The indefinite article in English. The article in English - rules for children in pictures and examples The definite article in English for children

Let's take a closer look at what you need indefinite article in English and consider the examples of the use of the article a, an in English.

The indefinite article a, an in English means quantity - one. In the plural, in proper names (name, city name ...), with uncountable nouns, the article a, an is not used. The article is called indefinite because the subject is not specific.

Examples

A boy - Boy.
Since we have one boy and we are not talking about a specific boy, we put the indefinite article before the word a, thereby denoting that the boy is alone.

An apple - Apple.
The same. Since we have one apple and we are not talking about a specific apple, the indefinite article an is put, which means that we have one apple.

Examples of using the indefinite article a, an in sentences.

I saw a boy. He was happy. - I saw the boy. He was happy.
Since the boy saw one, the article a is put, indicating that the boy was alone.

I ate an Apple. - I ate an apple.
Exactly the same situation as with the boy. The apple ate one, so they put the article an.

When is the indefinite article a put, and when is the indefinite article an

The indefinite article a in English is used when a word begins with a consonant.

Examples

aboy - a boy.

a p en - pen.

a l aptop - laptop.

a h headphones - headphones.

The indefinite article an in English is used when a word begins with a vowel.

Examples

an i Phone - iPhone.

an o range - orange (n.) / orange (adj.)

an e ngineer is an engineer.

an i ron - iron.

How to distinguish between vowels and consonants in English?

English contains 6 vowels - a, e, i, o, u, y. All other letters are consonants.

Simply put, the vowels "sing" in sound: aaaaa, eeeeee, iiiiii... Meanwhile, the consonants remain solid: t,b,p,g...

In English, unlike Russian, special words are widely used - articles. The article and the rules for its use in English are presented below in examples to facilitate the perception of the necessary material. There are two articles in English - the definite the and indefinite a (an) . The article is usually only placed before nouns. The indefinite article applies exclusively to singular countable nouns, while the definite article can be applied to various singular and plural nouns, whether or not they are countable.

First, let's remember in which cases the article is not used. The article is not used if the noun is preceded by (one, two, six, etc), a possessive or (this, that, my, our etc.), another possessive noun (my father's, Mary's etc), or the negation of "no" (not not!). Examples:

• My room is not big, but comfortable - My room is small but comfortable.
• There are two boys in the yard - there are two boys in the yard.
• I have no brother - I don't have a brother.

Google shortcode

Note: if a noun in the possessive case performs the function of an adjective, the use of the article is possible, for example: Paul is a man's name(man's name). Paula is a woman's name(woman's name). It's a children's bicycle(children bicycle).

The article is not used with uncountable nouns denoting an indefinite amount of a substance or an abstract concept:

• I don't like tea, I prefer coffee. I don't like tea, I prefer coffee Tea coffee- generally)
• Friendship is one of the most important things in my life. Friendship is one of the most important things in my life (friendship is an abstract concept)

The article is not used with the names of sports:

• I am fond of football, and my sister prefers badminton. — I love football, but my sister prefers badminton.

Also, the article is not used with proper names (except for some geographical names, which will be discussed below).

Indefinite article "a"

The indefinite article is "a". "an" is not an independent article, but a form of the indefinite, which is used before nouns that begin with a vowel sound: an apple, an orange.

• The forms a and an are remnants of the Old English word for "one", so The indefinite article is only used with singular nouns.

The indefinite article is used in the following cases:

• The first time an item is mentioned. For example, I live in a house.
• When designating a profession or occupation. For example, She is a teacher. My friend is a student.
• After: This is, That is, It is, There is. For example, This is a computer. There is a rose in the vase.
• If an adjective characterizing it is used with a noun, in such cases the article is placed before the adjective. Example: This is a flower. This is a red flower.
• Remember the use of the indefinite article in the following types of sentences

— What a beautiful color!
— What a tasty cake!
— What a good girl!

The definite article "the"

The definite article is used in the following cases:

• If we are talking about a certain subject or subjects (both in the singular and plural), which / which we have already spoken about, or by the context we understand what we are talking about. For example, Yesterday I saw a film. The film was not interesting. / I know all the people in this photo.
• With items that are one of a kind Thesun, thewind, themoon,theearth
• After . For example, There is a cat in front of the monitor.
• C - the smallest - the smallest, the quickest - the fastest
• C, for example: the first book, the fifth floor (BUT: if the ordinal number denotes a number, the article is not put: Lesson 7, Bus 15, page 45)
• With cardinal points: In the north; in the south; in the east; in the west
• With a surname - when it comes to the whole family - the Ivanovs - Ivanovs, the Smiths - Smiths
• In stable phrases: In the morning; in the evening; in the afternoon; to the cinema/ theatre; to the shop/market; at the cinema/the theatre; at the shop/ the market

Definite article with place names

The definite article must be used with the following geographical names:

• seas - the Black Sea, the Baltic Sea
• oceans - the Pacific Ocean
• rivers - the Voilga, the Nile
• channels - the English Channel
• bays, straits - the Gulf of Mexico, the Bosphorus Straits
• archipelagos - the Seichelles
• deserts - the Sahara, the Gobi
• mountain ranges - the Alps
• countries, if the name contains the word Republic, Federation, Kingdom, it is in the plural (t he Netherlands) or shortened to an abbreviation (the USA, the UK)

The article is not used with the names of countries, lakes, mountains (peaks), islands, cities, continents, streets, squares, airports. Exceptions:

• theGambia— Gambia,
• the Hague from The Hague

The definite article is also used with the names of hotels, cinemas, theaters, newspapers and magazines.

