Using Articles

When do we use ‘a’/ ‘an’​?

We use ‘a’ / ‘an’.
1. When we refer to something or someone for
the first time.
Daniya ate a banana for breakfast.
Shayan saw an eagle on the roof top.
2. Use ‘a’ or ‘an to show that someone or
something is one of a group.
They saw a man painting the wall.
His father is an engineer in a large firm.
3. We use ‘a’ / ‘an’ to say what someone’s job
is:
My friend is a dentist.
Shahid Afridi is an opening batsman.
Shahmeer wants to be a pilot.
How to decide when to use ‘a’/ ‘an’​?
We use ‘a’ before all consonant sounds
Example:
a book, a cup, a dinosaur, a fox, a gate, a
hole
a unicorn etc
We use ‘an’ when the next word begins with a
vowel sounds:
Example:
an apple, an eagle, an island, an ostrich
an umbrella, an hour, an honest man, an
 Using ‘a few’ and ‘a little’
Objective:

You will be able to distinguish between countable

and uncountable nouns.

You will be able to use the quantifiers “a few” and

“a little”.
 When not to use ‘a’/ ‘an’​?
Can you count the number of pages in your
book?
Can you count the amount of coffee in a cup?
Pages are countable
Coffee is uncountable
What are some other countable
nouns?
a cookie = one cookie out of many

an apple = one apple out of many

We do not use ‘a’ or ‘an’ with
uncountable nouns
Use ‘a few’ before countable
nouns
Use ‘a little’ with uncountable
nouns
 Using definite article ‘the’

‘the’ can be used for uncountable

nouns and plurals too.
 4 basic uses of ‘the’
1. Use ‘the’ after you have already mentioned
someone/something for the first time or if it is
clear from the context which object or
person is being mentioned.

We had an exam last week. The exam was very

easy.
I saw a boy with a ball. The boy wanted to play
football.
2. Use the when there is just one of something
or someone.

The sun rises from the East every day.

The queen of England lives in the Buckingham
Palace.
3. Use the when using superlatives

Who is the tallest person in our class?

She collected the most shells on the beach.

3. Use the when using superlatives

Who is the tallest person in our class?

She collected the most shells on the beach.

4. Use the with oceans, rivers, mountains etc

The Nile is the longest river in the world.

The Titanic sank in the Atlantic ocean.

 When not to use articles
1. When talking about things in general.
Using plural countable nouns:

Butterflies are beautiful insects.

Women love to go shopping.
Men love watching sports on TV.
2. Using uncountable nouns:

She doesn’t like to eat meat.

I drink coffee every morning.
3. Before proper nouns:

They went on a tour of Europe.

Elections were held in Pakistan, last month.
They sell unhealthy food at Mac Donald’s.
End of Presentation