home Garage heating Demonstrative particles in English. Articles in English A, An and The

Demonstrative particles in English. Articles in English A, An and The

At the moment, we will talk about the difficult, however, quite necessary rules for using articles.

Main types of articles

The article is the main determiner of a noun. Before using any phrase, you need to think about whether it is definite or indefinite, that is, you need to think about what kind of thing they mean: specific or any.

The article in English is considered an auxiliary word, a noun attribute; which does not have its own meaning and there is no translation into Russian. There is no such combination in the Russian language. The article in English indicates the category of definiteness or indefiniteness of nouns.

The following articles of the English language are distinguished:

The indefinite article of the English language “Indefinite”

is used in front of nouns that are spoken for the first time or used for the first time in the text.

It has two grammatical configurations "a" and "an". This form “a” is used at the beginning of nouns that begin with a consonant, and the form “an” is used at the beginning of nouns that begin with a vowel.

In the case of a determiner at the beginning of a noun, the grammatical expressions “a” and “an” are used in subordination to the 1st sound in the determiner phrase.

“Indefinite” came to us from the ancient language of the English, where the formation “an” acted as a numeral and denoted a unit. Actually, because of this, it is used only in combination with a noun. For example:

He is an engineer. - He is an engineer.

The definite particle “Definite” is used with a noun. This particle has the form “The” and is used at the beginning of phrases that begin with a vowel. The particle “The” was formed from the pronoun “That”, which in Russian means “that” or “those.” In addition to the singular, the article is also used in the plural.

Absence of the particle "the"(the meaningless particle “the”) in English. It happens that “the” is not used at all. Because of this, it is called zero.

Good morning! Good morning!

Using the particle “the” with first and last names of people and animal names

The particle “the” is not used in a sentence when:

there is no definition ahead of this sentence:

I like Marta. — I like Martha.

when an adjective is used in front of it“Little” - “small”, dear - not cheap, lazy - lazy, honest - honest, etc.: little Mark - small Mark

when the particle “the” is followed by phrases title, rank, military, scientific or honorary title, which serves as an established figure for conscription, that is, everything must be written in capital letters. But this does not apply to phrases that denote a specialty: teacher, painter, etc.

in the names of close relatives. The use of non-common nouns in the form of direct appeal to a given family. Therefore, they are used without the particle “the” and are indicated in capital letters.

Don't tell Father. - Don't tell dad.

The particle “the” is used in a sentence in the following cases:

Full name is indicated in the plural and means a single family:

The Sidorovs have moved. — The Sidorovs moved.

there is a special meaning expressed by an appendage that comes at the end of the person’s full name. Then the article can be transferred into the Russian language as the pronoun “that” or “that same”:

It is the Cameron who telephoned yesterday. - This is the Cameron who called yesterday.

at the beginning of the particle “the” there is a phrase that denotes a specialty:

The engineer Matveev - Engineer Matveev.

In sentences, the indefinite article is used when:

it is not in the plural at the beginning of the surname in order to depict this person as a member of exactly that family:

For after all was he not a Clinton? “After all, isn’t he Clintons?”

it is used with a name to determine the quality that coincides with it:

My husband is quite an Othello. - My husband is just Othello.

at the beginning of the full name in the meanings of the phrases “certain”, “someone”, “some”:

A Mr. Wolf called you. - Some Mr. Wolf called you.

Using the particle “The” with place names

The use of the particle “The” in geographical names, as well as in the names of objects in the city, is directly dependent on the traditions in the word, which are very difficult to explain.

The following are common properties of using "The" in geography names:

The definite article “the” is used in the names of the 4 sides of the world: the North-north, the South-south, the East-east, the West-west;

When a noun means direction, the particle “The” is not used:

We wish to head East. We wish to travel in an easterly direction.

You need to know that on a geography map, the name does not contain the “the” member.

— a certain particle “the” is not used with names of lakes if the expression “lake” is placed in front of it: Lake Michigan-o. Michigan, Lake Huron - o. Huron.

