What is the indefinite article. The indefinite article A\AN in English

Hello again! The Article is the main determiner of a word in an English sentence. Before using any noun, you need to decide what object is being talked about: any or specific. In English, an article is almost always placed before a noun, depending on the type of word (specific/generalized) - definite (Definite) or indefinite (Indefinite). The indefinite article in English

In this article we will look at what it is the Indefinite Article and cases where the indefinite article is used in English.

Let me remind you that the indefinite article "a/an" derived from the Old English evolved numeral " one" This service part speech distinguishes from many similar objects one object that is no different from its analogues and you know a minimum of information about it: I had a sandwich.

Word with undefined The article is the name of the object as a whole, and not a pointer to a specific object. For example, saying the word “ a book“We present books in general, and not any specific book. In Russian, its meaning can be expressed in the following words: some, one of, any, one, every, some, each, any. May sometimes be replaced by pronouns any(everyone) and some(some).

The fact that Indefinite Article comes from a numeral determines basic rules its uses:

"a/an" is only used with countable persons or objects that we can count: a lamp, a car, an apple a cup - Have a drink
Since this is the numeral “one”, “a/an” is used only with words in the singular, and in plural article omitted: lamps, cars - There are bottles

Use of the indefinite article

What is the difference between "a" and "an"?

In English there are two types of neodef. article: "a" And " an". What is the difference between them? Take a close look at the presented examples and you will see a certain pattern: “a” is used when the subsequent word begins with a consonant letter or sound ( a h ouse, a c at, a y ard), and “an” - before a vowel sound or letter ( anh our, an o ld woman, an a pple).

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Articles in English a/an And the indicate the degree of certainty of a subject in a given context or in general. In Russian they are like function words, are absent and are not translated from English, but can sometimes “occur” in phrases like: “I know a girl. This girl studies at our school." Or: “One boy loved to read. This boy once found a very interesting book..."

Therefore, on an intuitive level, sometimes we also use the words “one / one / one / alone” when we first mention an object, and “this / this / this / these” when we use it again in speech. This can be found especially often in fairy tales: “Once upon a time there was an old man...”

Use of articles in English

Correct use of articles in English often causes difficulty. There are, of course, rules for using certain articles - a/ an, the, zero article, but since native speakers trust, first of all, their intuition and logic, then by putting ourselves in their place and trying to think like them, we could make the task much easier.

What is this certainty/uncertainty?

I have bought a dog. - I bought a dog. In this context, you are talking about a dog for the first time; this means “some dog, one of many.” It is not yet clear to the listener which specific dog we are talking about, so in this example we use the indefinite article -a.

The dog is very cute. - The dog is very cute. Now you are already talking about “a specific dog - the one that you bought. The listener already understands that we are talking about your dog, so there is already a definite article -the. In other words, as in the “bearded” joke about English for “new Russians”: the article -a means “type”, and -the - “specifically”, i.e. one of many or a specific example.

Table of articles in English

It will help to systematize all of the above. table of articles in English.

The

The subject is mentioned again in this context:	I have an interesting idea. I have interesting idea. Wow, tell me about the idea, please! Wow, tell me about this idea please.)
The only object or person in a given setting:	The actress is on the scene. The actress is on stage. (on a specific stage)
The noun is preceded by an ordinal number:	He is on the second floor. He's on the second floor.
The noun is preceded by a superlative adjective:	She is the most beautiful girl, I`ve ever seen. (She's the most beautiful girl that I've ever seen.
A noun denotes a substance in a certain quantity or a certain place, in a given setting:	Pass me the salt, please. Pass me the salt, please. Where is the water? Where is the water?
Unique noun:>	the sun, the moon the sky, the universe, the earth
With the names of countries, including words such as republic, union, kingdom, states, emirates, as well as with the names of countries in the plural:	the German Federal Republic the United Arab Emirates the Philippines
Before the names of oceans, seas, rivers, mountain ranges, groups of islands, deserts:	the Atlantic, the Pacific Ocean, the Nile, the Bahamas, the Alps
With cardinal directions	The South, the North
A noun denotes a whole class of objects:	The giraffe is the tallest animals. The giraffe is the tallest animal.
After the words one/some/many/most/both/all of	Some of the mistakes are very bad. Some of the mistakes are very serious.
Before the family surname in the plural:	The Smiths have moved to another town. The Smiths moved to another city.

A/An

When the item is mentioned for the first time:	A man is waiting for you. A man is waiting for you. (some kind)
If we are talking about an indefinite quantity:	I can bring a coffee to your friend. I can bring coffee for your friend.
With names of professions:	He is an engineer He is an engineer.
In the nominal part compound predicate:	She is a smart girl
When an object belongs to a class homogeneous objects:	There is a bee in the cup. There is a bee in the cup. (not an ant).
In stable combinations like: what a.. a little a few a lot of as a rule as a result for a while to be in a to have a to see a there is a	What a lovely day! I'd like to say a few words. I have a little free time. I have a lot of friends.
Before the words such, quite, rather, most (meaning “very”):	He is quite a young man He is quite a young man.
If you can replace the article with the word “one”. :	There is a flower in the garden. There is a flower in the garden. There is one flower in the garden.

