Lesson 11ª: Grammar

 

Indefinite & Definite Article

Indefinite article. "A-an" is used:

1. When you mention a singular countable noun for the first time.

I bought a pineapple and an apple.

Have you seen a brown cat with long tail?

2. With professions:

I´m a teacher.

Are you a doctor?

3. With certain expressions: once a month, twice a day, etc.

I go to the gym once a week.

I drink water five times a day.

Definite article. "The" is used:

1. When there is only one of something:

Where is the tallest building in the world?

2. When we are thinking of one particular thing.

I saw the boy with the red jumper. (a particular boy)

3. When it is clear in the situation which thing or person we mean.

I took my car to the airport. (the airport in the town).

4. Before same.

I have the same tennis racket as you.

5.With certain adjectives to refer to general class of people.

The poor, the unemployed, the Spanish, etc.

The Irish love drinking beer.

6. With certain public places.

Last night we went to the cinema.

They went to the restauant then they went to the bar.

Zero Article. We do not use an article:

1. With the names of people.

Yesterdy I saw John.

2. With the names of continents, countries, states, islands, cities or mountains.

I live in Cuffley a small village in England.

3. In general statements.

Cats are very friendly animals.

4. In certain common prepositional phrases.

At home, at university, in hospital, in bed, etc.

 

-------- ooo O ooo --------

 

Practice

Put in "the" / "a" / "an" where necessary. Leave a space if the sentence is already complete.

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