The use of indefinite and

definite articles A, AN or THE

2014

04/13/23 Teacher Danitza Lazcano F. 2

A and AN

A and An are indefinite articles.Both of them works with singular

nouns.

They stand for in Spanish: un oruna.

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How do we use them?

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We use A before words that begin with consonants.

For example:A car.A plane.A beautiful doll.

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We use AN before words that begin with vowels.

For example:

An ugly pottery.An airplane.An orange.

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In both cases, the recognition was visual.But we can also recognize the use of these articles by using our hear.

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We can use A before the vowel u and before the dipthonge eu, when it sounds like the word ‘you’(/juː/)

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Here we have some examples:

A university/ə ˌjuːnɪˈvɜːrsəti/

A European city

/ə ˌjʊrəˈpiːən ˈsɪti/

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What happened with h words?

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We use an before words that begin with a silent h like the word hour.

An hour/ən ˈaʊər/

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We use A with a hard h like the word house.

A house/ə haʊs/

oxford grammar practice #49

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When do we use A or AN?

*To talk about something for the first time.

I found a pencil.

* With jobs or professions.

She is a nurse.

* In exclamations/phrases with a/an+(countable singular) noun.

What an excellent day!

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THETHE is a definite article.It can be used with singular,plural and uncountable nouns.

THE stands for in Spanish: el – la – los – las.

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When do we use THE?

* When we talk about something we mention before.

I have a nice dress. The dress is white.

* With rivers, seas, oceans, deserts and island or mountain groups.

The Andes.The Atacama desert.

The Pacific ocean.

* When it is clear in the situation which thing or person we mean.

Can I borrow the red pen?Can I use the bathroom,

please?

* With superlatives.

She is the best student atschool.

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When do we use THE?

* When there is only one of something.

Santiago is the capital of Chile.

The moon is very bright tonight.

* To refer to a system or service.

I heard it on the radio.You should call the police.

* With musical instruments.

She is playing the piano and

her sister the bass.

* With adjectives like poor, rich, or evan group of people.

Life can be very easy for the rich.

I think the poor don't have to pay

taxes.

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DO NOT USE THE...

*Names of people and names of places.I went to Canberra yesterday.

I went to the Canberra yesterday. X

I saw Sue last week.I saw the Sue last week. X

* breakfast / lunch / dinnerWhat did you have for lunch?

What did you have for the lunch? X

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DO NOT USE THE...

*When we talk about people or things in general.

Credit cards are essential now. The credit cards are essential now.. X

* With continents, lakes, individual islands and mountains , and most countries

They went to Chungara lake last week.They went to the Chungara lake last week. X

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DO NOT USE THE...

*days / months/ yearsShe will go there on Monday.

She will go there on the Monday. X

* In some prepositional phrases (at-by-to).

He stays at home.He stays at the home.X

I go to school on foot.I go to school on the foot.X

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DO NOT USE THE...

*For institutionssuch as school, churches. Colleges, jails, and when talking about the main function of the institution.

My brother is in jail. My brother is in the jail. X

* In certain time expressions.

We'll finish school next year.We'll finish school the next year.X

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Let's practice!!!

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Fill in the blanks with: a / an / the or (/).

1. Last night I stayed home and watched ____ television.

2. ____ Mary used to live in ____ country.

3. What do you usually eat for ____ breakfast?

4. ‘What’s Sue doing?’ ‘She’s on ____ phone.’

5. ____Mike is ____ good student.

6. ____Peter is _____ youngest student in the class.

7. ____ Sydney is ____ interesting city.

8. This class is ____ best class at using articles.

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Fill in the blanks with: a / an / the or (/).

1. Last night I stayed home and watched (/) television.

2. (/) Mary used to live in the country.

3. What do you usually eat for (/) breakfast?

4. ‘What’s Sue doing?’ ‘She’s on the phone.’

5. (/) Mike is a good student.

6. (/) Peter is the youngest student in the class.

7. (/) Sydney is an interesting city.

8. This class is the best class at using articles.

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Material created and selected by

Danitza Lazcano FloresTeacher of English

Master in Education and

Educational counselor