The word is used with indefinite article a - Word и Excel - помощь в работе с программами

Indefinite Article in English! An article is a word that modifies or describes the noun. It is used before the noun to show whether it refers to something specific or not.

What is an Indefinite Article?

“A” or “An” is used to talk about things which are not particular. Usually, these are things that haven’t been mentioned before or that the listener is unfamiliar with.

Indefinite Article – Rules

Indefinite articles ‘a/an’ are used as follows:

‘A’ is used before a word beginning with a consonant sound. Consonant letters in the English alphabet are B,C,D,F,G,H,J,K,L,M,N,P,Q,R,S,T,V,W,X,Y,Z.

For example: A boy, a cat, a dog, a fight, a gym, a horse, a joke, a kite, a lion, a mirror, a noise, a pin, a quilt, etc.

‘An’ is used before a word beginning with a vowel sound. Vowel letters in the English alphabet are A, E, I, O, U.

For example: An apple, an elephant, an idiot, an orange, an umbrella, etc.

Note here that the usage is on the basis of sound and not only the letter the word starts with.

For example:

“An hour”
“An honest man”
“A one eyed dog”

Do these seem wrong to you?

They’re not and the reason is that the ‘usage is on the basis of sound’. The words ‘hour’ and ‘honest’ both begin with a vowel sound, as the consonant ‘h’ is not pronounced. Similarly, the word ‘one’ begins with the consonant sound of ‘w’ and hence is written as ‘a one eyed dog’, not ‘an one eyed dog’.

Also, remember that we use “a” and “an” only before a singular noun. We can’t use “a” and “an” before a plural noun.

For example:

A book – correct
A books – incorrect
An egg – correct
An eggs – incorrect

Tips to remember the differences in a nutshell

# a + singular noun beginning with a consonant: a bag; a pen, etc.

# an + singular noun beginning with a vowel: an egg; an orphan, etc.

# a + singular noun beginning with a consonant sound: auser(sounds like ‘yoo-zer,’ i.e., gives a ‘y’ sound, so ‘a’ is used); a university; a European, etc.

# an + nouns starting with silent “h”: an hour; an honest man, etc.

NOTE:

These rules also apply in Acronyms.

For example:

He is a DU (Delhi University) student.
He is an IIT (Indian Institute of Technology) graduate.

The rule also applies when acronyms start with consonant letters but have vowel sounds.

For example:

She is an MBA (Master of Business Administration).

When/If the noun is modified by an adjective, the choice between “a” and “an” depends on the initial sound of the adjective that immediately follows the article.

For example:

a beautiful umbrella
an unusual situation
a European country (pronounced as ‘yer-o-pi-an,’ i.e., sounds like consonant ‘y’)

A/An is used to indicate membership in a group.

For example:

I am a journalist. (I am a member of a large group of professionals known as journalists.)
She is an Indian. (She is a member of the people from India, known as Indians.)

A table to remember when or when not to use Articles

Indefinite Article – Usage

‘A’/ ‘An’ is used	Examples
When mentioning something for the first time.	I went for a movie.
When talking about something which belongs to a set of the same thing.	This is a pen.
When talking about someone who belongs to a certain group.	She is an engineer.
When talking about a certain kind of a thing.	I’ve have made a great movie.
When wanting to say that someone is a certain kind of person.	She is a shy girl.

Indefinite Article | Infographic

Источник

Main A or An Takeaways:

Deciding whether to use a or an before a word depends on how the word is pronounced.
Use a before a word that begins with a consonant sound (a cat, a girl, a boat).
Use an before a word that begins with a vowel sound (an eagle, an Irish girl, an hour).
A and an are indefinite articles.
Indefinite articles reference something that is not defined, like an unspecified/unknown item or quantity.
Definite articles reference something that is defined, like a specific item, location, or action.

When To Use A Or An?

We use a and an depending on how the words sound, not how they are spelled. Use a before words that begin with a consonant sound and use an before words that begin with a vowel sound. If the word begins with an ‘h’ but it’s silent, use an. Here’s a tricky part. Use a for words that begin in ‘h’ but are pronounced. We only use an if using a would sound off or make pronunciation more difficult.

Definite vs. Indefinite Articles

Before we dig deeper into the proper usage of a and an, let us first understand the difference between definite and indefinite articles. To begin with, there is only one definite article in the English language – the. On the other hand, there are two indefinite articles – a and an. The can function as an adjective or an adverb. A and an can only serve as an adjective, not an adverb.

The definite article the indicates that the identity of the noun is known to the reader. However, indefinite articles used before a noun means that the noun’s identity is unknown or general. Here are examples:

Now that you know the difference between definite and indefinite articles, let’s discuss the rules for using a or an.

What Are The Rules For Using A Or An?

The general rule for using a or an is simple. Use a for words that begin with a consonant sound. And use an for words that start with a vowel sound. You can also apply this rule to words that begin with ‘h.’ That’s because this rule applies to the sound of the word’s first letter and not just the letter itself. For instance, if the ‘h’ is silent, use an. If not, use a. Therefore, the indefinite article you use depends entirely on how the article sounds with the word it precedes.

Use indefinite articles a or an when you’re referring to an unspecified or unknown item or quantity.

General Rules for A vs. An:

Useabefore a word that begins with a consonant sound.
Useanbefore a word that begins with a vowel sound.

Which Is Correct: A Or An?

When deciding whether you should use a or an, say the word out loud. If the word begins with a vowel sound, use an. Words starting with a consonant sound use a. The indefinite article for words that begin with ‘h’ will depend on the word’s pronunciation. For example, use a for words where you pronounce the ‘h’ (a house, a hat). On the other hand, use an for terms where the ‘h’ is silent (an hour, an honor). Therefore, using this rule correctly depends on how the word is pronounced.

Tip: Say words out loud before selecting a or an for your written work. Some words begin with a consonant that sounds like a vowel.

What Is The Difference Between A And An?

Beyond the letter ‘n’, the main difference between a and an is their usage. We use a before words that start with a consonant sound. On the other hand, we use an before words that start with a vowel sound. Functionally, there is no difference between a and an because they are both indefinite articles. But, which one to use depends entirely on how we pronounce the word the indefinite article precedes.

Is It A Or An Before H?

Words beginning with ‘h’ don’t follow the rule to use the indefinite article a with words that begin with consonants. Instead, whether to use a or an before ‘h’ depends on how the word is pronounced. For instance, the ‘h’ is silent in the word hour, so the correct indefinite article to use is an (an hour). ‘H’ is not silent in the word hat. So, the right article to us is a.

However, be mindful of regional pronunciation differences. For example, people don’t tend to pronounce the ‘h’ in herbal in the U.S. In the U.K., however, they do. These differences in pronunciation may change which article is correct when.

