Articles in English language a/an And the indicate the degree of certainty of a subject in a given context or in general. In Russian, they, as function words, are absent and are not translated from English, but sometimes they can “occur” in phrases like: “I know a girl. This girl studies at our school." Or: “One boy loved to read. This boy once found a very interesting book..."

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

Use of articles in English

Correct use of articles in English often causes difficulty. There are, of course, rules for using 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 make the task much easier.

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 specific dog we are talking about, so in this example we use not definite article-A .

The dog is very cute. - The dog is very cute. Now you are already talking about “a specific dog - the one that you bought. The listener already understands that we're talking about specifically about your dog, so there is already a definite article -the. In other words, as in the “bearded” joke about English for “new Russians”: the article -a means “type”, and -the - “specifically”, i.e. 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, an English language school in Kyiv (suburb, Vishnevoe, Sofievskaya Borshchagovka, Boyarka, Petrovskoe), will help you figure it out.

The scourge of all Russian speakers is articles. While this is clear and obvious to any European, it always seems to our brother that the British deliberately came up with such short words in order to confuse and mislead. But everything is much simpler than it seems.

Yes, in English (and almost any other) language, a noun does not exist without some kind of qualifying word. Whether it is an article, an adjective, a pronoun is not the point. The main thing is that Tamara and I go in pairs; the noun needs a pair: acat, mycat, thatcat, bigcat.

Now the good news: there are only two articles. Uncertain a and certain the. True, there is another variation - an. But this is a purely phonetic trick: it is impossible to say aapple(try it yourself - the feeling of stuttering is guaranteed), that's why they say anapple. And now a few nuances.

3.1.1 Indefinite article(The Indefinite Article)

It is used when it is unimportant/unknown (underline as appropriate) what subject we are talking about:

Take a pen. - Take a pen.

This means that you are simply asked to pick up a pen. None hidden meanings and hints. Compare:

Take the pen.- Take THIS/THAT pen.

Here it is already clear that you need to take a certain pen and no more. For example, the one who writes worse (so that she can get better results for herself).

The indefinite article was formed from the numeral one(one), and not at all from the first letter of the English alphabet, as you might think. Therefore, it is easy to remember that you need to use it ONLY with a countable noun in singular(you won’t say that you have one money). Such an article indicates a CLASS of objects, without highlighting any specific object.

I have got a dog.
But: I have got dogs.

3.1.2 Definite article(The Definite Article)

Unlike its counterpart, it was formed from demonstrative pronouns (this, that, these, those). Therefore it can be used with nouns like plural, and the only one.

The man is rather angry.- This guy is pretty evil.
The bus near the green house is not yours!- That bus near the green house is not yours!
Thegirlsinourgrouparesokind. - The girls from our group are so kind. (meaning specifically the girls from the group)

3.1.3 Indefinite articlevsdefinite

On the one hand, it seems that everything is clear even from the name of the article: indefinite for a certain object, and definite for a specific one. However, there are nuances.

When we use the indefinite article:

. The noun is part of the nominal predicate (calm down! You can, of course, rummage through Wikipedia. But it’s enough to at least know that after any of the forms of the verb tobe, tohave article is used a)
Iamateacher. This is a lamp. There is a dress in her hands. She was a beautiful girl.

. Meaning "one".
I need an hour to be ready. - I need 1 hour to be ready.
Ican’ tsayaword. - I can't say a single word.

. A noun denotes a class of objects/living beings/people. Usually translated as any/any.
Astudentcangetupquicklywhenhereallyneedsit. - Any student will get up quickly in the morning if he really needs it.
A child will be happy to have a new toy.- Every child will be happy with a new toy.

. Before the name of the profession.
My father, a teacher of German, is rather furious today.

. In exclamatory sentences and intensifying constructions after what, such, quite, rather:
She is such a pretty girl! She's so pretty!
What a nasty child! What an impossible child!
It was quite a nice day. It was a pretty good day.

When we put the DEFINITE article:

If the situation makes it clear that we are talking about a specific subject.
Look at the woman! Her dress is so bright!- Look at that woman. Her dress is so bright!
Whereisthebook?!! - Well, where is (this) book?
Take the flowers and go away!- Take your flowers and get lost!

If this object has already been mentioned in the conversation.
When I came home there was a woman in the hall. Later I found out that the woman was my aunt. When I came home, there was a woman in the hall. Later I found out that this woman is my aunt.

If there is a clarification/definition that distinguishes the object from others.
The car of my boyfriend is not good enough.- My friend's car is not so good.
Showmetheletterinyourhands! - Well, show me the letter that is in your hands.

