PROBLEM WITH ARTICLES
Noun in English can be either countable or
uncountable. If a noun is countable, it must be either
singular or plural. In addition to these general types of
nouns, there are two types of articles: definite
(specific) and indefinite (general)
ARTICLES COUNTABLE COUNTABLE UNCOUNTABLE
SINGULAR NOUNS PLURAL NOUNS NOUNS
INDEFINITE a dollar ………..dollars ……….. money
(general) an apple ………..apples ……….. juice
DEFINITE the dollar the dollars the money
(specific) the apple the apples the juice
Use articles with singular nouns
I have money. (uncountable – no article needed)
I have books. (countable plural – no article needed)
I have a book. (countable singular- article needed)
A singular noun must have an article (a, an, the) or some
other determiner such as my or each. ( A plural noun or
an uncountable noun may or may not have an article)
EXERCISE
The following sentences contain different types
of nouns. Indicate if the sentences are correct
(C) or incorrect (I)
1. She is taking trip with friends.
2. In my yard there are flowers, trees, and grass.
3. The manager sent memo to his employees.
4. There is car in front of the building.
5. The child and his friends are having milk and
cookies.
Distinguish a and an
The basic difference between a and an is that a is used in front of
consonants and an is used in front of vowels (a, e, i, o, u):
a book an orange
a man an illness
a page an automobile
There are two exceptions to this rule: u and h. when u is
pronounced like the consonant y (as in usual), it is preceded by
the article a rather an. When h is not pronounced (as in honor),
it is preceded by the article an rather than a. Pronounce the
following examples:
a university an unhappy man a hospital an honor
a unit an understanding a heart an herb
The following chart outlines the key information
about the use of a and an.
A AND AN
A A is used in front of a singular noun with
a consonant sound.
AN An is used in front of a singular noun
with a vowel sound.
Be careful of nouns beginning with H or U.
They may have a vowel or a consonant sound.
EXERCISE
Each of the following sentences contains a or an.
Indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or incorrect
(I).
1. The dishwasher quit his job because he was
making only four dollars a hour.
2. It was an unexpected disappointment to receive a
rejection letter from the university.
3. It is raining, so you should bring a umbrella.
4. He bought a half gallon of milk and a box of a
hundred envelopes.
5. An objection was raised because it was such a
unacceptable idea.
Make articles agree with nouns
He saw a new movies.
They traveled to a nearby mountains.
Do you have another books?
He saw a new movie. (singular)
He saw new movies. (plural)
They traveled to a nearby mountain. (singular)
They traveled to nearby mountains. (plural)
Do you have another book? (singular)
Do you have other books? (plural)
You should never use a or an with a plural noun
EXERCISE
Each of the following sentences contains an or an.
Indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or incorrect
(I).
1. She went to school in a local community.
2. The doctor used an other pills.
3. It is necessary to have a farm or land of your own.
4. He must contact a members of the club.
Distinguish specific and general ideas
With countable nouns it is possible to use either the
definite or the indefinite article, but they have different
meanings.
The definite article is used to refer to one specific
noun.
Tom will bring the book tomorrow.
(There is one specific book that Tom will bring
tomorrow)
He will arrive on the first Tuesday in January.
(There is only one first Tuesday in January)
He sailed on the Pacific Ocean
(There is only one Pacific Ocean)
The definite article is used when the noun
could be one of several different nouns.
Tom will bring a book tomorrow.
(Tom will bring any one book.)
He will arrive on a Tuesday in January.
(He will arrive on one of four Tuesdays in
January.)
He sailed on an ocean.
(He sailed on any one of the world’s
oceans.)
SPECIFIC AND GENERAL IDEAS
ARTICLE MEANING USES
A or AN general idea Use when there are many, and you do not know
which one it is.
Use when there are many, and you do not care
which one it is.
THE Specific idea Use when it is the only one.
Use when there are many, you know which one it
is.
Each of the following sentences contains one
or more articles. Indicate if the sentences are
correct or incorrect.
1. He took a trip on a Snake River.
2. I’II meet you at the library later.
3. He had a best grade in the class on the
exam.
Indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).
1. He took a money from his wallet to pay for sweater
2. The notebook that he left had an important assignment
in it.
3. Because of previous disagreements, they are trying to
arrive at an understanding.
4. The appearance of room could be improved by adding a
green plants.
5. The Senate passed law banning smoking in public
workplaces
TOEFL EXERCISE
1. On a trip down to the bottom of the Grand Canyon,
A B C
the equipment will in all probability be carried by a
D
burros.
2. Ford designed the first large scale assembly line at
A B
plant in Highland Park, Michigan.
CD
3. In the human body, blood flows from a heart through
AB
the arteries, and it returns through the veins.
C D
4. The scholarship that Wilson received to study
A
history at Cambridge presented an unique opportunity.
B C D