1. 1. ARTICLESBetsey Whitaker NealDarlan Nunes SilvaAline R. S. Souza de Souza
2. 2. ARTICLES Most English speakers recognize threearticles: the indefinite articles: a and an andthe definite article: the, but there is another article problem that occurs as well: the use of no articles
3. 3. For ELLs these little words canwreak havoc with their English
4. 4. Here are five examples of the most common mistakes. Can you identify and explain these errors?1. I live in the apartment, close to thesupermarket.2. Id like to go to the good restaurant.3. I stayed in the hotel near the park. The hotelwas very nice, and a park had some wonderfulpaths.4. Remember a presentation we went to lastweek?5. The apples are generally very tasty in season.
5. 5. Key1. I live in an apartment, close to a supermarket. (Note that I know the apartment and supermarket, but you, the listener / reader, do not.) Indefinite articles are used (a, an) the first time something is presented in a sentence.2. Id like to go to a good restaurant. (Use indefinite articles with anything that is not specifically known to BOTH the writer and the reader).3. I stayed in a hotel near a park. The hotel was very nice, and the park had some wonderful paths. (Related to the first two: Use a definite article when referring to something that has already been mentioned).4. Remember the presentation we went to last week? (Conversely, Use a definite article (the) when referring to an object which is known to both the writer and the reader).5. Apples are generally very tasty in season. (Use no definite or indefinite article (nothing, in other words) when speaking in general using a plural with a countable noun, or the singular with a uncountable noun).
6. 6. GRAMMAR EXPLANATION
7. 7. Indefinite articles a and an Use only before singular count nouns Use with singular count nouns that are notspecific and are being mentioned for the 1sttime. A penguin is a small black and white bird. An igloo is a dwelling that is made of ice.
8. 8. Indefinite articles: a, anRule Example1. Use a before a noun or an A feather, a gray featheradjective (+ noun) that begins with aconsonant sound.2. Use an before a noun or anadjective (+ noun) that begins with aan idea, an absurd idea.vowel sound.3. The use of a or an with the lettersh or u depends on the beginningA hat, an hour, an hotelsound of the word. Note: The use ofa or an is determined by the nextA university, an umbrellawords initial sound, not spelling.
9. 9. Definite article: theRule Example1. Use the when you are talkinggeneral: All of them have a book. about something specific. specific: The book on the table is not mine.2. Use the when the speaker andgeneral: Every house has a door. listener are talking about thespecific: Paul, dont forget to close the door! same specific item. first reference: James and I bought a new3. Use the for the second and allcomputer last month. other references to the samesecond reference: The computer lets us access noun. the internet quickly.4. Use the with the superlative form comparative: At the mall, clothes are more of an adjective, which means with expensive than in town. the word most, or with the ending superlative: At the mall, clothes are the most est. expensive item.
10. 10. Definite article: theRuleExample5. Use the for the names of the Philippines, the Netherlandsthe United States, the Soviet Unioncountries that look plural, the Dominican Republic, the Republic ofincluding countries that end in Angola, the United Kingdom, thes, or have the words united, Kingdom of Saudi Arabiaunion, republic or kingdom.In a classroom, there is a desk, a chair, a6. Use the for the parts of clock, a white board, and a teacher.something (Exception: we do In the new classroom, the desk is small,not use the for body parts).the chair is uncomfortable, the clockdoesnt work, but the teacher is great.
11. 11. Definite article: theRule Example7. Use the with most bodies of the Xingu Riverwater except with individual the Atlantic Oceanlakes. the Black Sea the Great Lakes (but Lake Conceicao)8. Use the with geographic the Greenwich Meridianparts of the globe, andthe South Pole and the North Polegeographic areas, deserts, and the Sahara Desertpeninsulas.the Punta del Este Peninsula
12. 12. A common error for some ELLs is to omit allarticles b/c there languages have no articles. An especially common, but very serious erroris the omission of an article of any kind beforea singular count noun. I have wife and twodaughters. If you get wife you will be veryhappy. This type of error is especially common amongspeakers of Chinese, Japanese, and Russian.
13. 13. No Articleor null article ()RuleExample1. When you want to talkGeneral: Cats can be great petsabout a category or group inspecific: The cats in the pet store aregeneral, use no article.expensive2. Use no article beforeWrong: A persons future successdepends on the educationabstract nouns such as feelingsor ideas. Correct: A persons future successdepends on educationWrong: The patience is a virtue.Correct: Patience is a virtue.
14. 14. Common mistakes. Watch out! Do not use a singular count noun withoutan article or other determinerWrong: job, apple, reason, best choice, delicioussandwichCorrect: a job, an apple, the reason, thebest choice, a delicious sandwich
15. 15. Common mistakes. Watch out! Do not use a with a noun that begins with avowel soundWrong: a hour, a heir, a honorable colleague, a hourly rateCorrect: an hour, an heir, an honorablecolleague, an hourly rate*Sounds of mute H and aspired H.a hat, a hateful place an heirloom
16. 16. Common mistakes. Watch out! Do not use the with a plural count nounthat refers to the whole categoryWrong: I dont trust the politicians. They are an ornerybunch of peopleCorrect: I dont trust politicians. They arean ornery bunch of people
17. 17. Common mistakes. Watch out! Do not use the with abstract nouns orideasWrong: The education is the most important thing inmy lifeCorrect: Education is the most importantthing in my life
18. 18. What is your native language?Comparison of English with other languages ARABIC ENGLISH Arabic has a definite articleEnglish has the definite article theUnlike English, Arabic requires the definite article with abstract nouns.The honesty is important Honesty is importantThe definite article is used for specificthings as in English, but it is also used inArabic when referring to the wholegroup.My favorite sport is tennisMy favorite sport is the tennis I am afraid of spidersI am afraid of the spiders Arabic has no indefinite articleEnglish has the indefinite articles a and an
19. 19. What is your native language?Comparison of English with other languagesCHINESE, JAPANESE, KOREAN, RUSSIAN ENGLISHThese languages have no articles. SomeEnglish has the definite article the andof these languages have a word for thisthe the indefinite articles a and an and/or that, so students may overuse these two words in lieu of articles
20. 20. What is your native language? Comparison of English with other languages FRENCH, SPANISHENGLISHThese languages have indefinite andEnglish has the definite article the anddefinite articles the the indefinite articles a and an The definite article is used for specific things as in English, but it is also usedwhen referring to the whole group. My favorite sport is the tennisMy favorite sport is tennisI am afraid of the spidersI am afraid of spidersIndefinite articles are not used whentalking about professions:My mother is teacher My mother is a teacherUnlike English, both French and Spanish In English articles invariable. have singular and plural forms of theira/an is a phonetic alternance indefinite and definite articles.
21. 21. Comparison of differences in article usageHow would you translate the following sentences into your native language? I have a brother. He is the best brother in theworld. Politicians are corrupt in many countries. I lived in Columbia before I moved to theUnited States. I dont like cookies or chocolate. I prefer thingsthat are not sweet. If you buy a car, you need to take care of it.
22. 22. Tips for learning faster Every time you learn a new noun, write it down witha or an in front: a book, a cat, an excuse Be careful not to overuse the:Correct: I think honesty is the most important humancharacteristic.Wrong: I think the honesty is the most important human characteristic. Pay attention to the article usage on individualexpressions or idioms:Correct: once upon a timeWrong: once upon the time