If the object is one of a kind: thesun, theEarth.

If you need to designate the entire class of objects at once:
The cat is independent.- A cat is an independent creature.
The apple-tree grows in Russia as well.- Apple trees also grow in Russia.

3.1.4 When we do not put ANY article(zero article) :

Before uncountable abstract nouns.
I appreciate kindness. I appreciate kindness.

Before plural nouns, when in the same situation they would put an article in the singular a.
There are books on the table. There are (some) books on the table.

Before proper names (first names, surnames, cities, streets, continents, islands):
I live in Kiev. America was found in 1492.

But! Used before oceans, seas, rivers, waterfalls, straits, countries in the plural (for example, the Philippines), countries with the words union/federation/kingdom/republic, and groups of islands/lake the:
The Netherlands, the Russian Federation, the Black Sea, the Atlantic Ocean.

Before the names of days of the week, months, seasons.
I like winter.
Let's go there on Friday

When the recipe for the vinaigrette in your head, mixed from articles, is finally known, we suggest chewing the dish thoroughly. Again in simple words and with illustrative examples we will focus attention on the key points of the use of definite and indefinite articles.

Have you exhaled? Did you manage to get confused? You can check by taking a test on this topic and many others. Let's test and practice :)

Articles are the main determiners of names nouns. Before using any noun, you need to decide whether it is definite or indefinite, i.e. you need to imagine what kind of subject we are talking about: a specific one or any one.

• Articles a And an are called uncertain article (the Indefinite Article)
• The is called certain the Definite Article

Let's consider three cases: when the indefinite article is used before the noun, when the definite article is used, and when the article is not used before the noun.

Indefinite article

a- used before words beginning with a consonant.
an- used before words starting with a vowel.

A noun with an indefinite article represents the name of an object in general, rather than the name of a specific object. For example, a student evokes the idea of ​​a student in general, that is, of a student of a higher educational institution, but not of a specific person.

The meaning of the indefinite article can be expressed in Russian with words such as one, one of, some, any, some, every, any, each.

The indefinite article is used with singular countable nouns. Not used in the plural, sometimes replaced by indefinite pronouns some (several) any (any, everyone).

Definite article

The definite article has the only form: the. Individualizing article the descended from demonstrative pronoun that- That.

Absence of article: zero article

No indefinite article

The indefinite article is not used:

• before plural nouns
  an article - articles

• abstract nouns
  imagination - imagination
• nouns we are real, uncountable(nouns that cannot be counted, for example, you cannot say: three waters).
  water (water), salt (salt), tea (tea)

If there is a definition before a noun, then the article is placed before this definition:
a story
an interesting story (interesting story)

Substitution rule

Use of the indefinite article

1. Indefinite article is used before a noun when it only names an object, classifies it as a representative of a certain type of object, but does not specifically highlight it.

• a table - any table (namely a table, not a chair)
  a chair - chair

2. when mentioning an object or person for the first time

• That"s a pretty girl. - Beautiful girl

3. in a general sense:
A noun with an indefinite article in this meaning means: any, everyone.

• A cow gives milk.
  Any cow gives milk.

3. with professions:

• My Dad is a Doctor. — My dad is a doctor.
  She "s an architect. - She is an architect.

4. with some quantity expressions:

• a pair - a pair
  a little - a little
  a few - several

5. in exclamatory sentences: before a singular countable noun after the word what.

• What a beautiful day! - What a wonderful day!
  What a pity! - What a pity!

Use of the definite article

Definite article is posed if the object or person in question is known to both the speaker and the listener (from the context, the environment, or as previously mentioned in this speech).

• It is a chair
  The chair is at the table - the chair is near the table

Try putting the word this or that in front of the noun. If the meaning of what is being expressed does not change, then the definite article must be placed before the noun, and if it changes, then the indefinite article must be placed before the singular noun (if it is countable), and not at all before the plural noun.

1. Repeatedly mentioned when it is clear from the previous text what it is about:

• The girl was beautiful. — (This) Girl was beautiful.

2. Clear in the situation, when it is clear what/who is meant:

• The lesson is over. - The lesson is over.

3. Having an individuating definition, that is, a definition that distinguishes this person or object from a number of similar ones.

