1. ARTICLES The indefinite article : ‘ a or an ’ 1. A and an have exactly the same meaning. We use a in front of consonant sounds ( a donkey, a windmill ) and an in front of vowel sounds ( an egg, an old horse )

8. A 7.3 No Article 1. The is not used before plural nouns and uncountable nouns (in a general sense ) : 2. Before (the names of most countries except if the country includes the word ‘Republic’ or ‘United’ ) : Articles Have you been to China? The tourists will arrive from India. He is going to Australia next year. When are you leaving for New Zealand? Dogs are faithful animals. Trees give us shade. Honesty is the best policy. Tolerance is important in our country.

9. No Article A 7.3 3. Before ( the name of a town ; city or state) unless if it is used as an adjective : Articles He comes from Penang. Several players came back from Perak. Kuala Lumpur is the capital of Malaysia (In the above examples, Penang, Perak and Kuala Lumpur are used as adjectives and so articles are used in front of them). Note : Where is the Penang bus-station? He is a Perak player. The Kuala Lumpur express coach will arrive soon.

10. No Article A 7.3 4. Before the name of a game : Articles They love to play tennis . We play football every day. Children often play badminton . The football coach is absent today. Note : When the name of the game is used as an adjective we use an article : He lost the tennis ball. How much does a badminton racket cost?

11. No Article A 7.3 5. Before the name of a meal when it is used after the verb ‘have’ : Articles The lunch we are ate yesterday was expensive. Note : When you refer to a particular meal , you normally use an article : The breakfast you prepared was tasty. Have you paid for the supper? We have our breakfast at seven. I often have my lunch at two. When are you going to have your dinner? Shall we have supper now?

12. No Article A 7.3 6. The is not used before words like school , prison , bed , church , town , market , home , when we think of these places as being used in the ordinary or usual way : Articles He goes to school punctually. They were sent to prison. I go to bed at ten. Do you go to church every Sunday? Are you going to town tomorrow? My mother goes to market every morning. My father is at home now.

13. No Article A 7.3 7. Before names of roads and streets except when the road joins two places : Note : An accident happened at the 4th milestone of the Butterworth-Taiping road. Articles They are going to paint the school. Note : If these places are thought of in a special way, then the is used : The Sultan visited the school. The prison was destroyed. The church they are going to build will cost RM500,000. A robbery took place in Bangsar Road. An accident occurred at Beach Street.

14. No Article A 7.3 8. Before diseases like : Articles chicken-pox small pox typhoid malaria tuberculosis cholera influenza

15. 1. Who is oldest boy in this class? (To show superlatives) 2. Mr. Webb is going to United States soon. (The word ‘United States’) 3. This morning I saw accident. (Refer to something for the 1st time) 4. Please lend me dollar. (Refer to something for the 1st time) 5. He is in hospital now. (Refer to something for the 1st time) 6. Where is book I lent you yesterday? (Refer to something for the 1st time) 7. visitors would like to speak to headmaster of this school. (Refer to particular person) 8. doctor advised me to eat a lot of fresh fruits. (Refer to particular person) 9. Teachers told us to bring pencil each. ( A means one) Exercise Articles

16. 10. We are going to make trip to Penang Hill during holidays. 11. He lives in big city in Japan. (Name of country) 12. First she cleaned furniture then she washed dishes. (Refer to particular thing) 13. Yesterday accident happened in city. (Refer to A means one) 14. It was during second term holidays that I saw Prime Minister of India. 15. It is serious matter and we hope police will look into it soon. (Particular person) 16. Tell him news when you see him at railway station tomorrow. (Particular thing) (A means one) (Refer to particular thing) (Refer to particular holidays) (Refer to particular person) Exercise Articles

17. 17. Ali wants to learn how to play badminton, so he has bought badminton racket. (Name of games) 18. This is cheapest yet best typewriter in that shop. (Superlatives) 19. Sir, please give us example so that we can understand topic better. (Particular matter) 20. They went for swim in Muda River. (Name of river) Exercise Articles