Article ( a, an, the )

Article (a,an,the)

Words come before nouns

A , An

• There is only one of each and it is the first time the subjects or objects mentioned.

• First time mentioned and only one but the word after 'a'- starts with consonant, 'an' starts with vowel

common mistake

one apple (INCORRECT)

An apple ( CORRECT)

common mistake

An university ( INCORRECT)

A university (CORRECT)

Why?

If you use an, it is depends on the SOUND not the LETTER ( a, e, i, o, u)

The

• This article is also used for proper nouns

• The writer is referring to a particular person/things/place/animals etc.

The Magic Funfair

The Magic Funfair was in town once more. There was a Ferris Wheel, a roller coaster, an elephant ride, a ghost house and many game counters. People of all ages were there.

A group of girls tumbled out of the ghost house. They must have had the fright of their lives, but nevertheless, an unforgettable experience. The Ferris wheel was a favourite among the elderly and very young children. Teenagers and young adults went for the roller coaster. The most popular, though, was the elephant ride. The elephant was a new member of The Magic Funfair.

There are two girls sitting in a garden beside a beautiful statue. The girls are having a picnic. They brought a lot of food in a picnic basket.

The robbery took place at a bank in town. A masked man walked into the bank. He shouted at one of the four tellers, "Put all the money in the drawer into this bag."

There seems to be an accident up ahead. A police patrol car and two police officers are at the site to help move the traffic smoothly.

Lam Seng cycled to a market near his house. He bought some local cakes and a packet of soya bean drink. Then, he looked for the vegetables his mother had asked him to buy.

Multiple Choice

1. ____ insect has six legs but ___ spider has eight. Therefore, ___ spider is not an insect.

• An, a, a

• An, the, a

• An, a, the

• An, the, the

Multiple Choice

2. ___ accident happened at ___ main road near ____ Grand View Restaurant. ___ motorist knocked down ___ motorcyclist. ___ motorist had been speeding.

• An, the, the, A, a, The

• An, a, a, A, a, The

• An, a, the, A, a, The

• An, the, the, A, the, The

Multiple Choice

3. ___ sun was shining fiercely and there was not ___ cloud in ___ sky. ___ ground was parched and cracked in some___ places.

• The, the, the, The, -

• The, -, the, The, -

• The, -, a, The, -

• The, a, the, A, -

Multiple Choice

4. Many ___ flowers in her garden have bloomed. She is going to cut ___ most brightly coloured ones to decorate ___ living room for ___ grand occasion this weekend.

• -, a, a, a

• -, the, a, a

• -, the, a, the

• -, the, the, the

Multiple Choice

5. His uncle is ___ surgeon at ___ Gleneagles Hospital in Kuala Lumpur. He is ___ well-known because he is ___ caring and patient doctor.

• a, a, the, a

• a, a, -, a

• a, the, -, a

• a, the, a, the

1. An insect has six legs but a spider has eight. Therefore, a spider is not an insect.

2. An accident happened at a main road near the Grand View Restaurant. A motorist knocked down a motorcyclist. The motorist had been speeding.

3. The sun was shining fiercely and there was not cloud in the sky. The ground was parched and cracked in some places.

4. Many flowers in her garden have bloomed. She is going to cut the most brightly coloured ones to decorate a living room for a grand occasion this weekend.

5. His uncle is a surgeon at the Gleneagles Hospital in Kuala Lumpur. He is well-known because he is a caring and patient doctor.