We have reflected the basic rules for the use of the article. There are many nuances, and the scope of one article does not allow to mention everything. But we have prepared another video tutorial on some difficult cases of using the article:

We hope that the above will help you understand the articles in English and use them correctly in your speech, but do not forget that repetition is the mother of learning, do not be lazy to revise the rules as often as possible.

Every parent wants his child to receive a full education and be a specialist in many areas, especially when it comes to foreign languages. Trying to give the maximum, we often forget that it is sometimes difficult for babies to understand some features of speech that they have not encountered before. Articles are recognized as one of such difficulties on the way to improving knowledge. They are a linking particle used with nouns and help to define more precisely what is meant. Unfortunately, the array of information about the correct use confuses students, and therefore they use at their own discretion.

Let's take a look at the articles in English according to the rules for children together in order to figure out what the main obstacles are. According to the traditional form, there are 3 classes of articles:

• uncertain(a and an),
• definite(the)
• and null.

So, let's take a closer look at the areas of their use.

Article "a" and "an"

Indefinite articles have been transformed over time from the word "one" and differ from each other in that "a" is placed before consonants, and "an" is written next to vowels to maintain euphony.

Instances when they should be used:

• May be near countable nouns filed in singular from a class similar to them: We saw a flower yesterday. We saw a flower yesterday.
• If about something said for the first time: I had a new friend yesterday. - I made a new friend yesterday.
• If by word we understand the meaning as everyone or anyone, speaking as about fact: I'm writing with a pen in my notebook. - I write with a pen in a notebook.
• implying a word "one": I'll call you in an hour. - I'll pick you up in an hour.
• When we talk about the whole subject class(for example, about the class of animals, plants, etc.): Rose is a very beautiful flower. Roses are a very beautiful flower.
• In situations where it comes to small particle something: I would eat a piece of bread. - I would like to eat a piece of bread.

We have already mentioned that English at first is quite difficult. Therefore, there are circumstances in which the indefinite article can be used in the plural. There are also set phrases, they will be useful to you in the future:

• To be in a hurry
• To be at a loss
• To have a head/toothache
• in a loud voice
• In a whisper
• It's a pleasure.

You can submit the rules in the format of a fairy tale, where the articles will be 2 brothers who went on an adventure, and along the way they will find friends for themselves (suitable situations of use).

Article "the"

Derived from the words "those" [ðəʊz] - those and "this" [ðɪs] - this. Used with singular and plural nouns.

Rules for the use of the article "the":

• If we understand what is at stake, because it was mentioned earlier, or we guess: He wants to drive. They go to the cars. - He wants to drive. They go to the cars.
• The story is about a unique item: The sun rises in the east. - The sun rises in the east.
• Next to a noun meaning kind, genre, sort of something: The apple tree grows everywhere. - The apple tree grows everywhere.
• Exception: the word "man" in the meaning of a biological species.
• In context with the words "last" and "next": The next summer promises to be warm. - Next summer promises to be warm.
• Together with adjectives as nouns: The strong must help the weak. The strong must help the weak.
• If some general place is meant that everyone knows about (hospital, shop, etc.): The hospital is on my street. The hospital is on my street.
• Among the instruments of music: My hobby is playing the guitar. – My hobby is to play the guitar.
• Before different nationalities: The Russians are very cheerful people. Russians are very cheerful people.

Zero article

At its core, the zero article implies its absence in principle. Here are a few points when it is needed:

• With uncountable and abstract nouns: Happiness is something you can't buy. “Happiness is something you can't buy.
• With plural countable nouns: She brought apricots. She brought apricots.
• With proper names: Eva is the smartest girl. Eva is the smartest girl.
• When preceded by demonstrative and possessive pronouns:
• I liked this album. – I liked this album.
• I reminded my friend about homework. -I reminded my friend about homework.

Learning articles in English according to the rules for children will be a bit boring, so think in advance how to diversify the process. Perhaps it will be riddles, competitive tasks. Ask the children to draw examples of when one of the articles is used.

Articles in English a/an and the indicate the degree of certainty of the subject in a given context or in general. In Russian, they, as service words, are absent and are not translated from English, but sometimes they can “meet” in phrases like: “I know one girl. This girl is in our school. Or: “One boy was very fond of reading. This boy once found a very interesting book ... "

Therefore, on an intuitive level, we sometimes also use the words “one / one / one / alone” when we first mention an object, and “this / this / this / these” when it is used again in speech. Especially often this can be found in fairy tales: "Once upon a time there was an old man ..."

The use of articles in English

correct use of articles in English often causes difficulty. There are, of course, rules for the use of certain articles - a/ an, the, zero article, but since native speakers trust, first of all, their intuition and logic, then by putting ourselves in their place and trying to think like them, we could greatly facilitate the task.

What is this certainty/uncertainty?

I have bought a dog. - I bought a dog. In this context, you are talking about a dog for the first time, this means “some kind of dog, one of many”, it is not yet clear to the listener which particular dog we are talking about, so in this example we use the indefinite article -a.

The dog is very cute. - The dog is very cute. Now you are already talking about “a particular dog - the one that you bought. The listener already understands that we are talking about your dog, so there is already a definite article -the. In other words, as in the "bearded" joke about English for the "new Russians": the article -a - means "type", and -the - "specifically", that is, one of many or a specific example.

Table of articles in English

It will help to systematize all of the above. table of articles in English.

The

A/An

Zero article:

If you still have questions on the topic of articles in English - Double You Studio will help you figure it out - English language school in Kyiv(suburb, Vishnevoe, Sofiyivska Borshchagovka, Boyarka, Petrivske).