Is It A Hour Or An Hour?

The correct way to phrase this is an hour, not a hour. The reason is because the actual sound of the word determines which indefinite article we use, not just the first letter. We typically use a for words that begin with a consonant sound but use an for words that begin with a vowel sound. While ‘h’ is a consonant, the letter is silent in the word hour. In other words, we can treat the ‘h’ like it’s invisible. As a result, the word hour actually begins with the vowel sound ‘o’. Since we use an with words that begin with vowel sounds, an is the correct indefinite article for the word hour.

What Is an Indefinite Article Example?

Here are examples of indefinite articles in sentences:

Use an before a word that begins with a vowel sound.

Here are examples of definite articles in sentences:

Do You Always Use An Before a Vowel?

Use the indefinite article an before a spoken vowel sound. We say an when using a would sound less appealing or make the phrase more difficult to pronounce. Regardless of how the word is spelled, only use an before words that begin with a vowel sound. For this reason, you should write an hour, an heir, or an honor. Even though ‘h’ is technically a consonant, it is silent in these examples. As a result, we pronounce the next letter, which is a vowel sound. Since we use an with vowel sounds, an is the correct indefinite article.

Why Are A and An Called Indefinite Articles?

A and an are called indefinite articles. There are three articles in total, and they are a,an, and the. They are a type of adjective because they help describe the noun that they precede. While a and an are indefinite articles, the is a definite article. Use a and an to refer to something that is indefinite, or not defined. This might be something less specific or unqualified (a pen, an overcoat). Similarly, use the to refer to something that is definite, or defined. This might be something you previously mentioned or something specific (the pen, the overcoat).

In the above sentence, you know she attended a meeting. You just don’t know what meeting she attended.

Therefore, since the meeting is not defined, we need to use the indefinite article a.

This sentence is not grammatically correct because meeting starts with a consonant sound, not a vowel sound. You can’t use an before the word meeting.

Indefinite articles like a or an reference an unknown or unspecified thing. They can also refer to an undefined quantity.

However, in this sentence you know that she attended a specific meeting. The woman attended themeeting, not ameeting. This sentence implies that the audience knows which meeting is referenced.

Since the meeting is defined, we need to use the definite article the.

Definite articles like the are words that reference something known or specific. The is a definite article because it clarifies which thing, person, place, or event you are referencing.

Here’s an easy sentence to help you remember definite articles:

I definitely need a definite article when I’m sure about something.

There is no doubt when you use definite articles. You know exactly what you’re referencing, and so does your audience. Stick with indefinite articles when you make vague comments or have an audience that doesn’t care about identity.

How Do We Determine Indefinite Article A or An?

The best way to determine whether to use a or an is to say the word out loud. For example, if the word begins with a consonant sound (not a vowel sound), then use a. However, if the word begins with a vowel sound, use an. Remember: the sound of the first letter of the word determines which indefinite article to use, not the first letter of the word.

What Are Indefinite Articles In English?

In English, there are two types of articles: definite (the) and indefinite (a, an). Use a definite article for things that are clearly and specifically defined. For example, when you’re talking about something specific, use the. Use an indefinite article for things that are not clearly and specifically defined. For instance, when you’re talking about something in general, use aor an depending on which sounds the word begins with.

In this example, we’re talking about a specific person (Sophia) and how she stands out above the rest for the speaker. Since we’re referencing something specific and defined, we need to use the definite article the.

Whether the word begins with a consonant or vowel sound, use the when you need a definite article.

Can We Use Indefinite Article Before Uncountable Nouns?

Nouns can be countable or uncountable. Meaning, you can either count their quantity or not. Countable nouns or count nouns are either singular or plural. In contrast, uncountable nouns or noncount nouns are always singular. As a general rule, we only use indefinite articles before countable nouns indicating one quantity. For uncountable nouns, we can either use the definite article the or not (zero article).

In our first example, the term “drop” indicates one quantity. Thus, we used the indefinite article a. However, in our second example, a precedes the uncountable word “blood“, which is incorrect. The correct sentence(s) should be:

Why Is It Called Indefinite Article?

A and an are called indefinite articles because we use them to refer to things that are not defined, or indefinite. In fact, the word indefinite comes from combining the Latin prefix –in (meaning not) with the word definitis (meaning defined). In other words, indefinite articles refer to something that is not specific. This may be an undefined or unknown quantity or item.

Quick Recap: When and How To Use A Or An?

When to use a or an depends on how you pronounce the word in question. It’s important to note that the sound governs which indefinite article you use, not simply the first letter. This means that actually saying the word aloud will help you determine which article to use, and not just looking at the first letter. On one hand, use a if the word begins with a consonant sound (a chicken, a ballot). On the other hand, use an if the word begins with a vowel sound. Additionally, use a before words that begin with a hard ‘h’ sound. Conversely, use an before words that begin with a silent ‘h’.

Quick Indefinite Articles A or An Grammar Quiz

Indefinite Article A or An Question #1

Definite articles

Indefinite articles

Correct!
Wrong!

The answer is INDEFINITE ARTICLES. Indefinite articles reference an unspecified or unknown item or quantity.

Indefinite Articles Question #2

Correct!
Wrong!

The answer is «A.» “The” is a definite article which references a specific person, item, quantity, or event.

A or An Question #3

A. Christina lodged at a motel down the road.

B. Christina lodged at an motel down the road.

Correct!
Wrong!

The answer is A. Use “a” before a word that begins with a consonant sound.

An or A Question #4

A. Jay got a MBA from the university.

B. Jay got an MBA from the university.

Correct!
Wrong!

The answer is B. “MBA” is pronounced with a vowel sound even though it starts with a consonant.

Article Grammar Question #5

Correct!
Wrong!

The answer is «AT.» The three articles in the English language are “a,” “an,” and “the”.

Indefinite Article Question #6

Correct!
Wrong!

The answer is FALSE. Although “that” is not a definite article, it can function as a definite article, adverb, conjunction, pronoun, or adjective.

A and THE opposition

Article in English, it is a part of speech that expresses the category of certainty or uncertainty of a subject.

In the first lesson, we will look at the basic rules when using definite and indefinite articles.

Indefinite article а Is an abbreviated form of the word one — one… Used when it comes to about one of subjects, and not about a specific subject, and also when we mention this subject for the first time.

Definite article the Is an abbreviated form of the word this — this or according to another version of the word That — that, These — these, Those — those… Used when it comes to specific object or objects, specific person or specific people.

In plural indefinite article not usedsince its original value is one

Not to be confused with the definite article the. The definite article can be used with plural nouns.

A book — the book

If we first mention an object or creature in speech, the indefinite article should be used.

If our interlocutor already knows what we are talking about, the definite article should be used.

