The article a in English rules. Definite article (the)

Article- This is a special function word in English, which is used before a noun. The article is often not translated into Russian. In English, the article is a determiner of a noun and is not an independent part of speech. Additionally about.

The definite article (the definite article) the used in English in the following cases:

1. The definite article is used before countable nouns, if it is clear from the situation/previous experience/context which object or person is being referred to.

Examples: We met a girl in the park. The girl was a famous actress. We met a girl in the park. This girl was a famous actress. (In the second sentence, the noun girl used with the definite article the, because the girl was already discussed in the previous sentence)
Please close the book. – Close the book, please. (The interlocutor should be clear which book is being discussed, otherwise the speaker could not use the article in this case the)

2. The definite article is used before a noun with a definition, which indicates what kind of subject it is.

Examples: show me the magazine that I gave you 2 weeks ago. Show me the magazine I gave you 2 weeks ago.
The key lying near the pillar is mine. - The key lying near the counter is mine.

3. The definite article is used with nouns that denote unique, one-of-a-kind objects, or the only objects in given conditions.

Examples:the sun - the sun (does not indicate the name of the planets, therefore it is used with the definite article as a phenomenon, the only one of its kind),
the moon - the moon (does not indicate the name of the planets, therefore it is used with the definite article as a phenomenon, the only one of its kind),
the sky - sky (one of a kind),
the Eiffel Tower - Eiffel Tower (the only one)
the captain - captain (since he is the only one on the ship),
the chief - chef (since he is the only chef in the restaurant),
the window - window (since it is the only one in the room),
the Earth - Earth (Earth as a planet, one of a kind),
BUT!
Noun Earth in the meaning of one of the planets (as Venus - Venus or Saturn - Saturn) used without an article and written with capital letter , since according to the rule the names of the planets are used without the article.

4. The definite article is used before a noun, which means not a separate object, but the whole class as a whole.

Examples:The lion is a wild animal. - The lion is a wild animal.
The pine is an evergreen tree. - Pine is an evergreen tree.

5. The definite article is used with the names of cinemas, hotels, museums, galleries, newspapers and magazines, ships.

Examples:the Odeon - cinema "Odeon",
the Astoria - hotel "Astoria",
the British Museum - British Museum,
the Tate Gallery - Tate Gallery,
the The Times - The Times newspaper
the Santa Maria- ship "Santa Maria", etc.

Note! If the name of the city object (cinema, hotel, museum, gallery, etc.) contains the name locality or a person's name (ending in -s or 's), then the article is not used.

Examples: St. Paul's Cathedral - Cathedral of St. Paul
Madame Tussaud's Museum - Madame Tussauds Museum
Covent Garden - Covent Garden Opera House (named after the nearby market)
MacDonald's - McDonald's
Westminster Abbey - Westminster Abbey (named after the district)
Buckingham Palace - Buckingham Palace (after the name of the county in England)
Edinburgh Castle - Edinburgh Castle
London Zoo - London Zoo
Scotland Yard - Scotland Yard

6. The definite article is used with the names of rivers, canals, seas, oceans, groups of islands, mountain ranges, deserts, lakes(if they are used without a word lake).

Examples:the Dnepr - Dnieper,
the Panama Canal - Panama Canal,
the Black Sea - Black Sea,
the Pacific Ocean - Pacific Ocean,
the Hawaiian Islands - Hawaiian Islands,
the Bahamas - Bahamas,
the Urals - Ural Mountains,
the Sahara desert - Sahara desert,
the Ontario - Ontario, etc.
BUT!
Lake Superior - Lake Superior
Leech Lake– (lake) Lich
loch Ness - (lake) Loch Ness (loch is the Scottish version of the word "lake")

7. The definite article is used with country names consisting of more than one word.

Examples:the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland - Union of the Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,
the United States of America - the USA - United States of America,
the Philippines - Philippines,
the United Arab Emirates - United Arab Emirates,
the Netherlands - the Netherlands, etc.

As an exception, the definite article is used with the following countries and localities:

Examples:the Sudan - Sudan,
the Congo - Congo,
the Argentine Argentina,
the Ukraine - Ukraine,
the Crimea - Crimea,
the Caucasus - Caucasus, etc.

8. The definite article is used with the following city names:

Examples:the Hague - The Hague,
the Athens - Athens,
the Vatican - Vatican, etc.

9. The definite article is used with the following words (when they are used as adverbs of place):

Examples:beach- beach, cinema- cinema, city- city, country(side)- countryside, ground- Earth, jungle- jungle, library- library, pub- bar, radio- radio, sea- sea, sea ​​side- coast, station- railway station, shop- score, theater- theatre, world- the world, etc.

