Course: Grammar Diploma<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unit 6: Other parts of speech<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A word that is used to point out or refer to a noun. It precedes a noun and can be definite (the<\/strong>) or indefinite (a\/an<\/strong>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unlike phrasal verbs, where there are thousands of examples to remember, with articles there are only three you need to know in English, and these come in two different types.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This article is used to refer directly to a specific, or definite, noun or a group of nouns, for example: the <\/strong>homework on Alicja\u2019s desk, the <\/strong>desk in Alicja\u2019s classroom, the <\/strong>classrooms in the school where Alicja works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We use the to talk about unique things and use it with a number of expressions to relate to our physical environment or things in our lives that are commonly known.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are some other examples for you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s not as universal as you might think, though, as we do not use it for proper nouns or things when speaking generally. Here are two examples:<\/p>\n\n\n\n We use the indefinite article when we\u2019re not being definite about something, for instance when we refer to a non-specific noun or a group of nouns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Examples of this include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n We use a\/an to talk about one thing when it does not matter which one it is, when it is not known, or to talk about any one member of a group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When we are talking generally, we tend to use the indefinite article and when we are specifically referring to a particular, or definite, object we\u2019ll use the definite article.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Compare the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the indefinite article, though, we also have a plural version \u2013 so we\u2019ll use some\/any instead of a\/an.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is relatively straightforward, but here are some examples of how this works:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The definite article \u2013 the<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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The indefinite article \u2013 a\/an<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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