Tim read a books. The book was interesting. Tim was reading a book. (The book is mentioned for the first time) The book was interesting. (Exactly the book Tim read)
Alice has a new car. The car is red Alice has a new car (first mentioned). The car (from the context it follows that this is Alice’s new car) is red.

In some situations, it is obvious what kind of thing, what kind of person we are talking about. For example, if you are in a room and talk about the setting in it, the definite article should be used. When you tell the interlocutor that you are going to the bank, to the post office or to the doctor, you should use the definite article, since it is understood that you are going to a specific office, to a specific specialist, etc.

turn off the light, please. Turn off the light, please. (The light in this room or in this house, not any light)
Tomorrow I go to the dentist. Tomorrow I go to the dentist. (To a specific doctor, not any of them.)

A piano — the piano

It is important to distinguish whether we are talking about one creature / subject from many or about the whole class of this subject. Let’s take an example:

The cheetah is fast. «The cheetah» in this case is not one particular cheetah, it is a whole species of animals.
We saw a cheetah in the zoo We saw a cheetah at the zoo. We did not see the whole species of cheetahs, but one of representatives of this species of animals.
Mary can play the piano. Mary can play the piano. She knows how to play not one particular piano, but a musical instrument of a certain class.
Mary has a piano at home Mary has a piano at home. it one of musical instruments are mentioned for the first time, therefore the indefinite article is put.

This rule applies not only to animals and musical instruments, but also to various types of technology, national currency, etc.

a Chinese — the Chinese

Nationalities ending in -ese have the same singular and plural forms.

The definite article is used when it comes to people of a given nationality.

The indefinite article is used when we are talking about one person.

The Chinese invented paper The Chinese invented paper.
He is a Chinese. He is Chinese.

The same rule is used with the word Swiss: a Swiss is Swiss, the Swiss is Swiss.

For nationalities ending in -ch or -sh, only certain article.

the Spanish — Spanish
the English — English
the French — French

The indefinite article is not used with such nationalities.

The + adjective

Definite article the together with an adjective form a collective noun:

the young — youth
the old — old people
the rich — rich
the poor — poor

You cannot use an indefinite article with an adjective without a noun.

day

The following expressions always use the indefinite article:

a day — per day
a week — per week
a month — per month
a year — in a year

Ann works six hours a day.Anne works six hours in a day.
Mark goes to the theater once see you week.Mark goes to the theater once per week.

Source: https://polyglotmobile.ru/poliglot-angliyskie-artikli/a-i-the-protivopostavlenie/

Articles a, an and the in English — examples of use

Watch this video to get a basic understanding of articles in English before reading the article.

Why do we need articles in English?

Did you know that the article is a part of speech that is not in the Russian language?

We change the stress and word order to give the phrase a flavor, but in English the word order is strictly fixed.

See how the meaning of the phrase changes:

I like the car.
I like the car.

Feel the catch? In the first case it is not clear what kind of car we are talking about, and in the second we are talking about a specific car.

In English, words cannot be swapped, therefore, articles are used to give the desired shade to the phrase A, An и Tea.

Articles rules

The concept of the article in English grammar is associated with the category of certainty. Simplified, the article rule reads like this:

Remember!

If we are talking about an unknown subject, then the indefinite article A / An… If we are talking about something specific, then the article is placed in front of it The.

Assignment: Which articles should you use in the following examples?

We bought a car.

We bought the car that we saw yesterday.

Click on the arrows to get the answer.

Prompt.

Article The descended from This (this) — you can point with your finger.
A / An descended from One (one).

This is why the article A/An used only in the singular!

In a simplified form, the grammatical rules of articles can be represented as follows:

  Plural noun?
  Countable noun?
  Have you heard of him before? (indefinite or definite article)
  Is it about something in common?

What is the difference between articles a and an?

Repeat!
Indefinite article A/An (which comes from one) we put only in front of countable nouns in the singular!

So what’s the difference between A и An?

Article A placed before words that begin with consonants (a cat, a house, a yard) and An — before words that start with vowels (an apple, an hour).

Let this picture pop up in front of your eyes when you choose a medja a и an.

When do we use the indefinite article?

1. When we classify an object, we assign it to a specific group of objects.

A cow is an animal. — A cow is an animal.
An apple is a fruit. — An apple is a fruit.

2. When we characterize the subject.

My mother is a nurse. — My mom is a nurse.
He is an idiot! — He’s an idiot!

3. With uncountable objects in the meaning of «portion».

Could you bring me a coffee? — Will you bring me a cup of coffee?
Buy a milk. — Buy a carton of milk.

More about The in English

Unlike the indefinite, the definite article can be placed before any noun in any number. But when?

1. In front of objects that are one of a kind.

The president visited the veterans. — The President visited the veterans. (After all, each country has only one president).
The Earth moves around the Sun. — The earth moves around the sun.

2. In front of objects from a limited group.

The wheel of the car was missing. — The car had no wheels. (One of the 4 wheels of the car was missing).

3. Before objects for which there is a definition.

The boy that has stolen a purse, was caught. — The boy who stole the purse was caught.
The leader of this movement was born in Germany. — The leader of this movement was born in Germany. (What is the leader? — of this movement).

Practical assignment

Complete the interactive English article exercise to help you consolidate the material.

Take the article test

Source: https://www.learnathome.ru/grammar/articles-a-an-the.html

Indefinite article (a) comes from the numeral one and is usually used with singular nouns denoting countable items.

The indefinite article in English can have three meanings: classifying, generalizing and numerical.

Article in classifying (reckoning) meaning assigns an item to a specific class or group of items:

there is a ball on the grass.
There is a ball on the grass. (not a shuttlecock, not an elephant, not a man)

It is a golf ball.
This is a golf ball. (not for soccer or tennis)

I smell an omelette.
I can smell the omelet. (not soup or porridge)

That is, a noun with a classifying article assigns an object to a certain class, but does not directly refer to it.

This meaning also includes the use of the indefinite article in exclamation sentences with the word what:

What a tall man!
What a tall man!

and before countable nouns in the singular with words rather, quite, Such и bridge (very):

It’s quite a difficult question.
This is a rather difficult question.

Generalized article means that the noun is a representative of a certain class, and everything that is said about it in the sentence can be attributed to other objects of this class:

A limerick is a short comic verse consisting of five lines.
Limerick is a short, humorous rhyme of five lines.

A kitten is a young cat.
A kitten is a young cat.

Unlike classifying articles, which introduce a new concept or information, that is, the most important part of a sentence, generalizing articles only open up a statement.

Numerically meaning indefinite articles express their original meaning of the number «one»:

We could stay in Prague for only a day.
We could only stay in Prague for one day.

This task will take me an hour.
This task will take me (one) hour.

Also, articles in a numerical value can acquire the meaning of «glass», «portion», «variety», etc.:

I’d whiskey.
I would like (one) shot of whiskey.