Zero article:

Before nouns with modifiers (pronouns, numerals, proper names in the possessive case.):	My mother works here. My mom works here. Tom's bag. Tom's bag.
When generalizing in the plural. before countable nouns:	Apples are my favorite fruits. Apples are my favorite fruit.
Before nouns as a modifier:	guitar lessons – guitar lessons
Before the names of countries, continents, cities, streets:	Germany, Poland, London, Hyde Park, High Street
Before abstract (uncountable) nouns:	This is important information. This is important information.
Before people's names and surnames:	His name is Lee.
In adverbial combinations:	for breakfast, at lunch, to dinner, at night, by bus, on sale, in fact, from time to time, from school, to work, at work, from work…

If you still have questions on the topic of articles in English, Double You Studio, an English language school in Kyiv (suburb, Vishnevoe, Sofievskaya Borshchagovka, Boyarka, Petrovskoe), will help you figure it out.

In English - unlike Russian - they are widely used special words– articles. The article and the rules for its use in English are presented below in examples to facilitate the perception of the necessary material. In English there are two articles: the definite the and uncertain a (an) . The article is generally placed only before nouns. The indefinite article applies exclusively to singular countable nouns, but the definite article can be applied to various singular and countable nouns. plural, regardless of whether they are countable or not.

First, let's remember in what cases the article is not used. The article is not used if the noun is preceded by (one, two, six, etc), a possessive or (this, that, my, our etc.), another noun in the possessive case (my father's, Mary's etc.), or the negation “no” (Not not!). Examples:

My room is not big, but comfortable - My room is small but comfortable.
There are two boys in the yard - there are two boys in the yard.
I have no brother - I don’t have a brother.

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Note: if a noun in the possessive case functions as an adjective, the use of an article is possible, for example: Paul is a man's name(male name). Paula is a woman's name (female name). It's a children's bicycle(children bicycle).

The article is not used with uncountable nouns, denoting an indefinite amount of substance or an abstract concept:

I don’t like tea, I prefer coffee. — I don’t like tea, I prefer coffee ( Tea coffee- at all)
Friendship is one of the most important things in my life. — Friendship is one of the most important things in my life (friendship is an abstract concept)

The article is not used with names of sports:

I am fond of football, and my sister prefers badminton. — I love football, and my sister prefers badminton.

Also, the article is not used with proper names (except for some geographical names, which will be discussed below).

Indefinite article "a"

The indefinite article is “a” / “an” - this is not an independent article, but a form of the indefinite that is used before nouns that begin with a vowel sound: an apple, an orange.

The forms a and an are remnants of the Old English word for "one", so The indefinite article is used only with singular nouns.

The indefinite article is used in the following cases:

When the item is mentioned for the first time. For example, I live in a house.
When designating a profession or occupation. For example, She is a teacher. My friend is a student.
After: This is, That is, It is, There is. For example, This is a computer. There is a rose in the vase.
If an adjective characterizing it is used with a noun, in such cases the article is placed before the adjective. Example: This is a flower. This is a red flower.
Remember the use of the indefinite article in sentences of the following type

- What a beautiful color!
- What a tasty cake!
- What a good girl!

The definite article "the"

The definite article is used in the following cases:

If we are talking about a specific subject that we have already talked about, or we understand from the context what we are talking about. For example, Yesterday I saw a film. The film was not interesting.
With items that are one of a kind - Thesun, thewind, themoontheearth
After . For example, There is a cat in front of the monitor.
C – the smallest – the smallest, the quickest – the fastest
C, for example: the first book, the fifth floor (BUT: if the ordinal number indicates a number, the article is not used: Lesson 7, Bus 15, page 45)
With cardinal directions: In the north; in the south; in the east; in the west
With the surname - if we are talking about the whole family - the Ivanovs - Ivanovs, the Smiths - Smiths
IN stable phrases: In the morning; in the evening; in the afternoon; to the cinema/theatre; to the shop/market; at the cinema/ the theater; at the shop/the market

Definite article with geographical names

The definite article must be used with the following geographical names:

seas - the Black Sea, the Baltic Sea
oceans - the Pacific ocean
rivers - the Voilga, the Nile
channels – the English Channel
bays, straits - the Gulf of Mexico, the Bosphorus Straits
archipelagos - the Seichelles
deserts - the Sahara, the Gobi
mountain ranges - the Alps
countries, if the name contains the word Republic, Federation, Kingdom, it is in the plural (t he Netherlands) or abbreviated as (the USA, the UK)

The article is not used with the names of countries, lakes, mountains (peaks), islands, cities, continents, streets, squares, airports. Exceptions:

theGambia— Gambia,
the Hague - The Hague

The definite article is also used with the names of hotels, cinemas, theaters, newspapers and magazines.

We have reflected the basic rules for using the article. There are many nuances, and the scope of one article does not allow mentioning everything. But we have prepared another video tutorial about some difficult cases article usage:

We hope that the above will help you understand articles in English and use them correctly in your speech, but do not forget that repetition is the mother of learning, do not be lazy to revise the rules as often as possible.

