TIP SheetDEFINITE và INDEFINITE ARTICLES
In English there are three articles: a, an, & the. Articles are used before nouns or noun equivalents và are a type of adjective. The definite article (the) is used before a noun khổng lồ indicate that the identity of the noun is known lớn the reader. The indefinite article (a, an) is used before a noun that is general or when its identity is not known. There are certain situations in which a noun takes no article.
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As a guide, the following definitions & table summarize the basic use of articles. Continue reading for a more detailed explanation of the rules và for examples of how and when khổng lồ apply them.
Definite article
the (before a singular or plural noun)
Indefinite article
a (before a singular noun beginning with a consonant sound)an (before a singular noun beginning with a vowel sound)
Count nouns - refers khổng lồ items that can be counted and are either singular or plural
Non-count nouns - refers to items that are not counted và are always singular
COUNT NOUNS | NON-COUNT NOUNS | |
Rule #1Specific identity not known | a, an | (no article) |
Rule #2Specific identity known | the | the |
Rule #3All things or things in general | (no article) | (no article) |
For the purposes of understanding how articles are used, it is important khổng lồ know that nouns can be either count (can be counted) or noncount (indefinite in quantity và cannot be counted). In addition, count nouns are either singular (one) or plural (more than one). Noncount nouns are always in singular form.
For example, if we are speaking of water that has been spilled on the table, there can be one drop (singular) or two or more drops (plural) of water on the table. The word drop in this example is a count noun because we can count the number of drops. Therefore, according khổng lồ the rules applying to count nouns, the word drop would use the articles a or the.
However, if we are speaking of water in general spilled on the table, it would not be appropriate lớn count one water or two waters -- there would simply be water on the table. Water is a noncount noun. Therefore, according to the rules applying to noncount nouns, the word water would use no article or the, but not a.
Following are the three specific rules which explain the use of definite & indefinite articles.
Rule #1 - Specific identity not known:Use the indefinite article a or an only with a singular count noun whose specific identity is not known to lớn the reader.Use a before nouns that begin with a consonant sound, và use an before nouns that begin with a vowel sound.
Use the article a or an lớn indicate any non-specified member of a group or category.I think an animal is in the garageThat man is a scoundrel.We are looking for an apartment.
Use the article a or an khổng lồ indicate one in number (as opposed to more than one).I own a cat & two dogs.
Use the article a before a consonant sound, & use an before a vowel sound.a boy, an apple
◊ Sometimes an adjective comes between the article và noun:
an unhappy boy, a red apple
The plural form of a or an is some.Use some to indicate an unspecified, limited amount (but more than one).an apple, some apples
Rule #2 - Specific identity known:Use the definite article the with any noun (whether singular or plural, count or noncount) when the specific identity of the noun is known khổng lồ the reader, as in the following situations:
Use the article the when a particular noun has already been mentioned previously.I ate an apple yesterday.The táo apple was juicy & delicious.
Use the article the when an adjective, phrase, or clause describing the noun clarifies or restricts its identity.The boy sitting next to me raised his hand.Thank you for the advice you gave me.
Use the article the when the noun refers khổng lồ something or someone that is unique.the theory of relativitythe 2003 federal budget
Rule #3 - All things or things in general:Use no article with plural count nouns or any noncount nouns used lớn mean all or in general.
Trees are beautiful in the fall. (All trees are beautiful in the fall.)He was asking for advice. (He was asking for advice in general.)I vị not like coffee. Xem thêm: Rợn Người Trước Hiện Tượng “ Ma Thổi Đèn Là Gì, Ma Thổi Đèn
Additional Information Regarding the Use of Articles
When indicating an unspecified, limited amount of a count or noncount noun, use some.My cousin was seeking some advice from a counselor (not advice in general or advice about everything, but a limited amount of advice).
I would love some coffee right now (not coffee in general, but a limited amount of coffee).
We might get rain tomorrow.Some rain would be good for the crops (a certain amount of rain, as opposed to rain in general).
There are some drops of water on the table (a limited number, but more than one drop).
Noncount nouns are those which usually cannot be counted. Following are some common examples:◊ Certain food and drink items: bacon, beef, bread, broccoli, h3qvn.comr, cabbage, candy, cauliflower, celery, cereal, cheese, chicken, chocolate, coffee, corn, cream, fish, flour, fruit, ice cream, lettuce, meat, milk, oil, pasta, rice, salt, spinach, sugar, tea, water, wine, yogurt
◊ Certain nonfood substances: air, cement, coal, dirt, gasoline, gold, paper, petroleum, plastic, rain, silver, snow, soap, steel, wood, wool
◊ Most abstract nouns:advice, anger, beauty, confidence, courage, employment, fun, happiness, health, honesty, information, intelligence, knowledge, love, poverty, satisfaction, truth, wealth
◊ Areas of study:history, math, biology, etc.
◊ Sports: soccer, football, baseball, hockey, etc.
◊ Languages:Chinese, Spanish, Russian, English, etc.
◊ Other: clothing, equipment, furniture, homework, jewelry, luggage, lumber, machinery, mail, money, news, poetry, pollution, research, scenery, traffic, transportation, violence, weather, work
Geographical names are confusing because some require the & some vị not.◊ Use the with: united countries, large regions, deserts, peninsulas, oceans, seas, gulfs, canals, rivers, mountain ranges, groups of islands
the Gobi Desertthe United Arab Emiratesthe Sacramento Riverthe Aleutians
◊ Do not use the with: streets, parks, cities, states, counties, most countries, continents, bays, single lakes, single mountains, islands
JapanChicoMt. EverestSan Francisco Bay
Examples of the Use of Articles
I bởi vì not want a gun in my house (any gun).The gun is in his closet (implies there is a specific gun).I am afraid of guns (all guns in general).
She sent me a postcard from Italy (an unspecific postcard - not a letter, not an e-mail).It"s the postcard that I have in my office (one specific postcard).Getting postcards makes me want to lớn travel (any postcard in general).
I have a dog (one dog).The dog is very friendly (the dog that I have already mentioned).Dogs make great pets (dogs in general).
Greta needs furniture in her apartment (furniture is a noncount noun).She is going khổng lồ select the furniture that she needs (the specific furniture that she needs).She hopes lớn find some furniture this weekend (an unspecified, limited amount of furniture).
We are going to see the Statue of Liberty this weekend (the only Statue of Liberty).