Let’s drink a coffee or two?
Shall we have a cup or two of coffee?

a very expensive wine
very expensive wine

Indefinite plural

English nouns that are used in the singular with an indefinite article do not have an article in the plural:

It is a Chinese character.
This is a Chinese character.

Those are Chinese characters.
These are Chinese characters.

If the article has a numerical value, then in the plural it can be replaced with indefinite pronouns some (in affirmative sentences) and Any (in interrogative and negative sentences). Depending on the context, they can then be translated as «several», «some», «none»:

We saw some temples on the excursion.
On the tour, we saw several temples.

did you see any temples on the excursion?
Did you see any temples on the tour?

We did not see any temples on the excursion.
We did not see any temples on the tour.

Also, the number instead of the article can be indicated by the words many, few (few), a few (slightly, several) or cardinal numbers:

She broke a vase yesterday.
She broke a vase yesterday.

She broke two vases yesterday.
She broke two vases yesterday.

She broke a few vases yesterday.
She broke several vases yesterday.

Indefinite article with proper names

The indefinite article is used with the following proper names:

She is a Willis, and this means a lot.
She is Willis (one of the Willis family) and that means a lot.

there is a Mrs. Limms waiting for you.
A certain Mrs. Limms is waiting for you.

Proper names used as common nouns:

I’m not a Rambo, am I?
What do you think I’m some kind of Rimbaud?

I don’t have imagination of a Lewis Carroll.
I don’t have an imagination like Lewis Carroll (Carroll’s imagination).

When referring to a condition or trait of a being or place:

When we arrived, we saw a disturbed London: the war had started.
When we arrived, we saw a disturbed London: the war had begun.

Her daughter resembles her a lot: she looks exactly a young mary.
Her daughter is very similar to her: she looks exactly like Mary in her youth.

Indefinite article in fixed expressions:

a few — few, few, a little

a little — a little, a little

a lot of — a lot

a number of — several

as a result — as a result

at a distance of — at a distance

at a loss — in difficulty, at a loss

at a speed of — with speed

at a time — at once, at the same time

for a long time — for a long time

in a hurry — in a hurry

in a whisper — in a whisper

on a large scale — on a large scale

to go for a walk — to walk

to have a good time — to have a good time

and more

Source: https://www.native-english.ru/grammar/indefinite-article

Indefinite article forms

Today we will focus on the indefinite article. The indefinite article has two forms:

A — before consonants (aboy, aplanes, to chair).
An — before vowel sounds (an officer, momentincident, momentdea).

These are two forms of one phenomenon and they mean the same thing. Why are there two forms of the indefinite article? For the euphony of speech.

After all, it is difficult to pronounce words in which there are several consonants or vowels in a row, it is more convenient to “connect” words according to the principle “consonant + vowel + consonant”. When choosing a or an, you need to pay attention to pronunciation, not spelling.

We use the article a if the word begins with a consonant sound (namely a sound, not a letter) and take an if the word begins with a vowel sound:

It is a university… — This is a university. (the word university begins with the vowel u, but the sound / ju / or / yu /, that is, a consonant)

He is an honest man… — He’s an honest man. (honest starts with a consonant h, but they don’t pronounce that letter, and the next sound is the vowel / o /)

By the way, notice that in the second example, the adjective (honest) is not after the article. It all depends on the sound with which the word begins, which immediately follows the indefinite article, even if it is not a noun. The table shows how to choose the correct form of the indefinite article.

Aan

The word begins with a consonant:

a person / ˈpɜː (r) s (ə) n / — person;
a boy / bɔɪ / — boy.

The word begins with a vowel:

an orange / ˈɒrɪndʒ / — orange;
an umbrella / ʌmˈbrelə / — umbrella.

Including:

a unity / ˈjuːnəti / — unity;
a year / jɪə (r) / — year.

Including:

an honor / ˈɒnə (r) / — honor;
an hour / ˈaʊə (r) / — hour.

History of the origin of the indefinite article

The indefinite article in English owes its origin to the English numeral one (one). This will make it easier for you to remember that the indefinite article is only used with singular nouns! Always in one! However, this does not mean that the article a / an and the word one are interchangeable.

I need an apple. — I need an apple. (any)

I need one apple. — I need one apple.

As you can see, the sentences are different in meaning. If you are trying to emphasize the singularity of a person or object, use the numeral one. And why you need to use the indefinite article will be discussed further.

When the indefinite article is used in English

The indefinite article is used when it comes to something general (some, some, one of a group of the same people or objects), and not about a specific one.
I’d to buy to dress… — I would like to buy a dress. (some, not specific dress)

It’s a trolley-bus… — It’s a trolleybus. (some kind of trolley)

He’s a doctor… — He is a doctor. (one of a group of doctors)

Please note that we can use an adjective before a noun:
- A house is a house (some kind of house).
- A new house is a new house (some kind of new house).
- A new two-storeyed house — a new two-storey house (some kind of new «two-storey building»).
We use a / an when a noun acts as a representative of a group of objects, persons, phenomena, that is, a kind of generalizing concept for the entire group. In this case, instead of the article, you can substitute the words «any», «every», «every» (every, any) representative of the given group.
If you want to be to teacher, you should study a lot. — If you want to become a teacher, you have to study a lot. (teacher as a representative of this profession)

would you an orange? — Do you want an orange? (any)

This meaning of the indefinite article is especially noted in the proverbs and sayings of the English language, which express the properties characteristic of any of a given class of objects or persons.

A friend in need is a friend indeed. — Friend is known in trouble. (any friend)

A liar is not believed when he speaks the truth. — A liar is not believed when he speaks the truth. (to any liar)
The third meaning of the indefinite article in English is the meaning of singularity. It is related to the origin of this article, as mentioned above. The significance of singularity is especially obvious when expressing measures of time, distance, weight, quantity.
I’d the cup of coffee, please. — I would like a cup of coffee. (one cup)

I ran a kilometer without a stop. — I ran a kilometer without stopping. (one kilometer)

We find the unity of the indefinite article in stable phrases that convey a single action:
- To have a rest — to have a rest.
- To have a snack — have a snack.
- To make a mistake — make a mistake.
- To give a lift — give a lift.
- To play a trick — play a trick.
- As a result of — as a result.
We use a / an when first we are talking about some object, person, phenomenon. But repeated and further multiple references to the same subject will be represented by the definite article the.
Yesterday I saw a cat in the street. cat was hungry. — Yesterday I saw a cat on the street. This cat was hungry. (for the first time we are talking about «some» cat, and the second time about a certain «this» cat)

This morning I bought a newspaper and a magazine. The newspaper is in my bag but I don’t know where the magazine is. “I bought a newspaper and a magazine this morning. The newspaper is in my bag, but I don’t know where the magazine went. (in the first sentence I bought «some» magazine and newspaper, and in the second «these» newspaper and magazine are lying somewhere)
Use the article a / an in phrases such as «once a month (every month)», «twice a year (every year)», «three times a week (every week)», because here we are talking about repeatability. one unit of time — month, year, week:
I buy newspapers once see you week… — I buy newspapers once a week.