10. The definite article is used with adjectives only - only, last - last, first - first.

Examples: It was the first time I was ever in love. It was the first time I fell in love.
I had the only dream to become an engineer-designer of the electronic devices. “My only dream was to become an electronics design engineer.

11. The definite article is used with.

Examples:the rich - rich,
the young - youth,
the homeless - homeless, etc.

12. The definite article is used c.

Examples: Nicole is the best friend. Nicole is your best friend.
Winter is the coldest season of the year. - Winter is the coldest season of the year.

13. The definite article is used with ordinal numbers.

Examples:the first - first,
the second - second,
the fifteenth - fifteenth,
the second Unit - the second lesson,
BUT
Unit 1 - Lesson 1, etc.

14. The definite article is used with words morning - morning, afternoon - day, evening - evening.

Examples: in the morning - in the morning,
in the afternoon - in the afternoon,
in the evening - in the evening.

15. The definite article is used with names of musical instruments.

Examples:the piano - piano,
the violin - violin
the double-bass - double bass,
the guitar - guitar, etc.

16. The definite article is used with names of nationalities.

Examples:the Ukrainian - Ukrainians,
the Belorussian - Belarusians,
the English - English,
the Dutch - Dutch, etc.

17. The definite article is used with a surname when it comes to the whole family.

Examples:the Petrovs - the Petrov family,
the Browns - the Brown family, etc.

18. The definite article is used with titles.

Examples:the queen - queen,
the Prince - prince,
the Lord - lord,
BUT!
Queen Victoria - Queen Victoria,
Prince William - Prince William,
Lord Byron - Lord Byron, etc.

English nouns, which are used in the singular with the definite article, keep it in the plural:

He liked the present I bought. He liked the gift I bought. He liked the presents I bought. He liked the gifts I bought.

The definite article is also used with plural nouns if all representatives of this group are meant:

The city-dwellers often suffer air pollution. Urban dwellers (all city dwellers) often suffer from air pollution. This candidate is not very popular among city-dwellers. This candidate is not very popular among urban residents (not all, but only some).

In addition, the definite article can be used with combinations of nouns and cardinal numbers if they are already known to the reader:

Steven and Mark dislike each other, the two have a fight almost every day. Steven and Mark don't like each other, the two fight almost every day.

The definite article with proper nouns

The definite article is used with the following proper names:

Astronomical names: the Sun, the North Star

Geographical names: the South Pole, the Hague, the Crimea

Mountain ranges: the Alps, the Urals

Rivers: the Thames, the Oka

Seas and oceans: the Baltic Sea, the Atlantic Ocean

Parts of the World: in the North, to the West

Channels: the Panama Canal, the English Channel

Names of some countries: the USA, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom

Nationalities: the Russians, the Americans

Deserts: the Sahara, the Gobi

City districts: the Bronx, the City

names of establishments, unique buildings: the Kremlin, the White House

Vessel names: the Queen Elizabeth

Newspaper titles: the Times, the Guardian

Families: the Ivanovs, the Forsytes, the Simpsons

The definite article can also be used for additional clarification:

You are not the light-minded John I knew. You are no longer the flippant John I once knew. She married George Brown the George Brown who owns the local oil company. She married George Brown, but this is not the George Brown who owns the local oil company.

and before nicknames:

Nicky the Tall is a famous robber in this town. Tall Nicky is a famous robber in this city.

The indefinite article in English

Indefinite article (a) came from the numeral one and is used, as a rule, with singular nouns denoting countable items.

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

The article in a classifying (accounting) meaning refers an object to a particular class or group of objects:

There is a ball on the grass. The ball is on the grass. (not a shuttlecock, not an elephant, not a man) It is a golf ball. This is a golf ball. (not for football 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 exclamatory sentences with the word what:

What a tall man! What a tall man!

and before singular countable nouns with words rather, quite, such and most(very):

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

The article in a general sense 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. A 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 the sentence, generalizing articles only open the statement.

Numerically, 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 take on the meaning of “glass”, “portion”, “variety”, etc.:

I'd like whiskey. I would like (one) glass of whiskey. Let's drink a coffee or two? Shall we have a cup or two of coffee? a very expensive wine

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 invented such short words 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 will be an article, an adjective, a pronoun is not the point. The main thing is that Tamara and I walk in pairs, a noun needs a pair: acat, mycat, thatcat, bigcat.

Now the good news: there are only two articles. Uncertain a and certain the. However, there is another variation - an. But this is a purely phonetic feature: one cannot 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 The indefinite article(The Indefinite Article)

It is used when it is not important / unknown (underline as necessary) what subject is being discussed:

Take a pen. - Take a pen.

