UNIT
12
Articles: the – a/an – Zero Article
A / AN This article is used to indicate an unspecified thing or person. It is only used before singular, countable nouns. You use A before • consonants and words starting with Y: a dog – a hotel – a window – a yacht – a young man • words starting with U or E, when the sound is /iu:/: a unit – a European country You use AN before • vowels: an arm – an umbrella – an elephant - an illness • unsounded H* : an hour – an honourable man – an heir – an honest citizen A/AN is also used in some phrases when you talk about • jobs: I’m an architect – Are you an engineer? – He isn’t a teacher. • some health problems: I have a headache – a cold – a cough – a temperature • expressing wonder: What a lovely dress! – what an incredibile holiday! • frequency: once a week – twice a year – three times a month ZERO ARTICLE • You use no article before uncountables and plural nouns when you are talking about a category in general. • You also use no article with abstract nouns (subjects, types of art, sport and activities) in general. THE • This article is used for definite things, when you are talking about a specific situation or something you have already mentioned. • You pronounce it [Di:] before vowels. • You can use it with both countable and uncountable nouns. Compare the following examples I really like dogs. (that kind of animal)
The dogs are in the garden. (I know which dogs)
Water is 70% of a human body. (the substance in general)
Can you pass the water, please? (the bottle of water on the table)
SPECIAL CASES
32
When you talk about a specific type of thing in general but this is indicated by an adjective. 20th-century art is very interesting.
When a noun is followed by of or a relative clause making it a specific thing or person. The art of the 20th century is very interesting.
lakes: Lake Michingan single mountains: Mount Everest islands: Sardinia countries (general): Great Britain – Holland – South Korea languages: French bridges, castles and churches: Tower Bridge planets: Mars – Venus – Neptune play sports: play football – play tennis titles + names: Queen Elizabeth places where you do specific activities: at / to school – church – work – in / to hospital – bed adjectives + nouns in general: young people numbered things: Room 12 – Chapter 4 Other nouns: Parliament and Congress, Man (in general, human being) – television – space – World War II
rivers, seas, oceans: The Seine - The Mediterranean mountain ranges: the Alps groups of islands: the Hebrides plural countries or with words like Union, Republic, Kingdom: the UK – the Netherlands peoples: the French museums, cinemas, theatres, hotels: The Odeon the Sun – the Moon – the Earth play instruments: play the piano – play the violin titles in general: the queen – the president places in town: at / to the station – airport – butcher’s the cinema adjectives meaning categories of people: the young with ordinal numbers: the first chapter other nouns: The English Parliament – the environment – the sky – the sea – the air – the cinema – the radio – the theatre – the Addams – the Second World War