Source: https://engblog.ru/indefinite-article

Rule 2

The indefinite article «a» comes from the word «one» — one of some kind, one of many, therefore the indefinite article is used only with countable nouns in singular.

Rule 3

With words like hundred, million, billion; hour, day, month; pound, kilogram, dozen etc the article «a» retains its original meaning of the numeral «one».

a billion = one billion
an hour = one hour
a dozen = one dozen

Rule 4

If an adjective comes before a noun in a sentence, the article belonging to that noun is placed before the adjective.

a bag — a new bag
an apple — a green apple
anidea — abrilliantidea

Rule 5

In sentences that have the grammatical constructions below, the use of the indefinite article is always required before the noun.

It is a famous book.
It is a famous book.
there is a big shopping center in the district.
She is a photographer.
What an interesting project!
my friend, a photographer, works for National Geography.

Rule 6

If the English sentence refers to a person or an object that is unknown to the interlocutor and whether the reader. and it is spoken about for the first time, then an indefinite article is placed before the noun. But in what follows, this noun will be defined by the article the.

I saw a bird in the garden yesterday. The bird was blue and green.

I read an article recently. The article was about Christmas shopping.

Rule 7

In the grammatical constructions below, the absence of an indefinite article before a countable noun is a gross mistake —

in a phrase that consists of the words «such», «quite», «rather» and a noun in the singular
in a phrase that consists of a countable noun in the singular, defined by an adjective preceded by «so» or «too»

It is rather an interesting article.

It was such a big cake!

It is too thick a hat to wear in this warm weather.

Rule 8

In English sentences, the names of brands of phones, computers, etc., and brands of cars are preceded by an indefinite article.

I drive a BMW (car).

I bought a Nokia

Rule 9

In the examples below, the indefinite article takes the meanings of words that are translated into Russian as any (any), some; moreover, in the second example, the indefinite article is placed before the name.

A child can understand this rule A Mister Brown has come.

Any child can understand this rule. A certain Mr. Brown has come.

Rule 10

In some cases, as a result of the reduction of the full phrase, in colloquial speech the indefinite article is used with uncountable nouns. In such cases, it is clear from the context what it is about.

a cup of tea = a tea

a cup of coffee = a coffee

a glass of juice = a juice

Comment

The indefinite article «a» is used in many fixed and idiomatic expressions of the English language, and they should be memorized, because they do not always follow the above rules. Check out some examples.

To give a liftGive it a goA little bitStrong as a lionCouldn’t sleep a wink

Give me a ride Try (do something) A little, a little Strong as a lion Didn’t sleep a wink

Source: http://helloskype.ru/rules/grammar/neopredelennyy-artikl-v-angliyskom-yazyke/

English articles: definite or indefinite (part 2)

This is the second part of the article series. The first part is here.

In the first part, we figured out how articles can be useful to us. We want articles from a set of annoying rules to become a convenient means of expression. Let’s now take a step back and take another look at how most of us think about articles.

Articles are definite and indefinite (there may still be no article at all).
There are a lot of rules about which article is put in each specific case — definite or indefinite (well, there may still be no article at all).

Do you feel that something is wrong here, some kind of indistinctness and confusion that can certainly be avoided? It turns out that we are used to opposing articles to each other (one is «like this», the other is «not like that»), and the missing article does not sew a mare’s tail at all. Or in other words, we perceive articles as weather — heat and cold are not only mutually exclusive, but also opposed. And besides, this is some kind of external circumstance that we have to adapt to.

But mutual exclusion does not imply opposition at all! Take felt boots and rubber boots, for example. If it’s snowing outside, we put on felt boots, if it’s damp, then boots. Or we can barefoot, especially if it’s hot. Will you be able to pull both a felt boot and a boot (in any order you choose) on your leg at the same time? No. Do we oppose felt boots and rubber boots to each other because of this? No — we choose what suits us best depending on the circumstances.

Similarly, if the definite article refers to an object designated in the context (i.e. assumes that we know at least something about the subject), then the indefinite article does not mean that the subject is indefinite and we do not know anything about it. The indefinite article only indicates that the subject does not require definition, it is «one of the many subjects» and there is no need to concretize it.

Agree if we put the indefinite article, i.e. we say that some object is “one of the many”, which means we already know something about it. Namely — we know that the object is countable and there are other similar objects. By the way, the only case when English grammar requires the use of an article, i.e. to indicate certainty or ambiguity are countable nouns in the singular (and even here there are exceptions).

In short, the definite and indefinite articles have different semantic functions rather than opposites. The following table summarizes the above (note that there is no need for separate rules for the singular and plural at once).

Countable

Without article	general concept (not a subject that can be pointed to)
Uncertain	non-specific indication of an object, «any», «one of many»
Certain	concretizing indication of an object, «this / that»	specific reference to a concept

An example for all the guys

Well, I seem to have confused everything enough. So it’s time to move on to examples.

I can never make a choice. — I always have a hard time making choices. We are constantly faced with the need to choose, but no matter what case we take (a choice), it is difficult to choose. The indefinite article is here in place. What about “I can never make the choice «? Theoretically, you can say that, but the question arises: how do you make a choice like that if you have to come back to it again and again?
I need someone to make the choice for me. — I need someone to make this choice for me. The definite article here is what you need. Is it possible to say “I need someone to make a choice for me «? You can, i.e. grammar allows. The truth then it turns out that you are so indecisive that you not only need outside help, but also do not know which choice you have difficulties with. Or perhaps you don’t care: they will help you cope with any one of your stale choices — and that’s good! As in the previous example, this sounds a little ridiculous.
It’s a hard choice to make. — This is not an easy choice. Oh, how! We are talking about a specific difficult choice, why the indefinite article? And again, not “why”, but “in order to”. There can be many difficult choices that we may face, and this is just one of them. It’s another matter if we want to contrast one choice with all the others: “What should I choose, caramel or chocolate? It’s easy — chocolate. Milky or bitter? Bitter, of course. Where to start eating it, from the side or from the end? OK, this is the hard one to make!
Weltanschauung, .. is it the word? — Veltanshauung … is that the correct word?The here suggests that we mean a specific word that we are trying to find or remember. It is worth replacing the article with an indefinite one and the «word» turns into one (some) of the vocabulary units, and the meaning of the whole sentence changes dramatically:
Weltanschauung, .. is it a word? — Veltanshauung, .. is there such a word at all?