• 3.1. Definition, naming the sign :
  This is the house that Jack built. - This is the house that Jack built
• 3.2. Definition, expressed as an adjective in the superlative form e
  This is the shortest way to the river - This is the shortest way to the river
• 3.3. Definition, expressed as an ordinal number
  He missed the first lecture. — He missed the first lecture
• 3.4. Definition, expressed by proper noun
  the Bristol road - the road to Bristol.
• 3.5. Definitions, expressed in words:
  The stop next is ours. - The next stop is ours.

4. Before singular nouns:

• the sun - the sun
  the moon - moon
  the Earth - Earth
  the floor - floor (one in the room)
  the sea - sea (the only one in the area)

5. Before adjectives and participles that have turned into nouns, with a plural meaning:

• the strong- strong, the old - old men, the young- the youth,

Absence of article (zero article)

1. If there is a pronoun before a noun or nouns in the possessive case.
My room is large - My room is large.

2. A noun is used without an article in the plural in the following cases:

• 2.1. when in singular in front of him there would be an indefinite article:
  I saw a letter on the table. — I saw a letter on the table.
  I saw letters on the table. — I saw letters on the table.

3. Uncountable real nouns.
water water, milk milk, chalk chalk, sugar sugar, tea tea, snow snow, grass grass, wool wool, meat meat and others.

4. Uncountable abstract nouns (abstract concepts).
weather weather, music music, power strength, knowledge knowledge, art art, history history, mathematics mathematics, light light, love love, life life, time time
I like music - I love music.
But at the same time, some abstract nouns that express a type of quality or state can be used with the indefinite article.
He got a good education. He received a good education.

In English, plural nouns may be preceded by a definite article, the pronoun some (any), or the determiner may be absent.

Rules for using the pronoun some

If one of the words can be placed before a Russian noun according to its meaning: several, a certain amount, some, some before the corresponding noun in English sentence stands for the pronoun some (any).
If none of these words can be placed before a Russian noun, then there is no determiner before the corresponding noun in an English sentence.

I bought some apples yesterday - I bought apples yesterday (several, a certain number of apples)

An article is a service word that shows that the word behind it is a noun and describes some of its characteristics. Articles allow us to distinguish them from other parts of speech. They perform other tasks as well.

There are two articles in English: uncertain — a (an) And definite — the.

The indefinite article before words that begin with a consonant sound is used in the form a[ə], for example: a desk [ə’desk], a book [ə’bʊk]; before words that begin with a vowel sound - in the form an[ən], for example: an animal [ən’ænɪməl], an eye [ən’aɪ]. The name of the article itself (without a noun) always sounds [еɪ].

Definite article the before words that begin with a consonant sound, it is pronounced as [ðə], for example: the table [ðə’teɪbl], the pen [ðə’pen]; before words that begin with a vowel sound, like [ðɪ], for example: the apple [ðɪ’æpl], the arm [ðɪ’ɑːm]. The name of the article itself is always pronounced as [ðɪ].

When writing and pronouncing articles, it is important what sound the word begins with, not what letter. For example, if the initial letter u reads like [ʌ], then you need to put an(an uncle [ən’ʌŋkl]), but if so, then - a(a union [ə’ju:nɪon]).

Another example: if at the beginning of a word the letter h pronounced, then you need to put a(a hen [ə’hen] chicken), but if not pronounced, then - an(an hour [ən’auə] hour).

Indefinite article
• has two forms - A And an;
• denotes an incomprehensible/unfamiliar object.

Definite article
• has one form - the;
• denotes an understandable/familiar object.

Articles are never stressed and in speech merge with the word following them. When there is an adjective, the article is placed before it. Compare: an apple - a big green apple.

Use of the article

When using articles, it is important to consider what number (singular or plural) the noun is in and what its type is, namely: common or proper, countable or uncountable, abstract or concrete.

In many cases, the use (or absence) of the article is governed by grammatical rules, but in some cases it is traditional. Such cases must be remembered.

Indefinite article

The indefinite article comes from the numeral one(one). It is not usually translated into Russian, but it could be translated as “one”, “one of” or “some”, “some”. Therefore, the indefinite article can only be used with countable nouns and only in the singular.’

The indefinite article is used:
1. When an object, creature or person is mentioned for the first time, for example: I see a boy (I see (some) boy).
2. If revolution is used there is, for example: There is an apple in my pocket (I have an apple in my pocket/in my pocket).
3. If revolution is used have something/ have got something, for example: I have (got) an orange (I have an orange).
4. If the profession, position, nationality and other characteristics of a person are called, for example: I am a teacher (I am a teacher); Her son is a pupil (Her son is a student).
5. When you need to indicate that a given object (creature, person) belongs to a certain group (the property of the group is expressed by an adjective), for example: Do you know that town? Yes, it is a nice small town (Do you know this town? Yes, it is a nice little town). (In this case, the item does not need to be mentioned for the first time.)
6. If you need to specifically emphasize that there is only one subject, for example: Do you have pencils? Yes, I have a pencil (Do you have pencils? Yes, there is (one)). (Here, too, the subject does not have to be mentioned for the first time.)

