Indefinite and Definite Articles
The words a, an, and
the are special adjectives called articles.
Indefinite Articles—a, an
an—used before singular count nouns beginning with a vowel (a, e, i, o, u) or
vowel sound:
- an apple, an elephant, an issue, an
orange
a—used before singular
count nouns beginning with consonants (other than a, e, i, o, u):
- a stamp, a desk, a TV, a cup, a
book
Definite
Article—the
Can be used before singular and plural, count and non-count nouns
1. Indefinite Article (a, an)
Used before singular
nouns that are unspecified:
Used before number
collectives and some numbers:
Used before a singular
noun followed by a restrictive modifier:
- a girl who was wearing a yellow hat
Used with nouns to form
adverbial phrases of quantity, amount, or degree:
2. Definite Article (the)
Used to indicate a noun
that is definite or has been previously specified in the context:
- Please close the door.
- I like the clothes you gave me.
Used to indicate a noun
that is unique:
- Praise the Lord!
- The Columbia River is near here.
Used to designate a
natural phenomenon:
- The nights get shorter in the
summer.
- The wind is blowing so hard.
Used to refer to a time
period:
- I was very naïve in the past.
- This song was very popular in the
1980s.
Used to indicate all
the members of a family:
- I invited the Bakers for dinner.
- This medicine was invented by the
Smiths.
[Quiz 28.1]
Choose the correct article in each sentence.
1) Did you bring
(a, an, the) umbrella?
2) Are you looking for
(a, an, the) shampoo?
3) I checked
(a, an, the) mailbox again.
4) Can I have
(a, an, the) spoon please?
5) I was born into
(a, an, the) poor family.
6) She will come back in
(a, an, the) hour.
7) Have you been to
(a, an, the) Space Needle Tower in Seattle?
8) I would love to talk to one of
(a, an, the) managers.
9) What
(a, an, the) amazing view!
10) The helicopter landed on
(a, an, the) roof of a building.
View Answers
[28.1]
1) an
2) the
3) the
4) a
5) a
6) an
7) the
8) the
9) an
10) the
|