Articles

​Articles

​Articles are used to introduce a noun. There are two main types of articles:

​I want a sweet.

​She wants one sweet, it isn't specific, doesn't matter which.

​I want the chocolate sweet.

​She wants the specific one.

​indefinite articles ( a/an )

definite articles ( the ).

​and

​Indefinite Article

​a / an

​indicates that a noun refers to a general idea rather than a particular thing.

​

• ​​is used with singular nouns when the speaker or listener doesn't know exactly which one to refer to.

  I want a sweet. ( general, generic, one of those )

• to refer to a subject that wasn't mentioned before.

  I want a donut. ( the speaker didn't mention it before ).

• to show that the subject is something.

  She is a hungry girl.

• is not used with plural nouns or uncountable nouns.

  I want a donuts. -> I want donuts.

  I want a milk. -> I want milk.

​a vs an

​ they both mean 'one'. The difference depends on the sound at the beginning of the next word ( nouns, adjectives, adverbs, etc ).

A

​When the next word starts with a consonant sound, use:

​a sweet

​Indefinite Articles

​a donut

​a hungry girl

AN

​When the next word starts with a vowel sound, use:

​an insect

​an apple pie

​an egg

​a house

​a university

​an hour

​an umbrella

​university starts with the sound 'you' and Y is a consonant.

​house sounds like 'Rouse' and R is a consonant.

the H is silent, so we only pronounce the O, which is a vowel.

​

​That's why the SOUND of the next word is more important than the spelling.

Dropdown

- Do you live in ​

Select answer

house?

- No, I live in ​

Select answer

apartment.

- Do you have ​

Select answer

dog?

- Yes, I have ​

Select answer

dog and ​

Select answer

cat.

Multiple Choice

That's ___ lovely picture!

• a

• an

• the

• ____

Dropdown

My father is ​

Select answer

engineer.

Multiple Choice

Q. 

He always has ___ egg for breakfast.

• a

• an

Multiple Choice

A: How much are the driving lessons?

B: Fifteen dollars ___ hour.

• a

• an

• the

• ____

THE

identifies a specific noun in terms of properties, characteristics, position, common, well-known concepts, or was mentioned before:

• ​is used with singular, plural, and uncountable nouns.

  The girl is eating the pancakes.

• for specified time periods.

  The 90's.

• when a singular noun represents a group.

  The whale. = whales

• before an adjective to symbolize a group of people.

  The old.

• before superlative or only comparative adjectives.

  The best day. / The only way.

Definite Article

THE

identifies a specific noun in terms of properties, characteristics, position, common, well-known concepts, or was mentioned before:

• before names of bands, choirs, etc.

  The Beatles. / The Black Choir.

• before a surname to talk about the family.

  The Smiths = Mr. Smith, Mrs. Smith, and their children.

• before someone's name only if there is more than one with the same name.

  There are 5 Hannahs in my class. My sister is the tallest Hannah.

• before meals to refer to a specific meal.

  The lunch I had with you was great!

Definite Article

Match

Complete the sentences with the matching article.

• That's ___ cat.

• My brother is ___ artist.

• My father is ___ judge of my town.

a

an

the

• a

• an

• the

Drag and Drop

- Someone is eating the pancakes!

- Yes, ​

Placeholder

girl eating them is my sister.

- Oh, okay. I thought it was ​

Placeholder

different person.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

the

a

an

Match

Complete the sentences with the matching article.

• It's raining. Let's take ___ umbrella.

• He needs ___ pencil to write.

• Our aunt are ___ teachers at our school.

a

an

the

• a

• an

• the

Drag and Drop

- There are so many girls here!

- Right? My mother is ​

Placeholder

blond one.

- She's beautiful! I don't have ​

Placeholder

mother, both my parents are dads.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

the

a

an

Dropdown

My mother is ​

Select answer

English teacher. I am ​

Select answer

 student. When I get home from school, I watch programs on TV. That's ​

Select answer

 best part of my day. ​

Select answer

programs I watch are for children. I am​

Select answer

 child, so I think they are funny.

Drag and Drop

I'm ​

Placeholder

 little excited because it's Friday. There are lots of good shows on TV today. ​

Placeholder

one  I usually watch is at 3:30. It's about ​

Placeholder

 ant. Also, I'm excited today because my mother is making rice for dinner.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

a

The

an

A

An

the

​word

​order

Articles will usually come before a noun.

​word

​order

Articles will usually come before a noun.

But if the noun has an adjective, then it must come before the adjective.

​word

​order

Articles will usually come before a noun.

But if the noun has an adjective, then it must come before the adjective.

Or if the noun is accompanied by an adverb, then the article must come before it.

Reorder

Reorder the following.

• Take

• a

• book

• from

• there.

1

2

3

4

5

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Reorder

Reorder the following.

• They

• are

• the

• English

• girls.

1

2

3

4

5

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Reorder

Reorder the following.

• It

• is

• an

• orange

• car.

1

2

3

4

5

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

No articles

​when the article is implied but not actually present, it is also called 'zero article'.

• ​They are omitted before nouns that refer to abstract ideas.

  Let's go out for a dinner tonight. -> Let's go out for dinner tonight.

• Languages and nationalities ( unless referring to the people ).

  I studied the Spanish ( The person studied the Spanish people ).

  I Studied Spanish ( The person studied the language ).

• Sports and academic subjects don't require articles.

  I play baseball. / My mother teaches math.

• If talking about uncountable nouns in general.

  The sugar is sweet. -> Sugar is sweet.

• Plural nouns when representing a class of things.

  Oranges are green until they ripen.

• With verbs and prepositions of motion when the movement is the only purpose.

  Students go to school every day.

Multiple Choice

This table is made of ___ glass.

• a

• an

• the

• ____

Multiple Choice

A: You have a lot of books, read one of them.

B: But I want ___ book from the library.

• a

• an

• the

• ____

Multiple Choice

Many tourists visit ___ Turkey every year.

• a

• an

• the

• ____

Multiple Choice

I want to go ___ Alps.

• a

• an

• the

• ____

Multiple Choice

Have you seen ___ car key?

• a

• an

• the

• ____

Dropdown

1. How much time do you spend on ​

Select answer

Internet?

2. My brother is at ​

Select answer

college studying math.

3. I'd like ​

Select answer

cup of tea, please.

4. we have English classes twice ​

Select answer

week.

5. He's ​

Select answer

man I told you about yesterday.