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A1 · ① Articles
Articles
a, an, the — and the fourth choice nobody tells you about: nothing at all.
40minthe whole
sheet
47questions
in the practice
3pages,
one at a time
01 · First page · what it is and what shape it takes
The forms
| Condition | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| You name it for the first time — one of many | a / an | I have a question. |
| Any one will do, it does not matter which | a / an | I need a pen. |
| It is a job, a role, what someone IS | a / an | She is an architect. |
| You both already know which one | the | The jacket was expensive. |
| There is only one of it, here or in the world | the | Close the door. |
| What follows narrows it down to one | the | the man who called you |
| Plural, meant in general | nothing | I like dogs. |
| Uncountable, meant in general | nothing | Water is life. |
| Language, country, meal, by + transport | nothing | She speaks Spanish. |
article: An article is a small word that stands in front of a noun. It tells your listener whether you mean something already known, or something new and unspecified. English has three of them — a, an, the — and a fourth possibility that is just as real: no article at all.
definite article: The definite article the points to one specific thing that both speaker and listener can identify. It never changes: the same word for singular and plural, for countable and uncountable nouns.
indefinite article: The indefinite article a / an introduces one countable thing for the first time, or one that does not matter. It exists only in the singular, and the choice between a and an depends on the sound that follows, not on the letter.
- There is a dog in the garden.
- The dog is my neighbour's.
- My sister is an architect.
- I bought a jacket. The jacket was expensive.
- I like dogs, but I don't like the dog next door.
| Singular | Plural | When? | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Noun type | First mention | Already known | Plural | The reason |
| Countable, consonant sound | a book | the book | the books / books | a = one of many · the = we both know which |
| Countable, vowel sound | an apple | the apple | the apples / apples | an before a vowel SOUND, not a vowel letter |
| Uncountable | — water | the water | (no plural) | no a/an ever: water, advice, information |
| Proper name | — Anna | — Anna | — | names, cities and most countries take nothing |
| Job or role | a teacher | the teacher | teachers | English always marks a job: never «I am teacher» |
Golden rule
Do not look at the word: listen to it. The sound after the article decides. That is why an hour takes an — the h is silent — while a university takes a, because it starts with a "yu" sound. Read every new word aloud once, and the ear will choose for you.
Very often the right answer is nothing. This is a real grammatical choice, not forgetfulness: general plurals, general uncountables, meals, by + transport, languages and most countries all take the zero article.
02 · Second page · when you use which
The uses
Second mention
You already named the thing, so now your listener knows which one it is.
I saw a cat. The cat was black.She wrote a book. The book sold well.
Only one
There is only one of it, in the world or in this situation.
the sunthe moonthe internetthe kitchen (of this flat)
Obvious here
The situation makes it clear which one you mean, even without naming it before.
Close the door.Pass me the salt.Turn off the light.
Made unique
What follows the noun narrows it down to one.
the man who called youthe best day of my lifethe first time
First mention
You name a countable thing for the first time: your listener does not know it yet.
I have a question.A woman called for you.There is a problem.
Any one
It does not matter which one — any one will do.
I need a pen.Take a seat.Give me a hand.
Job or role
English marks professions and roles with a/an. Most languages do not, and this is one of the most common mistakes in all of English.
He is a doctor.She is a student.I'm a beginner.
The zero article — nothing is an answer
The form is the same for everything, but it appears for different reasons. Learn the reason, not the sentence: a reason works on words you have never seen, a memorised sentence does not. Plurals in general take nothing: I like dogs. Uncountables in general take nothing: Water is life. Meals take nothing: We had lunch. Transport after by takes nothing: by bus, by car, by train. Languages and most countries take nothing: She speaks Spanish, He lives in Portugal. The exceptions are few and worth memorising as a short list: the USA, the UK, the Netherlands, the Philippines.
🌍 For everyone
Neither language counts information, advice, furniture or news, so neither takes a or an with them. To count them English needs a container: a piece of advice, two pieces of information.
She gave me good advice.
Many languages have a word like this or that which they add only for emphasis, and it is tempting to use it as the translation of the. But the is used routinely, with no emphasis at all: translate it that way and you will produce too few the and too many this.
I am student. → I am a student.
Jobs and roles always take a/an in English.
It takes a hour. → It takes an hour.
The h in hour is silent, so the sound is a vowel.
She is an university student. → She is a university student.
university begins with a "yu" consonant sound, despite the letter u.
I like the music. → I like music.
General statements take no article.
I go to work by the bus. → I go to work by bus.
by + transport takes no article.
He gave me an advice. → He gave me some advice.
advice is uncountable: no a/an and no plural.
I live in the Brazil. → I live in Brazil.
Most country names take no article.
Uncountables: what many languages count and English does not
Some nouns that many languages count, English does not: information, advice, furniture, news, knowledge, luggage. They have no plural -s and never take a or an. To count them you need a piece of, two pieces of, some.
- He sent me some information about the course.
- We bought new furniture for the living room.
- That is good news!
03 · Third page · now it's your turn
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