Articles: the definite and the indefinite
The definite article: “the”
→ specific
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The indefinite articles: “a / an”
→ non- specific
|
|
This one / that one
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anyone/ one of many
|
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Singular countable nouns
|
The apple
The bird
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An apple
A bird
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Plural countable nouns
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The apples
The birds
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ᴓ Apples → some apples
ᴓ Birds → some birds
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Uncountable nouns
|
The water
The milk
|
ᴓ Water → some water
ᴓ Milk → some milk
|
a/ an →
indefinite articles:
− “a” is used before singular countable nouns beginning with a
consonant: a book/ a student.
− “an” is used before singular countable nouns beginning with a vowel:
an apple/ an orange.
− “a” and “an” are used with
nouns that have not been known before by both the speaker and the listener.
The → definite article: “the” is used with
singular and plural countable nouns, and uncountable nouns. It is used with
nouns which have been known before by both the speaker and the listener.
− Uncountable nouns and plural countable
nouns are without articles:
a dog → ᴓ dogs/ ᴓ water
− Sports: ᴓ football/ ᴓ tennis/ ᴓ basketball…….
− Before names of meals: ᴓ lunch/ ᴓ dinner……
− Before names of countries and cities: ᴓ Morocco/ ᴓ Rabat……
− Before names of languages: ᴓ Arabic/ ᴓ English……
− Before
names of academic subjects: ᴓ math/ ᴓ geography/ ᴓ physics
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