We have already said that free-flowing, flowing and other uncountable nouns cannot claim the indefinite article. However, nouns can easily go from uncountable to countable:

He sees beauty all around. — He sees beauty everywhere.
What a beauty! — What a beauty / beautiful!

Likewise, if we know that something is one of a kind, we say “the”. But if we see the same thing in some separate perspective, then we can emphasize this by using the indefinite article «a / an»:

Even as dull a subject as the weather can be entertaining with him. — With him, even such a boring subject as talking about the weather can be fascinating.
Working in a weather this? Not me! — Work in this weather? Not me!

Now it is clear why articles are not used with proper names. They are unique in their essence, they are not part of a set and they do not require any additional concretization or implication, unless we ourselves decide otherwise!

Hi! My name is John Carter. — Hey! My name is John Carter.
One second Sir, there’s a John Carter at the door. — One second Sir, there is some John Carter at the door.
The John Carter ?! How come? — The same John Carter ?! How did he get here?

Geographical names

The last group of words with which the use of articles does not always follow logic is geographical names. Often a separate long list of rules is written for them. Without pretending to cover all these cases with some one simple rule, let’s try to relate them to everything we already know about the articles.

First, place names are proper names. Therefore, the article has nothing to do with it, but only «as a rule». «Great Britain», for example, is the only such UK. And here «the United Kingdom «although a very definite United Kingdom, it is still not the only kingdom in the world. The same with «the United States of America «and»the republic of Congo «.

But then it gets more complicated. Why do the names of lakes and mountain peaks dispense with the article («Lake Baikal / Baikal», «Mount Everest»), and the names of rivers, seas, oceans and mountain ranges begin with «the» («the River Thames / the Thames», «the Himalayas «,» the Black Sea «,» the Pacific Ocean / the Pacific «)? Generally speaking, the way in which the names of the surrounding objects are given in the language is part of the linguistic picture of the world, that is, a reflection of how a person interacts with the environment.

I have an assumption in this regard, which is as follows. In the English language picture of the world, any object that is right in front of us, which we see in its entirety, is given a name without an article. The word «lake», for example, becomes part of the name.

In the case of a distributed object that we cannot grasp with a glance, it is not entirely clear what exactly we are trying to name. If you remember, both in the first part and here we have already said that the definite article “implies”, and here “the” seems to say: “This river, which continues to twist behind the hills somewhere, but we agreed to call it Thames».

With Everest, for example, there is no need to imply anything. Here it is entirely in front of us, in full view.

Probably by the same logic, «the» is applied to countries named in the plural: «the Netherlands».

In the third part, we will simply analyze a variety of examples of the use (or disuse) of articles from the standpoint of what was said in the previous two articles of the cycle. Let me remind you that the main idea here is not just to “consolidate the material covered”, but to try to develop your linguistic intuition. If you have your favorite examples of «illogical» use of articles or other questions about articles, ask them in the comments — let’s try to figure it out together.

Source: http://lingorado.com/articles-2-definite-indefinite/

The indefinite article in English. Rules. Use

Per se the Indefinite Article serves to indicate the category of uncertainty and is used only with countable nouns in the singular. Uncertainty due to the indefinite article in English has the meaning of «some, it is not known what». Indefinite articles in English speak of the belonging of an object to a class of objects and carry a classifying meaning:

This is a cat. — It’s a cat. (It is not known which, one of the cats)

History of the origin of the indefinite article in English

As for the history of the origin of the indefinite article a (an), it is believed that it originated from the Old English word ān, that is, «one» (one):

A coffee, please. — One coffee, please.
Wait a minute. — Wait one minute.

The use of the indefinite article in English

Indefinite article in English has two forms — a and an. Form a is used before words beginning with a consonant: a tree (tree), a song (song), a finger (finger); the form an, in turn, is used before words beginning with a vowel: an apple (apple), an elephant (elephant), an owl (owl).

So, the indefinite article is used in the following cases:

When it comes to an object or a person as a representative of this particular class. Often this noun is accompanied by a definition that describes it. For example: It was a very interesting story. — It was a very interesting story. This is a pupil. He is a very good pupil. — He’s a student. He is a very good student.
This type of article is used with singular nouns in the constructions there is / was / will be, have (got), this is For example: There is a table in the room. — There is a table in the room. This is a nice house. — It’s a beautiful house.
When anyone is meant, any representative of a given class is also used the indefinite article. For example: A baby can understand it. — Any child can understand this.
When it comes to an object or person unknown to the interlocutor, that is, this word is used for the first time in the text. For example: We saw a man in a dark coat. The man was holding a stick. — We saw some man in a dark coat. The man carried a cane.
In exclamation points. For example: What a nice surprise! — What a pleasant surprise!
With the words “one hundred”, “one thousand”, “million”, etc., meaning “one”. For example: a (one) hundred, a (one) thousend, a (one) million, etc.
In expressions such as per day, per hour, per year, etc. For example: He calls his parents three times a day. — He calls his parents three times a day. We have four English classes a week. — We have four English lessons a week.
With countable nouns in the singular with words such, quite, rather. For example: It was such a sunny day! — It was such a sunny day! He is quite a tall boy for his age. — He is a tall enough boy for his age. She is rather a good cook. — She’s a pretty good cook.
With uncountable nouns meaning «portion». For example: Would you an ice-cream? — Would you like some ice cream?
With proper names in the meaning of «some», «some». For example: I started working for a Mr. Rochester, but I haven’t seen him yet. — I started working for a certain Mr. Rochester, but I haven’t met him yet.
With proper names meaning «one of», «representative of a family or clan.» For example: It was met by a Burton. — I was met by one of the Burtons.
With proper names meaning “work of art” (for example, painting, sculpture, piece of music). For example: I sold him a Monet. — I sold him a painting by Monet.

Thus, dear friends, the indefinite article in English corresponds to the category of uncertainty and the meaning «one», which in one way or another we have to use both in writing and in speech in English.

Source: https://englishforeducation.ru/neopredelennyj-artikl-v-anglijskom-yazyke.html

How do I use the article a / an?

The indefinite article (a) comes from the numeral one (one). That is why we will use it with singular nouns.

We use the article a / an when:

first mentioning the itemI want a new bag. The bag will be blue. — I want a new bag. The bag will be blue. The dress is red. — I have a dress. The dress is black. Having mentioned the same item a second time, we put the article thebecause we already know what subject we are talking about.
we are talking about one, some vague subject. That is, we are talking about something in general, and not about something specific. «I need a pen to write down a phone number. I need any pen, not necessarily a specific one.»
we single out a certain subject that represents a certain class, i.e. animals, clothesA cat has four legs. — The cat has four legs. That is, any cat has four legs. — Rembrandt was a great artist. Those. one of the great artists. If we use the article the in this sentence, it would mean that Rembrandt is the only great artist in the whole wide world. There are many great artists, and he is one of them.

