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Articles: A/An, The, Zero Article

The document summarizes the uses of articles (definite, indefinite, and zero article) in English. It provides examples of when to use a/an, the, and no article with nouns. The definite article "the" is used to refer to something specific. The indefinite articles "a"/"an" are used for non-specific references. The zero article is used for generalizations and with certain nouns like days, meals, jobs and abstract nouns.

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Anabel Blasco Martín
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395 views7 pages

Articles: A/An, The, Zero Article

The document summarizes the uses of articles (definite, indefinite, and zero article) in English. It provides examples of when to use a/an, the, and no article with nouns. The definite article "the" is used to refer to something specific. The indefinite articles "a"/"an" are used for non-specific references. The zero article is used for generalizations and with certain nouns like days, meals, jobs and abstract nouns.

Uploaded by

Anabel Blasco Martín
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

ARTICLES

A/AN, THE, ZERO ARTICLE


 It is invariable (no gender or
INDEFINITE plural form).
ARTICLE: A/  It has two forms, depending on
AN the word that follows.
 A /ə/  before a word which begins
by a consonant.

 An /ˈæn/ before a word which


begins by a vowel.
INDEFINITE ARTICLE: A/AN

USE EXAMPLES

To designate an individual, animal or object. You need a lawyer (any lawyer).


To speak about an individual, animal or object as A plane is faster than a train.
representative of a whole class or species
(general).
Singular countable nouns. A book.
With jobs. She is a nurse.
Distributive use. Three times a day.
With hundred, thousand, million, dozen… A hundred, a thousand, a million, a dozen…
After some predeterminers: such, quite, rather, Such a nice day, quite a lot, half an hour, rather
half… a surprising result…
 It is invariable in gender (masculine or

DEFINITE feminine) and number (singular or


plural).
ARTICLE: THE  It is pronounced in two different ways,
depending on the word that follows:
 /ˈðə/  before a word which begins with a
consonant.

 /ˈðiː/  before a word which begins by a


vowel.
DEFINITE ARTICLE: THE

USES EXAMPLES

To designate a person or thing already The book is rather good.


known by the speaker.
With nationalities. The Spanish.
Nominalised adjectives. The rich.
Play + instrument. Play the piano.
Places that refer to public spaces, transport I like the cinema.
or communication.
Unique reference. The sun , the moon.
ZERO ARTICLE (no article)

USES EXAMPLES
Countable and uncountable nouns in general. Abstract nouns used Butter makes you fat.
in general.
Before the words: school, church, hospital, prison, bed, table, town, She is in hospital.
home used in general.
Before nouns that refer to jobs, arts, science, sport and games, I love teaching/ painting/ chemistry.
languages.
Before the words lunch, breakfast and dinner. I had lunch with my sister two days
ago.
Days of the week. I am going to the cinema on
Saturday.
The time (except a quarter). It’s twenty to five.
ZERO ARTICLE (no article)

USES EXAMPLES

With the expressions last week/month/year, next Sam will travel to Italy next month.
week/month/year.
Seasons of the year. I love winter.
Uncle/ aunt + the name of the person. Uncle James, Aunt Lilly.
Illnesses (except a cold, a heartache, a She has diabetes
fever/temperature, a coronary, a heart attack, a
stroke).
Binomials (two nouns joined by a preposition or Face to face, day by day, husband and
conjunction). wife, ladies and gentlemen…

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