Using the Right Article

Using the Right Article

1. Indefinite articles

   • "A" and "an" are indefinite articles used before non-specific members of a group or category of nouns.
   • The article "a" appears before singular nouns starting with a consonant sound
     • I ate a banana.
   • The article "an" comes before singular nouns beginning with a vowel sound.
     • Give me an apple.

2. Definite article

   • "The" is called a definite article.
     • "The" appears before nouns which are specific members of a category.
       • I want to see the movie George Clooney just made.
     • "The" appears with previously mentioned nouns.
       • We went to a movie last night. The movie was called Spy.
     • We use "The" with unique things.
       • The sun.
       • The front door.
       • The tallest man in the world.
       • The United States of America.
       • The Human Kind.

3. The zero article

   • In some cases, there is no article before a noun, this is called the "zero article."
     • The zero article appears before proper nouns.
       • Picasso
       • Mars
       • PUCE
     • It also goes with names of places and institutions which consist of a proper name and another noun.
   • There is also no article before the names of days, months, seasons and holidays.
     • There is no article before geographical names like Europe, Italy, Tokyo, and Lake Superior.
       • The "zero article" applies to names of languages and nationalities, as with Chinese or English.
         • If you are describing the people of that country, use the definite article.
         • The zero article also goes with names of sports and academic subjects.

4. The "a/the switch"

   • This switch happen when we use the indefinite articles to introduce something or someone into the context. When the information becomes familiar, we can use the definite article.
     • "Once upon a time, there was an old man and an old woman who lived in a little cottage - first mention - in a vast open field."
       • "The old woman and the old man were very hungry, so the old woman decided to bake a gingerbread man."