The Rule and Application for Articles UMEI Workshop 2

What are the rules for articles? Articles are used in front of nouns to indicate something that both the speaker and listener know about (the) or something that the speaker and listener do not both know about (a/an). the= definite article a/an=indefinite article

The We use the for a thing or person when both we and our listener or reader know which thing we are talking about. This can be because:  it is clear from the situation or context: Could you open the door for me? (The speaker and listener both know which door.)  it has been mentioned before: We stayed in a campsite. It was dreadful; the campsite was near a river and was very damp.  there is only one of this thing/person: The sun is very hot today.  it is defined: Where's the pen I lent you?

A/An We use a/an for a thing or person when we and our listener or reader do not both know which thing we are talking about. This can be because:  we are mentioning a thing/person for the first time: Gianni has a new car.  it is not important which one: Give me a pen, please. (The speaker is not talking about any specific pen).  a/an can only be used with singular countable nouns: I bought a new dress. (not I bought a new dresses*)  we can use the quantity words, some/any for countable things in the plural: I bought some new dresses.

A/An There is no difference in meaning between a and an. Using a or an depends on the sound that begins the next word.  a + singular noun beginning with a consonant: a boy; a car; a bike; a zoo; a dog  an + singular noun beginning with a vowel: an elephant; an egg; an apple; an idiot; an orphan  a + singular noun beginning with a consonant sound: a user (sounds like 'yoo-zer,' i.e. begins with a consonant 'y' sound, so 'a' is used); a university; a unicycle  In some cases where "h" is pronounced, such as "historical," use an: An historical event is worth recording. In writing, "a historical event" is more commonly used.  In the cases beginning with a silent h, such as “hour” use an: an hour.

A The After we have referred to something non- specific for the first time using a, it becomes specific because our listener or reader now know which thing we are talking about: "Waiter, there's a fly in my soup!" "Don't worry about the fly: it's dead."

No article To make generalizations about things we use no article.  uncountable things: Sugar is fattening.  plural countable things: Motorcycles are dangerous.  abstracts: Who said "If music is the food of love, play on"?