A is placed before words that begin with a consonant

I have a pen. I have a pen. He is a good doctor. He is a good doctor.

An is placed before words that begin with a vowel sound

give me an orange. Give me an orange. This is an eye. This is the eye.

The article a / an is NOT preceded by:

plural words; I have many books. — I have a lot of books.
pronouns my, his, her, etc. Her cat is fat and lazy. — Her cat is fat and lazy.
with the words this, thatThis car is red. — This car is red.
another noun in the possessive case: my sister’sThis is my uncle’s computer. — This is my uncle’s computer.
quantitative numeric: one; two; threeI have three children. — I have three children.

More articles about the article:
Why are articles needed?

The definite article the

Null article

Source: https://eforward.ru/blog/kak-ispolzovat-artikl-a-an/

Indefinite article A AN in English

In English, two articles are used: the indefinite article a an, the definite article the, plus the zero article can be distinguished, that is, the absence of the article. In this article, we will take a look at the indefinite article a an in English.

Article a or an?

The indefinite article has two forms: a and an. The rule for their use is very simple.

Article in the form «to» used before a consonant: a boot, a tie, a lock, a house, a car, a job.
Article in the form «An» used before vowels: an apple, an iron, an oven, an error.

Even if the word starts with a consonant but starts with a vowel, “an” is used. These cases include:

Unpronounceable h at the beginning of a word: an hour [ən ˈaʊə], an honor [ən ˈɒnə].
Some abbreviations that are read by individual letters: an I agent [ən ɛf biː aɪ ˈeɪʤənt].

The indefinite article a an in English is a basic rule

If you reduce the rules to the main general, it will be like this.

General rule: the indefinite article is used to denote not a specific, but some, some kind of object (that’s why it is called indefinite). In Russian, we would instead say “some”, “some”, “some”, “one”.

By the way, the article a an comes from the word one (one) — knowing this, it is easy to understand its meaning and use. Let’s look at some examples.

I need a shovel… — I need (some) shovel.

I’d to buy a ticket… — I would like to buy (one, some) ticket.

Compare, if you replace a an with the definite article the, the meaning changes:

I need the shovel… — I need (this, specific) shovel.

I’d to buy the ticket… — I would like to buy (that specific) ticket.

Rules for the use of the article a (an) in English

Let’s consider more specific rules. So, the article a an is used when:

1. This means everyone, no matter which representative of the class of objects or persons.

And baby can do that. — The baby (anyone) can do it.

Triangle has three sided. — A triangle (any) has three sides.

The article does not necessarily come directly before the noun; there may be an adjective between them, denoting the sign of the noun.

I need a cheap ball pen… — I need (some) cheap ballpoint pen.

I want to buy a good hockey stick… — I want to buy (some) good hockey stick.

Please note that if you put the definite article the in a similar case, the meaning will change dramatically, for example:

I want to buy the hockey stick… — I want to buy a (specific) club.

2. A noun describes who or what an object or person is.

Most often this is a profession, if we are talking about a person, or the name of an object (class of objects), if about something inanimate. In this case, the article is difficult to “translate” into Russian. You need to understand that a noun denotes an object / person as a whole, not as a separate instance, but as a generalizing concept.

I am a doctor… — I am a doctor.

He is an experienced graphic designer… — He is an experienced graphic designer.

It is a snowboard… — It’s a snowboard.

If we use the, we are not talking about the class of objects in general, but about a specific representative:

Hi is the experienced designer… — He is (that) experienced designer.

3. It is about one object or person.

That is, literally about an item in the amount of one piece. Here the article a an means almost the same as one.

I’d the cup of hot chocolate. — I would like (one) cup of hot chocolate.

I need a day to rest. — I need (one) day to rest.

With the article the, the speech will also, in general, be about one subject, but about a specific one. For example, not just about a cup of chocolate, but about that cup that you brewed first, her froth came out prettier:

I’d the cup of hot chocolate. — I would like (that) cup of hot chocolate.

4. It is about an object or person mentioned in the conversation for the first time

and when we speak for the second, third, tenth time, we use the article the.

Here the use of articles is dictated by simple logic. Speaking about a subject for the first time, we usually talk about it as “some”, “some”.

— You know, I watched interesting movie yesterday. — You know, I watched (some) interesting film yesterday.

Five minutes have passed, we have already discussed the film up and down, and we are talking about it no longer as some kind, but as a very definite film:

— Yeah, I think, I’m going to rewatch the movie! — Yes, I think I will review (this) film.

In general, this rule is very easily broken. For example, I decided to intrigue my interlocutor and say right off the bat that I watched not just some movie, but THAT MOST movie:

— You know, I watched the movie yesterday. — You know, I watched THAT movie yesterday.

Or, in this particular conversation, the subject may be mentioned for the first time, but both interlocutors perfectly understand what it is about.

Mary: Honey, where is mirror? — Darling, where is the mirror?

John: Your mom’s present is in the bathroom, as always. — Your mom’s present in the bathroom as usual.

5. In a number of stable expressions

Basically, they are related to time and quantity:

in a day week month year — every other day week month year
in an hour — in an hour
in a half an hour — in half an hour
a few — a few
a little — a little
a lot (great deal) of — a lot

The indefinite article a an is often used in persistent expressions like to have (to take) + noun, implying some kind of one-time action:

to have (take) a look — to look
to have a walk — take a walk
to have (take) a seat — to sit down
to take a note — to take a note, write down

Notes:

Some expressions in this scheme are used with the article zero, for example: to have fun — have fun.

Source: https://langformula.ru/english-grammar/a-an/

Source: `https://www.wallstreetenglish.ru/blog/opredelennyy-i-neopredelennyy-artikl-v-angliyskom-yazyke/`

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Articles in English. When to use the indefinite article a / an

»Grammar» Articles » Articles in English. When to use the indefinite article a / an

Continuing to deal with the articles in English, let’s now take a closer look at the indefinite articles «a».

Let me remind you that the indefinite article in English is used only with countable singular nouns — countable singular nouns. Now let’s see in what cases this article should be used.

Any, any of those that are

The indefinite article a / an in English. Main use cases

The indefinite article in English has two forms:

a [ə] — used before consonants. That is, if a word begins with a consonant, a is used:

abalso, wasable, at the, agirl, accomputer, wasomato, a yacht [jɒt], a unit[ˈJuːnɪt]

an [ən] — used before vowel sounds. That is, if the word begins with a vowel, an is used:

an apple, momentngineer, momentgoddess, an orange, an answer, an hour [ˈaʊə (r)]

Please note that the choice of the form of the indefinite article is determined not by the spelling, but by the pronunciation.