This means that you are simply asked to take a pen. No hidden meanings or 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 that writes worse (so that she gets better).

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

The man is rather angry. This guy is pretty mean.
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 the girls from the group)

3.1.3 Indefinite articleversusdefinite

On the one hand, it seems that everything is clear even from the name of the article: indefinite for a certain subject, 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! You can, of course, rummage through Wikipedia. But it’s enough to know at least that after any of the forms of the verb tobe, tohave the 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.

. The 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 enjoy a new toy.

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

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

When we use the definite article:

If it is clear from the situation 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 out!

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

If there is a clarification/definition that distinguishes an 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 grow in Russia too.

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 the article would be put in the singular a.
There are books on the table. There are (some) books on the table.

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

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

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

When the recipe for vinaigrette in the head, mixed with articles, is finally known, we offer the dish to chew well. Again in simple terms and illustrative examples, we focus on the key points of the use of definite and indefinite articles.

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

That is, the absence of the article. In this article, we will look at the indefinite article a \ an in English.

Article a or an?

The indefinite article has two forms: a and an. The rules for using them are very simple.

• Article in the form "a" 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[ənˈɒnə].
• Some abbreviations that are read by individual letters: an FBI agent[ən ɛf biː aɪ ˈeɪʤənt].

The indefinite article a \ an in English is the basic rule

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

General rule: The indefinite article is used to denote not specific, but some, some object (that is why it is called indefinite). In Russian, we could 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. Consider examples.

I need a shovel. - I need (any) shovel.

I'd like to buy a ticket. - I would like to buy (one, any) ticket.

Compare if replace a \ an with specific article the, the meaning will change:

I need the shovel. – I need (this particular) shovel.

I'd like to buy the ticket. - I would like to buy (that specific) ticket.

Rules for using the article a (an) in English

Let's look at more specific rules. So, the article a \ an is used when:

1. This refers to anyone, no matter which representative of a class of objects or persons.

A baby can do that. - A baby (anyone) can do it.

A triangle has three sided. - A triangle (any) has three sides.

The article does not necessarily stand immediately before , between them it can be denoting the attribute of a 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.

Note that if, in a similar case, the definite article the is used, the meaning will change dramatically, for example:

I want to buy the hockey stick. I want to buy a (certain) club.

2. A noun refers to who or what an object or person is.

Most often this is a profession, if it is a person, or the name of an object (class of objects), if it is 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 anexperienced graphicdesigner. – He is an experienced graphic designer.

This is a snowboard. - It's a snowboard.

If you use the, it will not be about the class of objects as a whole, but about a specific representative:

Hi is the experienced designer. – He is an experienced designer.

3. We are talking about one object or person.

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

I'd like a 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, it will also, in general, be about one subject, but about a specific one. For example, not just about a cup of chocolate, but about the cup that you brewed first, her foam came out prettier:

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

4. We are talking about an object or person mentioned in a 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 an object for the first time, we usually speak of it as “something”, “something”.

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

Five minutes have passed, we have already discussed the film inside and out, and we are no longer talking about it as some but how about quite certain movie:

– 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 violated. For example, I decided to intrigue the interlocutor and say right off the bat that I watched not just some movie, but THE SAME 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 gift 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 - in a 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 set expressions like to have (to take) + noun, implying some kind of one-time action:

• to have (take) a look - look
• to have a walk - take a walk
• to have (take) a seat - sit down
• to take a note - make a note, write down

Notes:

1. Some expressions according to this scheme are used with a zero article, for example: to have fun - have fun.
2. With the definite article the in most cases, the words are used: the future, the past, the present.
3. The names of the seasons are used with the or zero article: in (the) winter, in (the) summer, etc.

Indefinite article before adjective and pronoun

Articles (any) can be used before adjectives. In this case, they serve as determiners not to adjectives, of course, but to the noun, the sign of which these adjectives designate:

• She is a nice beautiful girl. – She is a nice beautiful girl.
• I need the red hat. - I need a red hat.

Articles are not used before a noun if it is already defined by a possessive (my, your, his, her, etc.) or a demonstrative pronoun (this, these, that, those). The point is that if the subject is said to be “whose -that”, this already means that the subject is specific, definite - this makes the article a \ an impossible, and the article the superfluous.

• Not properly: I am looking for a (the) my dog.
• Correctly: I am looking for my dog.

Definite article- Definite article

Definite article refers to some specific, specific object that has already been mentioned, is known from the context, or is the only one of its kind at all.

The definite article in English has the form the, which is read [ði] before words that begin with a consonant sound and [ð?] - from a vowel.

The definite article is used with singular and plural nouns: