Definite and Indefinite
Articles
Jelgava State Gymnasium
Agita Ozoliņa
• Use a/anwith the singular noun, the- with singular or noun in plural. A cat- some cats
The cat- the cats
• Use 'a' with nouns starting with a consonant (letters that are not vowels),
'an' with nouns starting with a vowel (a,e,i,o,u) A boy
• An apple • A car • An orange • A house • An opera NOTE:
An before an h mute - an hour, an honour.
A before u and eu when they sound like 'you': a european, a university, a unit A red rose- viena (kāda) sarkana roze
The red rose- sarkanā roze
ARTICLE (ARTIKULS)
DEFINITE (noteiktais) INDEFINITE (nenoteiktais)
INDEFINITE ARTICLE (a/an)
USE EXAMPLE NOTES
To refer to something for the first time
An elephant and a mouse
fell in love.
Would you like a drink? I've finally got a good job.
Yesterday I met a boy near my house. The boy wanted to comunicate with me.
meaning 'one', referring to a single object or person:
I'd like an orange and two lemons please.
Notice also that we usually say
a hundred, a thousand, a million.
NOTE: that we use 'one' to add
emphasis or to contrast with other numbers:
I don't know one person who likes eating elephant meat.
We've got six computers but only
one printer.
with names of jobs: John is a doctor.
Mary is training to be an
engineer.
He wants to be a dancer.
with nationalities and religions:
John is an Englishman. Kate is a Catholic.
INDEFINITE ARTICLE (a/an)
USE EXAMPLE
to refer to a kind of, or example of something
the mouse had a tiny nose the elephant had a long trunk it was a very strange car
with singular nouns, after the words 'what' and 'such'
What a shame!
She's such a beautiful girl.
DEFINITE ARTICLE (the)
USE EXAMPLE
to refer to something which has already been mentioned.
An elephant and a mouse fell in love.
The mouse loved the elephant's long
trunk,
and the elephant loved the mouse's tiny nose.
when both the speaker and listener know what is being talked about, even if it has not been mentioned before.
'Where's the bathroom?' 'It's on the first floor.'
in sentences or clauses where we define or identify a particular person or object
The man who wrote this book is famous.
'Which car did you scratch?' 'The red
one.
My house is the one with a blue door.'
to refer to objects we regard as unique the sun, the moon, the world , the Internet, the Earth, the Eiffel Tower The equator, the North/ South Pole, before superlatives and ordinal numbers
(only, last, first, second)
the highest building, the first page, the last chapter
DEFINITE ARTICLE (the)
USE EXAMPLE NOTES
with adjectives, to refer to a whole group of people (as plural nouns), families, nationalities ending in – sh, -ch, -ese
the Japanese, the
English, the Dutch, the Greens, the old, the poor, the rich
Other plural nationalities are used with or without “ the” The Greeks, the Italians, Latvians (the Latvians) With the words: beach, cinema,
country (side), ground, jungle, radio, sea, seaside, theatre,
world, station, shop, pub, library
He likes going to the theatre.
She went to the station to meet Jim.
We often say “ television” without “ the” .
We often watch television. But! Turn on the television
(set).
Before “ most” (as a superlative) She is the most
beautiful girl.
Don’t use “ the” if “ most” is as a determiner followed by a noun.
Most people believe he is a
liar. Morning, afternoon, evening I’ll be at home in the
evening.
But don’t use with: at night,
at noon, at midnight, at 4 o’clock, by day/ night
Historical references/events The Renaissance, the Middle Ages, the First World War
DEFINITE ARTICLE (the)
USE EXAMPLE
With the manes of: rivers, seas, groups of islands/ states, mountain ranges, deserts, oceans, canals, directions (debespuses)
The Daugava, the Black Sea, The
Bahamas, the USA, the Alps, the sahara desert, the Atlantic, the north/south, east/ west
The names or nouns with “ of” The Tower of London, the statue of Liberty
Musical instruments, dances The piano, the tango
With the titles The Queen, the Prince, (but not with
Queen Victoria) With the names of:
Cinemas, theatres, hotels, museums, newspapers/magazines, ships
The Rex, the Sheraton, the Prado, the Guardian
There is no Article (the)
USE EXAMPLE NOTES
with names of countries (if singular)
Germany is an important economic power.
He's just returned from Zimbabwe.
But: I'm visiting the United
States next week.
The United Kingdom, the Europian Union
with the names of
languages
French is spoken in Tahiti. English uses many words of Latin origin.
Indonesian is a relatively new
language.
But: I’m studying the English language.
with the names of meals. Lunch is at midday.
Breakfast is the first meal of
the day. with people's names (if
singular)
John's coming to the party. George King is my uncle.
But: we're having lunch with
the Morgans tomorrow.
After the 's possessive case:
His brother's car. Peter's house.
with professions: Engineering is a useful career.
There is no Article (the)
USE EXAMPLE NOTES
with years: 1948 was a wonderful year.
Do you remember 1995? With uncountable nouns: Rice is the main food in Asia.
Milk is often added to tea in
England.
But: I don’t usually like rice, but the rice I ate yesterday was
really tasty.
with the names of
individual mountains, lakes and islands:
Mount McKinley is the highest
mountain in Alaska. She lives near Lake
Windermere.
Have you visited Long Island?
But: The Alps
with most names of towns,
streets, stations and airports:
Victoria Station is in the centre
of London.
Can you direct me to Bond Street?
She lives in Florence.
1. Robert and Jessica went to ____the__ party last night.
2. Can you tell me how to get to ___the____ cinema from here? 3. ___The____ college is closed today.
4. Gregory is one of ___the___ strangest people I know.
5. I recommend you try ___x____ tomato soup at this restaurant.
6. Would you like to see ___a___ film? ___The___ film I saw yesterday was excellent. 7. ___An___ apple __a__ day keeps __the____ doctor away.
8. I can't believe I failed ___the___ yesterday's test!
9. Do you have ____the___ dictionary that I can borrow? 10. ____x__Magda is wearing _a__ blue dress with red shoes 11. Christmas comes once _a__ year.
12. Jane went to the shop to buy _x__ bread.
13. ____x__Hania broke __a_ glass when she was washing-up.
14. This is _an__ easy question. This is ___the__ easiest exercise I have ever seen. 15. Stephen could you speak __a_ little louder.
16. May I have your _x__ phone number? 17. May I ask you __a_ question?
18. __x____Astrid is __the_ best teacher in our school. 19. My girlfriend has __x_ my car today.
20. I went to _the__ sea during my summer holiday. 21. This is Joanna. She's ___a__ doctor.
