Master Student’s Name: RuxandraGhita

“1 Decembrie 1918” University of Alba Iulia

Language Level: Elementary

ARTICLES

What is an article?

Articles are words used in front of nouns to identify them as being….

specific(definite): general(indefinite):

the girl in the car. a child

An article is an adjective >> they modify nouns

In English, there are three choices

involving articles:

THE A/AN putting nothing

the wet chicken a chicken chickens

When choosing which of the three to use,

THE?

A/AN?

NOTHING?

We need to take three things in consideration:

1. Is the noun definite or indefinite?

2. It is countable or uncountable?

3. It is singular or plural?

When the noun is countable and singular, use:

A AN

(in front of words beginning or (in front of words beginning

with a consonant sound) with a vowel sound)

dog car hour owl

house elephant

When the noun is countable and plural use nothing.

shoes

bags

books

pets people

When the noun is uncountable, usenothing.

food sky

freedom

sand

emptiness

water ice

light

Definite vs. IndefiniteA definite noun is one that is recognized specifically by both

the giver and the receiver

of the message.

Look! the Big Ben tower

-when a noun is definite,

the object is unique to both

the giver and the receiver of

the message and you use the

article THE.

You use the definite article:When the nouns is intrinsically unique

(there is only one)

The sun is the center of our solar system.

Or when the context makes it clear what is being talked about, so it becomes unique.

Who was the first man on the moon?

A noun is indefinite when either the giver and the receiver of the message does not

have a specific thing in mind

I bought you a book.

(one out of many possible presents

and books)

A game

A / AN: Put a or an in front of the words then

match the words with the pictures.1. …. elephant

2. …. boy

3. …. cat

4. …. octopus

5. …. girl

6. …. apple

7. …. baby

8. …. umbrella

9. …. dog

10. …. flower

Choose the correct (and most natural-sounding) response to complete each sentence:

1. I love living in this __________ city.

a) no article b) a c) the

2. Generally speaking, __________ boys are physically stronger than girls.

a) a b) no article c) the

3. Bill enjoys reading __________ mystery novels.

a) a b) the c) no article

4. Do you remember __________ girl that we saw last night?

a) a b)the c)no article

5. P1: Did you go to the Thai restaurant? P2: No, I went to __________ place where you and I normally go.

a) The b)a c)no article

6. He is __________ really good person.a)The b) a c) no article

7. My brother is __________ expert at fixing cars.a) the b) no article c) an

8. __________ Paris is a beautiful city.a) a b) no article c) the

9. My __________ teacher's name is William.a)no article b) a c) the

10. We got our son __________ dog for Christmas.a) the b) a c) no article

The article wolf is hungry, and he wants rabbit for his dinner! Help the rabbit to build a wall by putting a, an, the or nothing in the blank spaces:

• Oh no! I can see __ wolf.

• I think I'm in __ trouble.

• __ wolf looks very hungry.

• He has __ enormous appetite.

• Look at __ big pile of bricks here.

• Maybe I can build __ wall.

• I'll have to build at __ great speed.

• This is __ important job.

• I will make __ wall strong.

• It will even keep out __ angry wolf.

• I can't make many __ mistakes.

• I need __ lot of bricks.

• I must not leave __ hole.

• Or __ wolf will get in.

• I am __ active rabbit!