Articles Silvije Devald, M.A. Vladimir Nazor Primary School Daruvar

Articles Indefinite article Definite article

Indefinite Article A[ә] or AN [æn] A is used before consonants: a house, a girl, but also: a uniform. AN is used before vowels: an orange, an umbrella, but also: an hour.

Usage of the indefinite article Before countable nouns in singular when used for the first time: I saw a man. Before people’s jobs: She is a nurse. When meaning “one” or “any”: I need a book on English history.

Usage of the indefinite article In expressions of speed, price and quantity: 50 kilometers an hour, 3 pieces a dollar, 4 times a week. After words “quite” and “such”: quite a lot, such a stupid thing to say. In exclamations beginning with “What”: What a lovely day!

Definite Article Always spelt THE Pronounced [δә] before consonants: the President of the USA. Pronounced [δi:] before vowels: the American President.

Usage of the definite article Before nouns used for the second and later time in a text: I saw a man. The man was wearing a hat. Before things that are unique (on a micro or a macro level): the father, the kitchen, the Moon, but also a moon. Before superlatives of adjectives: the youngest, the most modern.

Usage of the definite article Before ordinal numbers: the first, the second, the twenty-third. Before nouns defined by a relative clause or a prepositional phrase: This is the restaurant where I usually eat. He is the chairman of our committee. Before adjectives used as nouns: The young are hard to please. The blind have problems in traffic.

Usage of the definite article Before family names in plural to denote all family members: The Kennedys are an influential family. The Pejčins live in Batinjani. Before names of nationalities: The Americans are not liked in Arab countries. The Japanese were hit by a tsunami. Before the names of periods and events: the Middle Ages, the Second World War.

Usage of the definite article Before some geographical terms: creeks, rivers, seas and oceans: the Toplica, the Sava, the Adriatic Sea, the Atlantic; groups of lakes: the Plitvice Lakes, the Končanica Ponds; groups of islands: the Brions, the Bahamas; mountain ranges: the Alps, the Himalayas;

Usage of the definite article Before some geographical terms: deserts: the Sahara, the Gobi, the Đurđevac Sands; regions: the Northern Territory; reefs: the Great Barrier Reef; points of the compass: the North, the South.

Usage of the definite article Before some geographical terms: names of countries in the plural: the United States of America, the Netherlands, the Phillipines, the Seychelles; names of countries containing words “Republic”, “Kingdom” or “Union”: the Irish Republic, the Republic of Croatia; the United Kingdom, the Danish Kingdom; the Soviet Union.

Usage of the definite article Before some proper names: newspapers: The Times, The Morning Star; ships: the Titanic, the Galeb; cinemas and theatres: the Odeon Cinema, the Croatian National Theatre; museums: the Science Museum,the Museum of Natural History;

Usage of the definite article Before some proper names: institutions and organizations: the European Union, the United Nations, the NATO; prizes: the Nobel Prize, the Filipović Award.

Omission of Articles – No Article With plural nouns used for the first time in a text. With uncountable nouns used in general sense. With villages, town, states, countries in singular, continents; exceptions: the Hague, the Vatican, the Ukraine;

Omission of Articles – No Article With streets, roads, squares, parks, churches. With names of clubs. With languages. With mountain peaks, lakes, islands, falls, beaches. With names of magazines.

Note at the End To each rule there is an exception and you can never learn them all. Read a lot, pay attention to examples around you and try to remember as much as you can but do not expect to know them all.