The article is usually used. There are two types - uncertain And definite- the Indefinite and Definite articles.

In some cases the article is missing.

Indefinite article ("A" or "an") is used only with a singular noun when talking about an object or concept that is not specified (not highlighted) by the context or situation or is named in speech, in the text for the first time, i.e. We don't know anything specific about this subject.

Form "A" used before consonants "an"- before vowels.
Compare:

a table an apple
a dictionary an orange
a horse an hour

Compare:

I am a teacher.
I'am a teacher.

We are teachers.
We are teachers.

The indefinite article is placed before the name of the profession, type of activity. A noun with an indefinite article carries a concept - one of an object, gender, concepts, categories, etc.

Definite article. Definite article "the" used in cases when talking about a specific, already known or already mentioned object or concept in speech. The definite article is also used in all cases when an object or concept is specified by context or situation. The definite article is used with a noun in both singular and plural.
Compare:

The book you are asking for is on the table.
The book you are asking about is on the table.

The books you are asking for are on the table.
The books you are asking about are on the table.

Abstract and material nouns are usually used without an article.
For example:

The price of gold is rising.
The price of gold is rising.

In cases where abstract and real nouns are used in specific sense and denote a certain quantity or quality, these words are preceded by a definite article. For example:

The gold of this ring is very old.
The gold of this ring is very old.

Without an article, the following are used: proper names, names of countries, cities, streets, if they perform the functions of nouns in a sentence.
For example:

Henry lives in New York city on the corner of Broadway and 72nd Street.
Henry lives in New York City on the corner of Broadway and 72nd Street.

But if the names of countries, cities, streets, or proper names are used as a definition, then they are preceded by a definite article.
Compare:

Helsinki is the capital of Finland.
Helsinki is the capital of Finland.

The Helsinki agreement was signed on September 1, 1975
The Helsinki Agreement was signed on September 1, 1975.

If the name of a country contains a definition or attributive word, then it is used with the definite article.
For example:

the United States of America.
USA.

the Soviet Union.
Soviet Union.

the United Kingdom.
United Kingdom.

You should remember the names of some countries, cities, localities, which, as an exception, are always used with the definite article:

the Netherlands Netherlands
the Ukraine Ukraine
the Congo Congo
the Hague Hague
the Crimea Crimea
the Caucasus Caucasus

Names of rivers, seas, oceans, mountains ( mountain ranges) and islands in English are usually used with the definite article.
For example:

the Volga River Volga
the Urals Ural (mountains)
the Atlantic Ocean Atlantic Ocean
the North sea North Sea

The article is not used if the noun is preceded by a proper name in the possessive case or a possessive pronoun.
For example:

John's house Johnson's house
my friend's house my friend's house
my book my book
our house our house

When it is clear from the previous context or situation what object, phenomenon, etc. we are talking about, or when we mean specific item etc., known in the situation to the speaker and the listener, or when the given noun has already been mentioned at least once in this context.
Close the door, please. Close the door please.
(specific, this door, the door in the room in which the speaker is or which he means situationally).
Ann is in the garden. Anna (is) in the garden (which is near the house, in the one known to us, etc.).
Please pass me the wine. Please pass me the wine (the one on the table).
A car struck a tree. You can see the mark on the car and the tree. The car hit a tree (some car hit some tree). Traces of what happened are visible on (this) car and on (that) tree.
Before a singular countable noun that means animate or inanimate object as a representative of an entire class, category or group, i.e. an object that expresses the general in a single concept.
The Honor is the king of beasts. Leo is the king of beasts (all lions).
The young man must be polite. A young man must be polite (a young man representing the younger generation).
Before nouns that are unique:
the Earth - Earth, the Sun - Sun, the sky - sky.
Before nouns that have a definition with them, expressed by a attributive restrictive phrase, sometimes with the preposition of.
The water in the river was very cold. The water in the river (the water in this river) was very cold.
The girl in blue stood by the window. The girl in blue (the girl in blue, not red or white) stood by the window.
The English teacher of our group was ill. Our group's English teacher was sick.
Usually before nouns:
- which are determined by adjectives in the superlative degree (meaning “most”).
  He is the best student in our group. He is the best student in our group.
- which are used with definitions expressed by the words same - the same, very - the same, only - the only one, next - the next, last - the last.
  Read the same text. Read the same (same) text.
  You are the very man I am looking for. You are (exactly) the (very) person I am looking for.
  The next day we went to Moscow. The next day we went to Moscow.
Before nouns denoting the names of rivers, seas, oceans, mountain ranges, ships, newspapers, some states, cities, as well as before proper names in the meaning of an entire family:
the Volga - Volga, the Black Sea - Black Sea, the Pacific Ocean - Pacific Ocean, the Alps, the “Kurchatov” - “Kurchatov” (name of the ship), the “Pravda” - “Pravda” (newspaper), the Ukraine - Ukraine, the Smirnovs - the Smirnovs (the entire Smirnov family or the Smirnov husband and wife).
Before titles musical instruments when it means this type a tool in general, not a unit, one of them.
She learns to play the flute. She is learning to play the flute.