, time etc.)
many: countable nouns (bottles of milk, jars of marmalade, dollars, minutes
etc.)
Examples:
How much money have you got?
How many dollars have you got?
In informal English these questions are often answered with a lot of, lots of. There is
no much difference between the two phrases.
a little: non countable nouns (milk, marmalade, money, time etc.)
a few: countable nouns (bottles of milk, jars of marmalade, dollars, minutes
etc.)
Examples:
He has a little money left.
He has a few dollars left.
We use few and little without the article a to point out a more negative meaning.
Examples:
A few students of our school know this. (There are some student
who know it.)
Few students know this. (It is almost unknown.)
some and any
some: affirmative statements, offers, requests and in questions when you
expect the answer ›yes‹
any: negative statements, questions
Have you got any bananas? No, we haven't got any. But we've got some oranges.
Exceptions:
I would like to buy fruit at a market. I see the man has wonderful apples so I can ask
him:
Can I have some of these apples?
If I do not see apples or if I am not sure whether there are apples at all I use any in
this question.
Have you got any apples?
something, anything and other compounds
The compounds with some and any are used like the single words some/any.
Compounds Sentences
something, anything There is something wrong with our car.
someone, anyone* There is someone at the door.
Compounds Sentences
somebody, anybody* I would like to be somebody.
someday Someday he'll be rich.
sometime, anytime We saw her sometime last month.
sometimes I sometimes take the bus to school.
someplace, anyplace, somewhere,
Can't you sing somewhere else?
anywhere
somehow, anyhow, someway, anyway She looked ill, somehow.
anymore I can't help you anymore.
* The compounds someone/anyone and somebody/anybody are nearly identical.
What is the difference between someone and somebody?
someone is used for a more special person and somebody for a person in general.
There's someone at the door.
I'd like to be somebody.