For example, the word hour (hour) begins with the vowel [aʊ], so we use the article an (an hour), although the consonant h is the first. Or, for example, the word yacht (yacht) is written with a vowel y, but the consonant sound [j] is pronounced, so choose a (a yacht). Using different forms of the same article helps to make speech euphonious, light, natural. Try saying a apple or an book and you will feel how difficult and uncomfortable it is.

Remember:

The indefinite article a / an is used only with countable nouns in the singular:

a pen (a pen), a story (story), a chair (chair), the child (child), a flower (flower)

If the noun is used in plural form, then there is no indefinite article. The absence of an article in front of a noun is commonly referred to as the «zero article».

pens (pens), stories (stories), chairs (chairs), children (children), flowers (flowers)

When the indefinite article a / an is used

Lesson 27. Indefinite article a / an in English

1 Rules for the use of the article a / an
2 Tasks for the lesson

Sofia Stalskaya
Higher linguistic education. Work experience 5 years.

As you may have noticed, English is in many ways different from Russian, and in this lesson we will look at another of its differences, namely the presence of a part of speech called the article.

It is important to remember that the article is used only with nouns. There are three articles in total: indefinite (a / an), definite (the) and zero, that is, its absence. In this tutorial, we’ll talk about the indefinite article.

Rules for the use of the article a / an

A and THE opposition

Article in English, it is a part of speech that expresses the category of certainty or uncertainty of a subject.

In the first lesson, we will look at the basic rules when using definite and indefinite articles.

In plural indefinite article not usedsince its original value is one

Not to be confused with the definite article the. The definite article can be used with plural nouns.

A book — the book

If we first mention an object or creature in speech, the indefinite article should be used.

If our interlocutor already knows what we are talking about, the definite article should be used.

Tim read a books. The book was interesting. Tim was reading a book. (The book is mentioned for the first time) The book was interesting. (Exactly the book Tim read)
Alice has a new car. The car is red Alice has a new car (first mentioned). The car (from the context it follows that this is Alice’s new car) is red.

turn off the light, please. Turn off the light, please. (The light in this room or in this house, not any light)
Tomorrow I go to the dentist. Tomorrow I go to the dentist. (To a specific doctor, not any of them.)

A piano — the piano

It is important to distinguish whether we are talking about one creature / subject from many or about the whole class of this subject. Let’s take an example:

The cheetah is fast. «The cheetah» in this case is not one particular cheetah, it is a whole species of animals.
We saw a cheetah in the zoo We saw a cheetah at the zoo. We did not see the whole species of cheetahs, but one of representatives of this species of animals.
Mary can play the piano. Mary can play the piano. She knows how to play not one particular piano, but a musical instrument of a certain class.
Mary has a piano at home Mary has a piano at home. it one of musical instruments are mentioned for the first time, therefore the indefinite article is put.

This rule applies not only to animals and musical instruments, but also to various types of technology, national currency, etc.

a Chinese — the Chinese

Nationalities ending in -ese have the same singular and plural forms.

The definite article is used when it comes to people of a given nationality.

The indefinite article is used when we are talking about one person.

The Chinese invented paper The Chinese invented paper.
He is a Chinese. He is Chinese.

The same rule is used with the word Swiss: a Swiss is Swiss, the Swiss is Swiss.

For nationalities ending in -ch or -sh, only certain article.

the Spanish — Spanish
the English — English
the French — French

The indefinite article is not used with such nationalities.

The + adjective

Definite article the together with an adjective form a collective noun:

the young — youth
the old — old people
the rich — rich
the poor — poor

You cannot use an indefinite article with an adjective without a noun.

day

The following expressions always use the indefinite article:

a day — per day
a week — per week
a month — per month
a year — in a year

Ann works six hours a day.Anne works six hours in a day.
Mark goes to the theater once see you week.Mark goes to the theater once per week.

Source: https://polyglotmobile.ru/poliglot-angliyskie-artikli/a-i-the-protivopostavlenie/

Articles a, an and the in English — examples of use

Watch this video to get a basic understanding of articles in English before reading the article.

Why do we need articles in English?

Did you know that the article is a part of speech that is not in the Russian language?

We change the stress and word order to give the phrase a flavor, but in English the word order is strictly fixed.

See how the meaning of the phrase changes:

I like the car.
I like the car.

Feel the catch? In the first case it is not clear what kind of car we are talking about, and in the second we are talking about a specific car.

In English, words cannot be swapped, therefore, articles are used to give the desired shade to the phrase A, An и Tea.

Articles rules

The concept of the article in English grammar is associated with the category of certainty. Simplified, the article rule reads like this:

Remember!

If we are talking about an unknown subject, then the indefinite article A / An… If we are talking about something specific, then the article is placed in front of it The.

Assignment: Which articles should you use in the following examples?

We bought a car.

We bought the car that we saw yesterday.

Click on the arrows to get the answer.

Prompt.

Article The descended from This (this) — you can point with your finger.
A / An descended from One (one).

This is why the article A/An used only in the singular!

In a simplified form, the grammatical rules of articles can be represented as follows:

  Plural noun?
  Countable noun?
  Have you heard of him before? (indefinite or definite article)
  Is it about something in common?

What is the difference between articles a and an?

Repeat!
Indefinite article A/An (which comes from one) we put only in front of countable nouns in the singular!

So what’s the difference between A и An?

Article A placed before words that begin with consonants (a cat, a house, a yard) and An — before words that start with vowels (an apple, an hour).

Let this picture pop up in front of your eyes when you choose a medja a и an.

When do we use the indefinite article?

1. When we classify an object, we assign it to a specific group of objects.

A cow is an animal. — A cow is an animal.
An apple is a fruit. — An apple is a fruit.

2. When we characterize the subject.

My mother is a nurse. — My mom is a nurse.
He is an idiot! — He’s an idiot!

3. With uncountable objects in the meaning of «portion».

Could you bring me a coffee? — Will you bring me a cup of coffee?
Buy a milk. — Buy a carton of milk.

More about The in English

Unlike the indefinite, the definite article can be placed before any noun in any number. But when?

1. In front of objects that are one of a kind.

The president visited the veterans. — The President visited the veterans. (After all, each country has only one president).
The Earth moves around the Sun. — The earth moves around the sun.

2. In front of objects from a limited group.

The wheel of the car was missing. — The car had no wheels. (One of the 4 wheels of the car was missing).

3. Before objects for which there is a definition.

The boy that has stolen a purse, was caught. — The boy who stole the purse was caught.
The leader of this movement was born in Germany. — The leader of this movement was born in Germany. (What is the leader? — of this movement).

Practical assignment

Complete the interactive English article exercise to help you consolidate the material.

Take the article test

Source: https://www.learnathome.ru/grammar/articles-a-an-the.html

Indefinite article in English