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    A/an, Remember That The Belongs To: Page 1 of 3

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    Saurabh Meena
    This document provides guidance on using definite and indefinite articles in English. It explains that English uses articles like "the", "a", and "an" to provide information about whether a noun is generic, indefinite, or definite. It then discusses the rules for using indefinite articles like "a" and "an" with singular countable nouns and definite articles like "the" with nouns that are specifically referred to. The document also covers pronunciation of articles and exceptions involving silent letters.

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    A/an, Remember That The Belongs To: Page 1 of 3

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    Saurabh Meena
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    This document provides guidance on using definite and indefinite articles in English. It explains that English uses articles like "the", "a", and "an" to provide information about whether a noun is generic, indefinite, or definite. It then discusses the rules for using indefinite articles like "a" and "an" with singular countable nouns and definite articles like "the" with nouns that are specifically referred to. The document also covers pronunciation of articles and exceptions involving silent letters.

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    Original Title

    Ep13 Notes

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    This document provides guidance on using definite and indefinite articles in English. It explains that English uses articles like "the", "a", and "an" to provide information about whether a noun is generic, indefinite, or definite. It then discusses the rules for using indefinite articles like "a" and "an" with singular countable nouns and definite articles like "the" with nouns that are specifically referred to. The document also covers pronunciation of articles and exceptions involving silent letters.

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    32 views0 pages

    A/an, Remember That The Belongs To: Page 1 of 3

    Uploaded by

    Saurabh Meena
    This document provides guidance on using definite and indefinite articles in English. It explains that English uses articles like "the", "a", and "an" to provide information about whether a noun is generic, indefinite, or definite. It then discusses the rules for using indefinite articles like "a" and "an" with singular countable nouns and definite articles like "the" with nouns that are specifically referred to. The document also covers pronunciation of articles and exceptions involving silent letters.

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    STUDY NOTES EPISODE 13: UNDER THE SEA

    STUDY TIPS

    To remind you when to use the or
    a/an, remember that the belongs to
    the group of th words this/these,
    that/those and refers to a
    particular or definite person, place
    or thing.

    a/an belongs to the words meaning
    one and means an example of
    one of something.
    DEFINITE AND INDEFINITE ARTICLES

    English uses articles to provide information
    about a noun, whether it is generic,
    indefinite or definite.

    Choosing the appropriate article can be
    confusing and difficult, especially for those
    language learners whose native languages
    do not differentiate between definite and
    indefinite articles.

    These notes cover most of the difficult
    situations.

    In English there are two types of articles - indefinite and definite.

    Indefinite: a, an
    a used with words and abbreviations that begin with a
    consonant, for example a pear, a DVD
    an used with words and abbreviations that begin with a
    vowel, for example an apple, an ATM

    Definite: the

    No article required: no article ().

    Generic nouns and articles: a, an or no article ().
    A generic noun is used for a non-specific reference, making a generalization about
    a whole group of people, objects, places or things. It is a kind of symbol that
    represents all or any member of an entire group.

    USE
    Nouns Singular Plural
    a, an
    A chocolate is sweet and hard.
    no article ()
    Chocolates are delicious. countable
    Meaning: not one actual chocolate
    but any one chocolate that
    represents all others
    Meaning: all chocolates
    are delicious

    Chocolate is a nice desert. uncountable
    Meaning: all chocolate, generally



    Page 1 of 3

















    Page 2 of 3
    Indefinite nouns and articles: a and an
    An indefinite noun is used to name real people, places or things, but the reference is
    unspecified. Indefinite articles are used with singular countable nouns.

    SINGULAR COUNTABLE NOUNS
    Use EXAMPLE
    1. to introduce an unknown person,
    place or thing into the text for the first
    time
    I bought a paper from the newsagent on
    the corner. It had an article about the
    drought.
    2. when the person or thing does not
    refer to someone or something
    specifically
    He took a notebook to class.
    3. when making reference to a
    persons job or a member of a group
    He is a teacher.
    She is an Australian.

    4. when giving a definition The shark is a carnivorous animal.
    5. in set phrases: a few, a little, a
    bottle of, a kilo, a dozen, a lot of etc.
    Only a few students attended the
    workshop on the weekend.



    Definite nouns and articles: the
    A definite noun is used when naming a person, place or thing specifically.

    DEFINITE NOUNS: THE
    Use EXAMPLE
    1. when the reference to the person or
    thing is known
    The teacher marked our essays in class.
    Part time English students are entitled to
    use the library facilities.
    2. when it refers to something unique The sun was bright and almost orange.
    3. when the noun has been referred to
    before
    They chose a school close to the city.
    The school has an excellent reputation.
    4. when referring to someones job
    title
    the chief executive officer
    5. with a superlative adjective Susan got the highest mark in the
    listening test.
    6. with time periods the twenty-first century, the winter, the
    spring, in the morning, the future
    7. with proper nouns that have an of
    phrase
    the University of Technology

    8. with some geographic names,
    specifically referring to a group
    the Netherlands, the Philippines, the
    United Kingdom, the Himalayas
    9. with names of oceans, seas and
    rivers
    the Nile, the Yangtze, the Atlantic
    (Ocean), the Red Sea
    10. with regions the West, the South Pole, the Equator
    11. with names of government
    departments, organisations
    the Department of Foreign Affairs, the
    United Nations
    12. with adjectives naming the
    nationality of a people
    the Australians, the Thais


















    Page 3 of 3
    Pronunciation of Articles

    the is pronounced // in front of words beginning with a consonant, for
    example the Thais / 'taz/.

    the is pronounced /i / in front of words beginning with a vowel, for example
    the Australians /i j s'treljn/; when linking between two vowels a /w/ or
    /j/ sound is inserted.

    when stressing the to emphasis the word following, the pronunciation is always
    /i / even before a consonant, for example

    The man shouted to the boys, Put it on the floor, not the table.

    Practise saying these phrases emphasising the and then NOT emphasising
    it.

    the Antarctic expedition vs the Antarctic expedition
    /i j n'taktk ksp'dn/ / j n'taktk ksp'dn/


    when stressing a to emphasise the word following, the pronunciation is always
    /e/, even before a consonant, for example

    Practise emphasising a and then NOT emphasising it in these phrases.

    a computer lab tutorial vs a computer lab tutorial
    /e km'pjut lb tju'tril/ vs / km'pjut lb tju'tril/


    when a word begins with a silent h, an an is used before the word, for example
    an hour (h is silent) /n 'a/

    compare:
    a harbour / 'hab/

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