Using Articles

1
Using Articles

• Indefinite /a/ and /an/
• vs. Definite /the/

2
The Indefinite Article

• We use a before count nouns beginning in
  consonant sounds.
• You can buy a car if you want.
• Or you could take a bus.
• The word a basically means one of many.
• It means no item in particular, just one in
  general.

3
Choosing A or An

• 1. ___ card game
• 2. ___ idiot
• 3. ___ good job
• 4. ___ rotten egg
• 5. ___ used fork
• 6. ___ uncle
• 7. ___ hurricane
• 8. ___ internet ad

• 9. ___ hair
• 10. ___ artichoke
• 11. ___ horrible it
• 12. ___ opera
• 13. ___ fine opera
• 14. ___ television
• 15. ___ earthquake

4
A Generalizes

• Use a or an before a singular noun, or one
  modified by an adjective.
• A storm is an unfortunate event.
• Use it before saying someone belongs to a
  profession, nation, or religion.
• Kabir is a Muslim Ana is a Christian.

5
The Definite Article

• Use the before a noun that refers to a specific
  member of a group.
• The professor likes to present lessons.
• The is not used with uncountable nouns referring
  to something in a general sense.
• Gas not the gas is a volatile substance.

6
The Specifies

• The is used with uncountable nouns that are made
  specific by a limiting modifying phrase or
  clause.
• The stuff on the wall is not pretty.
• The can refer to something unique.
• The wind today is from the north.

7
Using A/An, The, and Some
8
Countable vs. Non-Countable

• A and An are used when a noun can be counted.
• I saw a dog.
• The can be used when a noun is not countable.
• I dove into the water.

9
First and Later Mention

• A or An can be used the first time a noun is
  mentioned in a passage.
• I saw a large and colorful flag.
• The should be used for subsequent mentions of the
  noun.
• The colors of the flag were red, white, and blue.

10
General or Specific

• A, an, and the can all be used to indicate that a
  noun refers to the whole class
• A any tiger is a dangerous animal.
• The tiger as a type is a dangerous animal.
• The difference between the indefinite a and the
  generic a is that the former means any one member
  of a class while the latter means all of the
  members of a class.

11
Indefinite A Generic The

• Omitting articles for generic sense
• No article with a plural noun
• Tigers are dangerous animals.
• No article with a non-countable noun
• Anger is a destructive emotion.

12
No Articles with these Nouns

• Names of languages and nationalities
• Chinese
• English
• Spanish
• Names of sports
• volleyball
• baseball
• Names of academic subjects
• mathematics
• biology
• computer science

13
Background

• This presentation is adapted from Adam Powells
  PowerPoint which is based on information from the
  OWL at Perdue University.