Using Articles

Using Articles

1. the

   • definite article
     • when the noun is specific or particular
       • The dog that bit me ran away
         • Here, we're talking about a specific dog
     • can be used with noncount nouns
       • I love to sail over the water
         • any water
     • using the before
       • names of rivers, oceans and seas
         • the Nile, the Pacific
       • points on the globe
         • the Equator, the North Pole
       • geographical areas
         • the Middle East, the West
       • deserts, forests, gulfs, and peninsulas
         • the Sahara, the Persian
     • not using the before
       • names of most countries/territories
         • Mexico, Bolivia
       • names of cities, towns, or states
         • Seoul, Manitoba, Miami
       • names of streets
         • Washington Blvd., Main St
       • names of lakes and bays
         • Lake Titicaca, Lake Erie
       • names of mountains
         • Mount Everest, Mount Fuji
       • names of continents
         • Asia, Europe
       • names of islands
         • Easter Island, Maui

2. a/an

   • indefinite article
     • using a
       • a + singular noun beginning with a consonant
         • a boy; a car
       • a + singular noun beginning with a consonant sound
         • a user; a university;
       • a + nouns starting with a pronounced "h"
         • a horse
     • using an
       • an + singular noun beginning with a vowel
         • an elephant; an egg
       • an + nouns starting with silent "h"
         • an hour
     • depends on the sound that begins the next word
     • In English, the indefinite articles are used to indicate membership in a group
       • I am a teacher
         • I am a member of a large group known as teachers
       • Brian is an Irish man
         • Brian is a member of the people known as Irish
     • can be used only with count nouns
       • I need a bottle of water
       • I need a new glass of milk

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