articles in english
Hi, in today's lesson we're looking at the indefinite article in English "a" and "an"
and the definite article "the".
So we use "a"and "an" and "the" before a noun or a noun phrase.
That's an adjective and a noun.
In this lesson will first look at when to use "a" and when to use "an"
and then we'll look at when to use the indefinite article "a" or "an"
and when to use the definite article "the".
OK, so let's start by looking at when to use "a" and when to use "an".
So, "a" is used before a consonant sound.
So we say a car.
Here we have a consonant sound "c" so we use "a".
and before an adjective and a noun for instance a big house.
"A" is followed by a consonant sound "b" so we use "a".
But be careful the importance is the sound of the letter following the indefinite article.
If the sound is a consonant even if it's written as a vowel we use "a".
For instance a university.
Here, university is written with a vowel "u" but the sound is a "y" so we use "a"
or a one-year-old child. Here one is written with a vowel "o" but has the sound "w" so we use "a".
OK, we use "an" before a vowel sound for instance an apple.
Here we have a vowel sound "a" so we use "an".
Or an old shoe here we have a vowel sound "o" so we use "an".
But again be careful, the importance is the sound of the letter following the indefinite article.
If the sound is a vowel even if it's written as a consonant we use "an".
For instance an hour is written with a consonant "h" but has a vowel sound "ow" so we use an.
And an mp3 player is written with a consonant "m" but has a vowel sound of "e" so we use "an".
OK, so that's when to use "a" and when to use "an" dealt with.
Now let's look at when to use the indefinite article, that is "a" and "an"
and when to use the definite article that is "the".
Firstly and most importantly we use "a" and "an" before a noun
when it's the first time you talk about something.
It shows that what is referred to
is not already known to the speaker, listener, writer or reader.
It's the indefinite article.
So, for instance, "I had a sandwich and an apple for lunch."
It's the first time the sandwich and the apple are mentioned so we use "a".
But then as we now know which sandwich and which apple we are referring to
we use "the".
"The sandwich was tasty but the apple was rotten."
"The" makes the noun specific.
Let's compare two sentences,
"Jo sat down on a chair."
We use the indefinite article with countable nouns when we don't know which one we're referring to.
It could be any chair.
Also, if it's a part of a group so here we have a group of chairs.
Whereas, when we say,
"Jo sat down on the chair nearest the door."
We use "the" because we're being specific, we know exactly which chair we're referring to,
this one, the one nearest the door.
We use "the" when it's clear in the situation which thing or person we mean.
For example, in a room we talk about, "the light," "the floor," "the carpet"
because it's obvious what you're talking about,
it's specific.
We also use "the" when there's only one of them and so obvious
what or who we're talking about.
For example, "The Pope is visiting Ireland."
There is only one Pope, so we use "the".
Or "The moon is very bright tonight."
Again there's only one moon, so we use "the".
This is why we use "the" with a superlative adjective.
For example, "He is the tallest boy in the school."
Because there's only one tallest boy so it's specific and so we use "the".
Or if you said, "I took a taxi to the station."
It means the station in the town you're in.
There's only one station in the town,
so it's obvious from the context which station you're talking about.
Equally, you could say. "I'd like to speak to the manager"
and it's obvious from the context again that you mean the manager of the shop you're in.
Also, we say go to the bank or the post office. For example,
"I have to go to the bank and then I'm going to the post office."
The speaker is thinking of a specific bank and post office.
The one they usually go to so we use "the."
We also say to go to the dentist or the doctor as again it's specific.
You go and see your dentist or your doctor
not just any doctor or dentist.
So, remember you use "the" when you're talking about a specific thing or person
and if you use "a" and "an" you're being non specific.
Compare these two sentences. "I have to go to the bank today," and
"Is there a bank near here?"
In the first sentence we are referring to a specific bank
and in the second sentence we are looking for any bank not a specific one.
This is the main difference between the definite article and the indefinite article.
There are other rules for their use which are important to know too and
I'll go through them now.
We also use "a" and "an" to say what someone is or what job they do.
For example, "My sister is a teacher," or
"My friend is a student."
Also, we use "a" and "an" with a singular noun to say something about all things of that kind.
So, for instance, "A man needs friends,"
means all men need friends and
"A dog likes to eat meat" means all dogs like to eat meat.
However, we use "the" when we talk about musical instruments.
So you would say, "David plays the piano really well."
OK, now for the we also use "the" with adjectives like rich poor elderly or unemployed
to talk about groups of people.
For example, "I think the rich should pay more taxes."
This is referring to the group of people who are rich.
We do not normally use the definite article with names
but we do use the definite article with countries whose names
include words like kingdom, states or republic.
So, for instance you'd say
the United Kingdom, the United States, the People's Republic of China
and also with countries which have plural nouns in their names such as
the Philippines or the Netherlands.
We also use "the" with geographical features such as
mountain ranges, groups of islands, rivers, seas, oceans and canals.
So we have the Amazon, the Himalayas and the Atlantic.
It's also used with newspapers so we'd say The Times
and well-known buildings or works of art.
So we could say the Taj Mahal for instance.
Also with hotels, pubs and restaurants.
For example, the Ritz
and finally with families so we would refer to the Obamas for example.
So that's it for today.
I hope you are now clear on when to use "a" and "an" and "the".
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OK, so that's it. Bye bye for now and thank you for watching
articles in english