Articles, Demonstratives and Nouns

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ARTICLES:

DEFINITE, INDEFINITE AND NO ARTICLE


The Indefinite Article – A / AN: a book

1. Singular nouns and the first time we refer to a table


a person, animal or thing: a clock
a child an elephant a television a university (because the beginning of
2. We don't use A/AN with possessive university sounds like YOU-niversity)
pronouns, demonstratives or cardinal numbers: AN is used when the next word begins with a
My shirt is dirty. vowel sound (a, e, i, o, u).
This car is expensive. an apple
One person is in the reception an elephant
3. We use ONE (or more) instead of A/AN an umbrella
when the number is important: an hour (because the H is silent)
There is only one exit from the airport.
A is used when the next word begins with a
consonant sound (b, c, d, f, g, h, j, k etc).
ARTICLES:
DEFINITE, INDEFINITE AND NO ARTICLE
The Definite Article – THE: 4. Something that is unique or there is only
one:
1. A singular or plural noun when it is
clear/obvious which person or thing we are the sun the moon the internet.
talking about: 5. Names of rivers, seas, oceans, mountain
There is a lamp in my bedroom. (we ranges and deserts (always in capitals):

mention the lamp for the first time) The Mississippi River

The lamp is next to the desk. The Black Sea

2. Anything which we identify immediately: The Andes

We watched the new Brad Pitt movie last The Sahara Desert

night. 6. Directions (cardinal points):

3. Musical instruments (the violin, the guitar, the west


the flute): the south-east
His favorite musical instrument is the the north-west.
piano.
ARTICLES:
DEFINITE, INDEFINITE AND NO ARTICLE
Netherlands, The Czech Republic, The
No Article: Philippines).
1. When we refer to general ideas, plurals or 
4. Lakes, single islands, continents or
uncountable nouns we do not use THE:
mountains:
Religion is an important issue. (NOT The
Lake Victoria Jamaica Asia Mt Fuji
religion is an important issue)
5. Planets:
Mexican food is spicy. (NOT The Mexican
Mars Jupiter Saturn
food is spicy).
6. Sports or games:
2. Names of people, books and plays (unless it
soccer tennis skiing monopoly
is part of the title):
7. Meals:
I have read Romeo and Juliet.
breakfast lunch dinner
3. Towns, cities, states and countries:
Cape Town Montana Vietnam
(Exceptions – The USA, The UK, The

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