Other Determiners

Articles

By Ana Romero

Articles

Articles are a type of determiner that indicate if the noun is specific (the) or general (a/an)

DEFINITE AND

INDEFINITE

Indefinite Article (A/An)

• Used in front of singular countable nouns

• Used when it's the first time we mention a thing

• Used when we are referring to a non-specific thing

​NOT USED:

• In front of other determiners (possessive pronouns, numbers...)

• With plural nouns or uncountable nouns

Definite Article (The)

• Used in front of specific singular or plural nouns

• Anything we identify immediately (usually with adjectives or unique things)

• Musical instruments

• ​Names of rivers, seas, oceans, mountain ranges, and deserts

• Directions (Cardi​nal points)

No Article

• When we refer to general ideas, plurals, or uncountable nouns

• Names of people, books, and plays (unless it's part of the title)

• Towns, cities, states,and countries*

• Lakes, single islands, continents, or mountains​

• Planets

• Sports or games

• Meals​

Multiple Choice

Are you coming to _______ party next Saturday?

• a

• an

• the

• x

Multiple Choice

You should definitely do ___ exercise in your free time

• A

• THE

• AN

• -

Multiple Choice

I bought _______ new TV set yesterday.

• a

• an

• the

• x

Multiple Choice

As you know, ___ exercise is important

• A

• THE

• AN

• -

Multiple Choice

I think ______ man over there is very ill. He can't stand on his feet.

• a

• an

• the

• x

Multiple Choice

It keeps your body healthy and reduces _______ stress.

• A

• THE

• AN

• -

Multiple Choice

I watched _____ video you had sent me.

• a

• an

• the

• x

Multiple Choice

Be careful, sometimes ______ people go to _______ gym to work out for hours

• A, THE

• THE, THE

• THE, -

• -, THE

Multiple Choice

She was wearing ______ ugly dress when she met him.

• a

• an

• the

• x

Multiple Choice

They built ______ really strong bridge.

• A

• THE

• AN

• -

Multiple Choice

I am crazy about reading ______ history books.

• a

• an

• the

• x

Multiple Choice

She is _____ nice girl.

• a

• an

• the

• x

Multiple Choice

Do you want to go to ______ restaurant where we first met?

• a

• an

• the

• x

Multiple Choice

He is _____ engineer.

• a

• an

• the

• x

Multiple Choice

He thinks that _____ love is what will save us all.

• a

• an

• the

• x

Multiple Choice

Did you get married after leaving ____ university ?

• a

• an

• the

• x

Multiple Choice

They are opening new shops here.

• a

• an

• the

• x

Multiple Choice

She was returning from ____ school when I met her.

• a

• an

• the

• x

Multiple Choice

Are you going to _____ beach this afternoon?

• a

• an

• the

• x

Multiple Choice

He went to ______ prison for domestic violence.

• the

• x

Multiple Choice

The kids are sitting at ______ table eating cereals.

• the

• x

Multiple Choice

Are you at ____ home?

• the

• x

Multiple Choice

Those were ____ interesting books.

• a

• an

• the

• x

Multiple Choice

I am _____ good sailor.

• a

• an

• the

• x

Multiple Choice

She was ______ good actress.

• a

• an

• the

• x

Some basic tips:

• ​We use both, either and neither to talk about pairs.

• ​Both is always followed by plural nouns

• Either and neither ​are usually followed by singular nouns.

EACH vs EVERY

• Use each when you are referring to an individual object or person, or when you only have two of the same thing. Each can sometimes also work as an adverb: it is placed at the end of a sentence or before your verb. It can also sometimes work as a pronoun, in that case, a second noun is not needed.

• Use every when you are referring to a group or when talking about more than two things​

Fill in the Blank

Everyone in our department tidies their office __________ day before going home.

Fill in the Blank

We enjoyed __________ minute of our holidays!

Fill in the Blank

There are two boxes. _________ one has a reference number.

Multiple Select

There is a bus that passes _______ fifteen minutes.

• every

• each

• every one

• each one

Multiple Select

These lemons cost 10 cents __________.

• each one

• every one

• Each

• Every

Fill in the Blank

When new employees start working in a company, they are given an e-mail address _______.

Fill in the Blank

It is a good practice to read English for 20 minutes __________ day .

Multiple Select

There are children in the playground, ______ has a coat.

• everyone

• every

• each

• each one

Multiple Select

There are shops on ______ side of the street.

• each one

• each

• every

• every one

ALL

• Use with plural countable nouns or uncountable nouns

• It can be followed by the and of (all the cars/all of us)

• It can be used in exclamations followed by this/that/these/those

HALF vs BOTH

• Use HALF to talk about a whole group divided into two (usually followed by "the")

  ​

• Use BOTH to talk about something that is true for both members of a pair (usually followed by a plural)

EITHER vs NEITHER

• Use either when both options would be acceptable

• Use neither when both options would be unacceptable or unappealing

• Both are followed by singular verb forms. ​

EITHER vs NEITHER

• We can also use neither/either to say "tampoco"

• We use either in negative sentences: ​I don't like Christmas music either.

• For neither use: ​Neither + auxiliary + pronoun​ Neither do I/ Neither do we / Neither have they.

Multiple Choice

Do you want tea or coffee? _______ I really don't mind.

• Both

• Either

• None

• No, thank you.

Multiple Choice

A: I don't have pocket money.

B: I don't have any money _______.

• either

• neither

Multiple Choice

________ my parents are from London.

• Either

• Neither

• All

• Both

Multiple Choice

A: I don't like bitter gourd.

B: _______ do I.

• Either

• Neither

Multiple Choice

Gary is very busy with his job. He has _________ for other things.

• a little time

• much time

• little time

• few time

Multiple Choice

_________ Alia nor Wee Mee passed the examination.

• Either

• Neither

Multiple Choice

________ was a different colour.

• Every bok

• Both books

• Each book

• Neither of book

Multiple Choice

You can _________ submit your homework via Google Classroom or Telegram.

• either

• neither

Multiple Choice

This money is all yours. ________________

• None of it is mine.

• Neither of it is mine.

• Both of it is mine.

• Anything of it is mine.

Multiple Choice

Darshan ________ sings nor dances but he is a great cajon player.

• either

• neither

Multiple Choice

_______ Chris ____ Paul came to the party. There was an accident in the street where we live.

• Neither - nor

• Either- or

• Both- and

• No-no

Multiple Choice

A: Would you like coffee or tea?

B: ______ would do for me.

• Either

• Neither

Multiple Choice

Gary is very busy with his job. He has _________ for other things.

• a little time

• much time

• little time

• few time

Multiple Choice

_______ of them told me about the rehearsal so I did not go.

• Either

• Neither

Multiple Choice

There's no need to hurry. We've got _________

• few time

• plenty of time

• a lot time

• many time

Multiple Choice

Rayyan doesn't live in Kuala Lumpur and I don't ________.

• either

• neither

Multiple Choice

___________ enjoyed the party.

• Everyone

• None invited

• Each one

• Every

Multiple Choice

They haven't been to school and ______ have I.

• either

• neither

Multiple Choice

________________ in this garden are beautiful.

• A lot flowers

• No flowers

• Much flowers

• All of the flowers

Multiple Choice

You can ________ use your textbook or surf the Internet to find the answers.

• either

• neither