a and an (The indefinite article)
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an |
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“ a ” is used before a word beginning with a consonant, or a vowel with a consonant sound Examples: a + consonant ( a car – a dog – a house) a + vowel with consonant sound( a European organization – a one-way road – a unity – a university)
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“ an ” is used before words beginning with a vowel (a, e, i, o, u), words beginning with a mute “h” or individual letters spoken with a vowel sound. Examples: an + a vowel ( an umbrella – an egg – an American – an officer) an + a mute “h” ( an hour – an herbalist) an + individual letters spoken with a vowel ( an MP – an MP3 Player - an L-Plate) NB: a / an is the same for all genders (a man – a woman , a King – a queen, an actor – an actress) |
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Use of a/an |
Omission of a/an |
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a/an is used: • Before a singular countable noun when it is mentioned for the first time and represents no particular one or thing. She has bought a car. He ate an apple. • Before a singular noun which is used as an example of a class of things: A disabled needs a particular care. (All disabled need particular care/Any disabled needs particular care) A friend should be faithful. (All friends should be faithful/Any friend should be faithful) • In certain expressions of quantity: a dozen(one dozen), a little, a few, a great many, a lot of, a couple… • With certain numbers a hundred, a million, a billion… • In expressions of speed, price, ratio… $12 a kilo, 120 km an hour, twice a week… • With a noun complement. This includes names of professions: She is a doctor. He will be a footballer. It is an opportunity. |
a/an is omitted: • Before plural nouns: a / an has no plural form. The plural of a car is cars, and of an apple is apples. • Before uncountable nouns (democracy, freedom, sugar…etc) • Before names of meals, except when these are preceded by an adjective Examples: We had breakfast at 7o'clock. Exception: She gave us a good breakfast. |
The(The defenite Article)
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The |
The |
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The is the same for singular and plural and for all genders For singular and plural: the car, the cars the dog, the dogs the pupil, the pupils |
For all gender: the man, the woman the boy, the girl the king, the queen |
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Use of 'The' |
Omission of 'The' |
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The definite article is used: • When the object or the group of objects is unique or considered to be unique: the desert, the sea, the ocean, the earth, the sky… • Before a noun which has become definite as a result of being mentioned a second time: He achieved some of his dreams; the dreams that he has had since his childhood. • Before superlatives and ordinal numbers (first, second, eleventh, 12 th , 19th…) used as adjectives or pronouns, and only : With superlatives: the most important thing. the best one. the largest room. With ordinal numbers: The first one to finish is the winner. The twentieth century knew a lot of conflicts that could have brought an end to the life on earth. The second reason for this failure is the luck of integrity. • The + singular noun can represent can represent a class of animals or things : The dolphin is endangered by the ships. The car is the symbol of freedom for the Americans. NB : man represents the humankind and has no article: E . g . Because of the climate change, man will face a lot of disasters. • The + adjective can represent a class of persons The disabled (the disabled people in general) The poor (the poor people in general) The old (the old people in general) • Before certain proper names : Seas: The Mediterranean, The Red Sea… Oceans: The Pacific, The Atlantic… Rivers: The Thames, The Nile… Mountains: The Alps, The Rockies… Group of islands: the West Indies (former name for the islands of the Caribbean) • Before proper names consisting of adjective + noun or noun + of + noun : adjective + noun: The Democratic Party The National Gallery The White House noun + of + noun: The Tower of London The Republic of Tunisia • Before names of choirs, music groups, orchestras… Examples: The Bach Choir, The Beatles, The Gharbis(a Tunisian music group), The Philadelphia Orchestra… NB: choir ['kwaIr] • Before a family name + ‘s' of plural. The Browns, The Smiths, The Jacksons… |
“ The ” is omitted: • Before abstract names: Freedom is what they need. Democracy can never be reached without sacrifices. • Before names of meals: They had lunch at 7 o'clock. She was invited to have dinner . • After a noun in the possessive case, or a possessive adjective. John's brother is a teacher. (The brother of John is a teacher.) It is her car . (The car is hers.) • Before parts of the body and article of clothes: He put off his jacket . She put on her dress . Raise your hand before speaking. She twisted her ankle . • Before names of games and names of hobbies: She likes swimming . John plays golf . • When names of things or a category of people are used in general. Babies need our love. Parents provide their children with care and love. Big cities will face the danger of floods this season. NB : 1- nature (the physical world including all natural phenomena and living things) is used without “ the ” What inspires me is the beauty of nature . 2- In some European language the definite article is used before indefinite nouns but in English “the” is never used in this way: Examples: French: Les femmes aiment les bébés. English : Women like babies . If we use ‘ the ‘before women it would mean that we are referring to a particular group of women. • Before bed, court, prison, church, hospital, school, college, university. These words are names of places. When they are used or visited for their primary purpose ‘ the' is omitted. Examples: They were in court as witnesses. Christians go to church to pray. We go to bed to sleep. Patients go to hospital to get medical care. Students go college to study. Pupils go to school to attend lessons. John is in bed , having some rest. When these places are use for other purposes: Examples: She goes to the prison to offer some medical care to the sick prisoners. They went to the university to supply the library with a new set of books. • Before home: The is omitted when home is used alone and not preceded or followed with an adjective or a descriptive phrase. Home can be placed directly after: a verb of motion: She went home . ( home is used like and an adverb) or verb of motion: He sent him home . ( home is used like and an adverb) When home is preceded by a descriptive word or phrase it is treated like a noun: They left the criminal home and headed toward the court. They returned to the old home. This has always been the home of the needy people. • Before work : They headed to work . He is on his way to work . She is at work . Dad comes back from work at 6 o'clock. • Before sea : He is at sea now. He is travelling to France. • Before town : He went to town to buy a present for Marry. |
