A, an, some, any, the, no article

A, an, some, any, the, no article

A & an

• Mean one.

• singular countable nouns

• Used before a noun to suggest a contrast with 2 or more.

Rules

• Use "a" before a word that begins with a consonant sound.

• a professor

• a house

• a student

• a university

• Use "an" before a word that begins with a vowel sound.

• an author

• an honor

• an instructor

• an undergraduate

some & any

• Used for plural countable nouns and uncountable nouns

• "Some" for polite requests and offers

• 
  

  I'll get some bowls of rice.

• There aren't any trees.

• Could I have some chips?

• I'll get some rice.

• Is there any space?

THE

• countable and uncountable nouns when it is important or clear which thing(s), person (people) we are talking about.

• 
  

  We saw some green birds and some brown birds.

• The green birds were beautiful.

• 
  

• 
  

THE

• when there is information afterwards to identify the noun.

• 
  

  Ankara is the capital city of Turkey.

• 
  

THE

• when the noun is the only one in the world or in the place where we are.

• 
  

  I saw the English teacher.

• I saw it on the internet.

THE

• musical instruments

• 
  

  the piano

• the violin

THE

• names of rivers, seas, mountain, ranges, deserts and groups of islands or states.

• 
  

  It's a picture of the Amazon

• I'm going to the Sahara

• The United Arab Emirates.

No article

• with plural countable nouns and uncountable nouns when talking in general.

• 
  

  He likes books and films.

• Bread is made of flour, water, yeast and salt.

• 
  

No article

• Before colors, sports, activities and meals.

• 
  

  Let's have breakfast.

• I don't like yellow walls.

No article

• before countries, mountains, lakes, islands and continents.

• 
  

  This is Canada/Lake Geneva/Mount Fuji

• 
  

• 
  

  EXCEPTIONS. The USA, The UK

no article

• before places when the function of the place is more important than the building.

• The school is on fire.

• Ted's at school.

• My brother is in hospital for an operation.

• The bus stops at the hospital.

Exercises

choose... a, an or some