Definite article

The definite article comes from the demonstrative pronoun that(this). He distinguishes a specific object from among similar ones (“this”, “exactly this”, “that very one”).

The definite article is used:
1. If the subject has already been mentioned and the conversation continues specifically about it, for example: My friend has got a dog. He walks with the dog every day (My friend has a dog. He walks the dog every day). But: My friend has got a dog. My sister also has a dog (My friend has a dog. My sister also has a dog).
2. If the object or objects belong to some special group, for example: The flowers in our garden are very beautiful (The flowers in our garden are very beautiful). (Here in our garden there is a special group, so the word flowers is written with a definite article. In this case, the word may be mentioned for the first time, but the article will be definite.)
3. If the noun is preceded by an ordinal number, for example: The second lesson is English. (In this case, we are talking about a specific and unique thing: there can be only one second lesson.)
4. If the noun is preceded by a superlative adjective, for example: Not is the best pupil in our school (He is the best student in our school). (In this case, we are talking about a specific and unique thing: there can only be one best student.)
5. If we are talking about a unique phenomenon or object. (This is why the Earth and the Sun are usually written. Here, using the definite article is similar to writing a word with capital letter In russian language.)
6. If we are talking about familiar objects of furniture and the surrounding world, for example: Where is my coat? It hangs at the door (Where is my coat? It hangs at the door). (It is not necessary that a specific door is meant - just a familiar piece of furniture is called).
7. If an abstract noun is used in some of its particular manifestations, for example: I cannot see anything in the darkness! (I can't see anything in this darkness!)

Absence of article (zero article)

In the absence of an article, they also say that there is a zero article.

The article is missing in the following cases.
1. When an object (thing, creature, person) is mentioned for the first time in the plural, for example: I see boys in the street (I see (some) boys on the street).
2. If revolution is used there are with a plural noun, for example: There are apples in my pocket (I have apples in my pocket).
3. If revolution is used have something/ have got something, for example: I have (got) oranges in my refrigerator (I have oranges in my refrigerator).
4. If the profession, position, nationality and other characteristics of two or more people are called, for example: We are teachers; Her sons are pupils (Her sons are students).
5. When you need to indicate that these items belong to a certain group (the property of the group is expressed by an adjective), for example: Did you hear these songs? Yes, these were very nice songs (Have you heard these songs? Yes, they were very nice songs). (In this case, it is not necessary that the word be called for the first time.)
6. If an abstract noun is used in the most general sense, for example: Darkness is the absence of light (Darkness is the absence of light).
7. If before a noun there is possessive pronoun, for example: My house is yellow (My house is yellow).
8. If there is a negation before a noun no(not not!), for example: We have no bread on the table (We have no bread on the table).

It is important to know! If in cases 1-5 are used uncountable nouns(they do not have a plural), then the article is also absent. All these cases are similar to the use of the indefinite article with singular countable nouns.

Using articles with proper names

Proper names are usually used without an article, for example: Moscow, New York, Elizabeth, Trafalgar Square, Elbrus.

The definite article is used in the following special cases.
1. Names of rivers, seas, oceans, for example: the Mississippi - Mississippi (river); the Baltic Sea - Baltic Sea; the Atlantic Ocean - Atlantic Ocean.
2. The names of some states, for example: the Russian Federation - Russian Federation; the Ukraine - Ukraine; the Brazil - Brazil; the USA - USA; the United Kingdom - United Kingdom.
3. Some other geographical names (with an article - according to tradition), for example: the Caucasus - Caucasus; the Crimea - Crimea; the Hague - The Hague (a city in the Netherlands).
4. Names of mountains (mountain systems), for example: the Alps - Alps.
5. Names of the cardinal directions: the North - north; the South - south; the East - east; the West - west.
6. Names of newspapers and magazines, for example: the Times - “The Times”.
7. Hotel names, for example: the Savoy - “Savoy”.
8. The name of the entire family (all family members) by last name, for example: the Krasnovs - Krasnovs (Krasnov family).

