English I Lesson 2 | definite & indefinite articles

Definite & indefinite articles

There are two articles: the and a/an. The is the definite article, is used to refer to specific or particular nounsA/an is the indefinite article, is used to non-specific or non-particular nouns.

Examples:

"Give me the book" "Give me a kiss"

"I hear the most popular song of the year." "I would like to go see a movie."

"My friend wants a dog for Christmas." "Call a policeman!" but “Call the police”"I see an elephant!"

Particularidades

1) Los sustantivos que son imposibles de contar (como water, smoke (humo), milk) pueden o no llevar el artículo definido (the) pero nunca el indefinido (a, an).

I swim in the water.I swim in water. <-> Pero no: I swim in a water.”

He spilled the milk on the floor. He spilled milk on the floor.

The smoke is gray. Smoke is gray. Pero nunca: A smoke is gray.

2) Las cosas únicas, como el sol, el gobierno de un país, el universo, etc sólo usan The

The sun is hot.The universe is big. Pero no: A mexican government is big.

Nota: el artículo indefinido (a/an) no se usa en plural.

I eat an Apple. Pero: I eat apples.I love a cat. Pero: I love cats.

Aura García Junco Moreno | Ad usum privatum

Note! a vs an depends on the sound that begins the next word:

a +consonant:  a boy; a car; a bike; a zoo; a dog

an +vowel:  an elephant; an egg; an apple; an idiot

English I Lesson 2 | definite & indefinite articles

Simple present

Afirmativo y Negativo Interrogativo

I speak ChineseYou speak ChineseHe/she/it speaks Chinese.

We speak ChineseYou speak ChineseThey speak Chinese.

Do I speak Chinese?Do you speak Chinese?Does she speak Chinese?

Do we speak Chinese?Do you speak Chinese?Do they speak Chinese?

I don’t speak ChineseYou don’t’ speak ChineseHe/she/it doesn’t speak Chinese.

We don’t speak ChineseYou don’t speak ChineseThey don’t speak Chinese.

Notas:

Afirmación: He/She/it: verbo+sShe asks a question to the teacher

Negación y pregunta:Se usa el verbo do Don’t, doesn’t para he, she, it.Do, does para he, she, it.

Aura García Junco Moreno | Ad usum privatum