Article

Dwita Laksmita R., S.S., M.Li

 Articles are used to indicate whether a noun refers to a
specific or a general item.
 The rules for using articles in English are quite complex, so
for students whose first language is not English, when to use
an article, and which article to use can cause problems.
 Some basic rules for using articles
The first thing you need to decide is whether the noun is countable
or uncountable
 Countable nouns in English are usually those that can take a
plural form (e.g. lecture, lectures, essay, essays, student,
students).
 Uncountable nouns often refer to food, beverages, substances, or
abstractions (tea, flavor, information); some uncountable nouns
can be made countable by adding a count frame in front of them
(two gallons of milk, six blocks of ice, a bar of soap, etc).
 There are two types of articles, definite and indefinite. However,
in your choice about whether to use an article, or which one to use, you
have some possible choices: the, a, an, or no article.
● ‘THE’ is known as the DEFINITE ARTICLE or refer to a SPECIFIC
or particular nouns
 A noun is called as definite if it refers to something specific that is
known to both the writer/speaker and the reader/listener. (Note:You
should memorize this definition!)
 For example,
if Jane needs to drive somewhere, she might ask her father, “May I use
the car?” She uses the definite article “the” because both she and her
father know which car Jane is referring to (the family car).

But later she might say to her friend Bill, “I saw a funny-looking dog
today.” She uses the indefinite article “a” because she knows which dog
she saw, but Bill doesn't.
The definite article (the) can be used for
specific references to countable nouns
Rules for using the definite article (the)
1. Use ‘the’ for the second and subsequent references to an item, means that the noun
has been previously mentioned.
Example :
 I saw a funny-looking dog yesterday [first mention, indefinite]. When it saw my cat,
the dog ran away [second mention, definite].
 The committee has approved a new policy. The policy...) (A survey was administered
to.... The results showed that ... )

2. Use ‘the’ when you use ‘most’ as the superlative form

Example:
 The tallest girl in the class is 6’2” tall. [There can be only one girl who is the tallest.]
 Please read the fourth paragraph on page 3. [There can be only one fourth
paragraph.]
3. Use ‘the’ when using ordinal forms to show order or number (e.g. The first students
to graduate were...; The last students to leave...)

4. Use ‘the’ when using words that specify a particular item. The context or situation
makes the noun’s identity clear.
example:
 you might ask someone to “Close the door.”You would use the because it would
undoubtedly be clear to both of you which door you were referring to.
 Do you remember the girl who went camping with us?

5. Use ‘the’ for reference to an item that is understood by all speakers . The noun
describes a unique person, place, or thing.
Example: The earth revolves around the sun once every 365 days. [There is only one
earth and only one sun--in our solar system, that is!]
(the sun, the planets, the moon, the stars)
● ‘A’ and ‘AN’ are INDEFINITE ARTICLES or refer to NON-
SPECIFIC or non-particular nouns.
If the noun is SINGULAR AND COUNTABLE, and this is THE
FIRST TIME YOU HAVE MENTIONED IT, then you will usually
need the indefinite article:
I bought a book – we do not know which book.
There is a bird outside – we do not know anything about the bird.
Let’s read a book – refer to any book rather than a specific book
MEASUREMENTS and rates also take the indefinite article: Three
times a week
● no article is sometimes referred to as ZERO ARTICLE
We do not need an article if a noun is plural or uncountable and
it is not definite.
Example : Women generally live longer than men.
Men typically have more logical thinking than women
Rules for using the indefinite article
(a/an)
1. Use ‘an’ if the word immediately after the article begins with a,
e, i, o or u, except where the ‘u’ is pronounced like a ‘y’ (e.g. an
apple, an egg, an interesting result, an odd couple, an umbrella,
BUT a university and a European).
2. Use a, an when you first mention a singular countable noun. (a
bike, a boy, a car, etc)
3. We use a before words which begin with Consonants (b, c, d, f,
...)
1. A doctor
2. A big car
3. A girl
We also use an before words that begin with silent h
1. Silent “h” = hour, honest
 An hour
2. Hard “h” = house, horse
 A house
Note: …
If noun is modified by an adjective, the choice between a and an
depends on the initial sound of the adjective that immediately
follows the article:
Example: a broken egg, an unusual problem, a European
country
Definite article (the)
Some things are taken to be common knowledge in English and therefore take
the definite article:
 Decades – He was born in the 1920s.
 Currencies –The dollar is getting stronger against the pound.
 Superlatives and ordinals – The second book in the series is the best.
 Oceans, seas and many rivers –The Nile flows into the Mediterranean.
 Plural or ‘united’ countries – The Maldives are much smaller than the United
States of America.
 Adjectives used as nouns – The poor will always be a challenge for the rich in
any country.
 Many organisations –The World Health Organization has a detailed definition
of health.
 A scientific categorisation – The zebra is native to Africa.
 A symbol – The Merlion is a symbol of Singapore.
 Unique people, places or things – The prime minister said she would call a
conference on
 changes affecting the earth’s climate
Conclusion
Rules for using articles (a/an, the, zero article) for classes of things
1. Use the definite article (the) to refer to an entire class of things
(e.g. The mobile phone has revolutionized communications.)
2. Use the indefinite article (a/an) with a singular countable noun to
refer to a representative of the class of things (e.g. A mobile phone is
a prime example of how technology has shaped our lives.)
3. Use zero article with plural countable nouns and with uncountable
nouns to refer to a representative of the class of things (e.g. Mobile
phones have revolutionized . . .;Technology is revolutionizing the
way people communicate.)
Conclusion
Noun/Noun
Phrase

Countable Uncountable

Zero
Singular Plural the (specific)
(generic)

A/an Zero
The (specific) The (specific)
(nonspecific) (generic)
Fill in the blanks with the, a, an, or zero
article (Ø), number 1, 2, 3 are done for you
1. On April 12, I ordered …a.. microwave oven from your
store. …The… model number was 129-C and according
to your Spring catalog, it cost $425.95. I received …the.
oven on April 25. However, on May 1, your bill arrived. It
listed …the.. oven at $460.95. This is $35 more than
…the.. original price. I enclose …a. check for $425.95.
Please credit my account for the $35 discrepancy.
2. I am writing in response to your ad in Sunday's newspaper.
I would like to apply for …the…. position of executive
secretary.
Continue..
8. I have been …a.. secretary for …the.. past six years. Most recently, I
have been working as …an.. assistant to …the… vice-president of
ESCO, Inc. In addition to general secretarial duties, my
responsibilities in this capacity have included …the.. management of
…the.. office in …the.. absence of my employer.
9. I am enclosing my resume for your consideration. My complete job
history is included. …A.. list of references will be provided on
request.
10. Dear madam, we would like to introduce you to Dark Lady, …a..
new fragrance by Leonard of London.
11. …no article… cars can be dangerous
12. I could see …no article…. clouds in the sky
13. No article……. elephants are big animal
14. There are …no article… people in the street