The following proper names are used without an article.
1. Names of continents, for example: America - America; Asia - Asia; Africa - Africa.
2. The names of most countries, for example: Russia - Russia; India - India; France - France; Great Britain- Great Britain.
3. Names of cities, for example: London - London; Paris - Paris; Moscow - Moscow.
4. Names of streets and squares, for example: Green Street - Green Street; Red Square - Red Square.
5. Names of months and days of the week, for example: I’ll see you in September/on Sunday.
6. First and last names, for example: Jack Black, Ivan Petrov.

Collocations with and without articles

Combinations without articles

after school/work - after school/work
at half past two - at half past two
at night - at night
at home - at home; at work - at work
at school - at school (in class)
at table - at the table (that is, at lunch, etc.)
by heart - by heart
by post - by mail
from beginning to end - from beginning to end
from morning till night - from morning to evening
go to bed - go to bed
in front of - ahead
play football/hockey - play football/hockey
to go/come home - go/come home

Combinations with the indefinite article

at a quarter past two - at a quarter past two
go for a walk - go for a walk
have a good time - have a good time
have a look - take a look
in a hurry - in a hurry
in a low/loud voice - quiet/loud
It's a pity! - It's a pity!
It's a pleasure! - Very nice!
It's a shame! - Ashamed!

Combinations with the definite article

go to the theater/cinema - go to the theater/cinema
in the country - outside the city, in the village
in the morning/afternoon/evening - in the morning/afternoon/evening
keep the house - stay at home
on/to the right/left - right, right/left, left
play the piano/guitar - play the piano/guitar
the other day - the other day
What is the time? - What time is it now?

Articles in English indicate the definiteness or indeterminacy of a noun, in other words, it makes us understand what object/concept we are talking about: abstract or concrete. For a Russian-speaking person, articles cause many difficulties, because in our language they simply do not exist. However, dealing with this unknown part of speech is not as difficult as it seems.

Functions of the article

The English language has only two articles: a (an) and the - the first is used with indefinite nouns, and the second with definite nouns. In order to better understand where and which one to put, it is necessary to consider each separately.

The indefinite article in English

Let's start with the indefinite article a (an). Its spelling changes depending on which letter (consonant or vowel) the noun begins with, which will be preceded by the article.

Consonant letter: a dog - dog
Vowel: an apple - apple

The indefinite article has two features:

• used only when talking about an abstract concept or an object that is seen for the first time;
• is used with nouns only in the singular, since the article itself comes from the numeral one (one).

The article a (an) indicates that the noun is considered not as a specific object, but as a spatial concept. For example, a cup will mean some (any) piece of tableware in the form of a cup, and not your favorite cup in the shape of a stormtrooper’s head from which you have been drinking coffee in the morning for the second year now. Thus, the indefinite article in English is used either when we encounter an object for the first time, and we still know nothing about it, or when we are talking about an abstract, collective concept.

The definite article in English

If you wanted to mention that very special morning cup in a conversation, you will need the definite article the. It comes from the pronoun that (that) and is used in cases where it is known exactly what object we are talking about.

Free lesson on the topic:

Irregular Verbs English: table, rules and examples

Discuss this topic with a personal teacher in a free online lesson at Skyeng school

Leave your contact information and we will contact you to sign up for a lesson

Example: I met a man. The man was very strange - I met a man. The man was very strange.

In the first sentence we meet a stranger for the first time, in this case the indefinite article is placed before the word man. In the second sentence, we make a conclusion about the person we just talked about. He has ceased to be unknown, which allows us to put the definite article the in front of the word man.

The definite article the can be used with both singular and plural nouns.

To finally understand the definite article, we can consider another example - The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Here, within the same name, the definite article is used twice. This is due to the fact that in both cases we are talking about specific objects: about one single ruler (Sauron) and about the only rings created by him. If the concept “Lord of the Rings” meant a profession, then we could say a lord of rings, but that would be a completely different story.

Zero article, or when the article is not needed at all

The main difficulty in learning English articles is to remember in which cases they should not be used.

A noun does not always require additional clarification in the form of articles - sometimes other parts of speech take on their role. Articles are not used if:

• the noun is preceded by a pronoun (my, his, her, their, one’s, this, that, etc.);
• the nouns are preceded by the words some, any, no;
• names of people or names of continents, islands, mountains;
• uncountable concept (advice, information).

Visual table about articles

As a rule, information is absorbed faster if you consider it in the form of a systematic table. We have prepared this table for your convenience.

Figuring out when and how to use articles is quite simple. But in order to remember these rules and not think every time before pronouncing or writing another noun, you definitely need practice.