This is George and Tigger.
George is the dog, and Tigger is the cat.
Do you like dogs? What about cats?
I love dogs, but I don't like cats.
I want a dog. I don't want a cat.
Indefinite Article
A, an, and some are called indefinite articles.
A/An (Review of Grammar 5-1)
A and an can be used with singular countable nouns. A and an mean "one". Use a before consonants. An is used before vowels.
A + Consonants
- b
- c
- d
- f
- g
- h
- j
- k
- l
- m
- p
- q
- r
- s
- t
- v
- w
- x
- y
- z
- a bear
- a table
- a phone
- a song
- a man
An + Vowels
- a
- e
- i
- o
- u
- an umbrella
- an English teacher
- an apple
- an egg
- an inch
Use an before "hour" because the h is not pronounced:
- See you in an hour!
Use a before "university" because it is pronounced like "yuniversity":
- There's a university in this city.
Some (Review of Grammar 5-1)
Some can be used with plural countable nouns and uncountable nouns:
- some people
- some money
- some water
- some cows
- some grass
- some food
- some rice
- some grapes
No Article
Do not use a, an, or some if you are describing a general idea. A general idea means you are talking about any (doesn't matter which) or all kinds of something:
I love pizza.
Bananas are my favourite fruit.
Gold is expensive.
Susan always reads books.
When you are describing things in general with "no article", use plural countable nouns or uncountable nouns:
He always puts ketchup on hot dogs.
- ketchup = uncountable
- hot dogs = plural countable
Cows eat grass.
- cows = plural countable
- grass = uncountable
Paper comes from wood.
- paper = uncountable
- wood = uncountable
Do not use singular nouns with "no article":
Apple is Apples are delicious.
Student Students always makes mistake make mistakes about article articles.
Definite Article
The is called the definite article. Use the with nouns when it is clear which thing/person you mean:
Is there anything interesting in the newspaper today?
Someone is at the door.
We took the stairs because the elevator is broken.
Sometimes it is clear which thing or person we mean because there is only one:
It's so cloudy today. We cannot see the sun.
What did the teacher say?
Could you please close the door?
Sometimes it is clear which person or thing we mean because we have already mentioned it:
I had a steak and salad for dinner. The steak was really good.
A: I bought a shirt and some shoes.
B: Where did you get the shirt?
A: Could I have a small coffee and a bottle of water, please?
B: Would you like milk or sugar in the coffee?
Exercise
Open the exercise to begin the activity. Follow the instructions in the document.