1. ELL Grammar Key 7:
Articles
Pages 179-184

2. About articles:
• They are considered adjectives;
• There are three kinds of articles:
a) Indefinite articles: a, an;
b) The definite article: the;
c) Zero article.

3. Indefinite articles a and an
• Used before count nouns;
• We use a and an with singular count
nouns that are not specific and are being
mentioned for the first time.
(FOLSE, Keith: 2009.)

4. Indefinite articles: a, an
Rule Example
1. Use a before a noun or an
adjective (+noun) that begins 1.A girl, a blond girl
with a consonant sound.
2. Use an before a noun or an
adjective (+noun) that begins 2.An idea, an absurd idea
with a vowel sound.
3. Remember that words 3.a hat, an hour (the word hat
beginning with the letters h or begins with the consonant
u can be problematic. The use sound /h/, but hour begins with
of a and an depends on the a vowel sound because the
beginning sound of the word. letter h is silent.
(FOLSE, Keith: 2009.)

5. Indefinite articles a and an
“A boy with blond hair was eating an apple.”

6. The Definite article the
• We use the:
1.“when identifying a specific person, place or thing (…)”
2. “when something is unique or, in other words, there is only
one of that object (…)”

7. Rules for the Definite Article
1. Use the when talking about something specific.
The blue umbrella is not mine.

8. Rules for the Definite Article
2. Use the when the speaker and the listener are talking about
the same specific item.
William, don’t forget to close
the refrigerator!

9. Rules for the Definite Article
3. Use the for the second and all other references to the same
noun.
The computer lets us access the
Internet quickly.

10. Rules for the Definite Article
4. Use the with the superlative form of na adjective,which means
with the word most or with the ending –est.
In a jewelry store, diamonds are
the most expensive item.

11. Rules for the Definite Article
5. Use the for the names of the countries that look plural, including
countries that end in –s or have the words united, kingdom,
republic, or union.
The United States
The Philippines
The Dominican Repulic
The United Kingdom

12. Rules the parts the Definite general, we
6. Use the for
for of something. (Exception: In Article
do not use the for body parts.)
The cabinet is
brown.
The wall is
different.
The
mixer is
red.
The stove is
silver.

13. Rules for the Definite Article
7. Use the with most bodies of water except individual lakes.
The Mississippi River.
ATTENTION! This is Lake
Michigan.
The Great Lakes.

14. Ruleswith geographic parts of the globe and geographic
8. Use the
for the Definite Article
areas, deserts, and peninsulas.
The North
The South

15. No article
Rule Example
1. When you want to talk about Cats can be great pets.
a category or group in
general, use no article.
2. Use no article before abstract Patience is a virtue.
nouns such as feelings or
ideas.

16. Common ELL Mistakes
1. Do not use a singular count noun without an article (or other
determiner).
wrong: job, apple, reason, best choice
correct: a job, na apple, the reason, the best choice
2. Do not use a with a noun that begins with a vowel sound.
wrong: a hour, a heir
correct: an hour, an heir

17. Common ELL Mistakes
3. Do not use the with a plural count noun that refers to th whole
category.
wrong: I don’t trust the politicians.
correct: I don’t trust politicians.
4. Do not use the with abstract nouns or ideas.
wrong: The education is the most important thing in my life.
correct: Education is the most important thing in my life.