Exceptions

names of states and territories are considered, such as the Argentina; the Crimea-Crimea; the Ukraine-Ukraine; the Hague, etc. The exceptions are the following words and phrases:
particle "the" with actual names of states, including the following phrases: republic, union, kingdom, states, emirates;
particle “the” with the name of the geography of countries not in the singular: the Russian Federatio-RF; the United States; the United Arab Emirates-UAE.
particle “the” with the name of the continent, state, village, located separately: the Moscow of the 19th century - Moscow of the nineteenth century; the Europe of the Middle Ages - medieval Europe.

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Using the particle “The” with other proper names

The particle “The” cannot be used with street names and various monuments such as: Red Square, Wall Street; Trafalgar Square - Trafalgar Square in the capital of Great Britain, Campus Martius-Campus Martius,
Airport and sea ports, railway stations and subways: London Airport; Kennedy (Airport) - Kennedy Airport; Barcelona Port - port of Barcelona; Paddington Station;
adjacent bridges and nearby parks: Westminster Bridge Westminster Bridge; Hyde Park Hyde Park in London, Central Park Central Park in New York;
magazines and newspapers: Time Magazine, National Geograohic - magazines.

Exceptions

This is the Arbat Arbat (in the capital of the Russian Federation), the Garden Ring Garden Ring (in the capital of the Russian Federation), the Via Manzoni Manzoni Street (in Italy); the Gorki Park is a park named after Maxim Gorky (in the Russian Federation), and universities follow the example of universities, institutes, colleges, lyceums and others: Oxford - Oxford; Columbia University - Columbia University, Cambridge - Cambridge.

There is no need to use the word formation “The” with the names of printed publications in the area where it is not present in the real understandable language: Trud - printed publication “Trud”.

A certain particle “the” is used with the names of educational organizations:

theatrical institution;
movie;
concert halls;
club premises;
constructions and some universal structures: the Great Wall of China, the Toronto Television Tower, the Kremlin, the Tower, the White House, the Berlin wall, the Royal Palace.

These definitions have many features, if the name of a building or house has a table of contents, which is expressed in the use of common nouns, consisting of the name of the individual and the name of a village, government institution, association or party; galleries of paintings, museum institutions, or Maidan; ships or groups of musicians; hotel or cafe; various printed publications.

In addition, the particle “The” is not used with the phrase “NATO”; "Parliament"

Place of the particle “The” in a sentence

The particle "The" is usually considered the 1st word of a series of nouns:

the last few days - the last couple of days.

If a number of nouns contain the word forms all, both, much (in the phrase much the same), half, twice, then, as a rule, the particle “The” is placed at the end of these expressions:

all the time - all the time;

In phrases with “as”, “how”, “so” and “too” the particle “The” is placed at the end of the adjectives following these word formations:

It was so nice a day to stay inside. - It turned out to be a very good day to spend it in the building.

The use of the particle “The” in some phrases and sentences

The indefinite particle “The” fits into a number of constant phrases:

a few - several times;
a little

The specific particle “The” fits into several unchanged phrases:

by the way - by the way;
in the morning - sutra.

The particle "The" is not present in a series of constant expressions, such as a noun, which is inseparable from a verb, in a series of verb-type expressions:

to ask permission - ask permission;
to be in bed - to be in bed, to be sick;

The particle “The” is not present with nouns that are inseparable from a preposition.

at breakfast (dinner, lunch, supper) - at breakfast (lunch, lunch, dinner);
at hand-near;

The particle “The” is not present in combined phrases of 2 nouns with a preposition.

arm in arm - hand in hand;
day after day

Articles are objects used in front of nouns or expressions. Like adjectives, articles make it possible to clarify the meaning of a noun that is used in the text.

Results

There are two types of articles:

*certain 'the'

* not defined ‘a’, besides its form is ‘an’, used in front of a noun beginning with a vowel. The noun also has the ability to be used without auxiliary particles.

It will not be difficult for a native speaker to recognize which article needs to be used in a specific example, without even dwelling on it. Although if English is not your native language, there will be some difficulties in using speech particles. In order to learn to apply them correctly, you need to study certain simple and instructive rules and use them in life.

The particle "the" is placed at the beginning of all modifiers preceding the noun.

The particle belongs to the class of auxiliary parts of speech, that is, the particle has no morphological forms and is unchanged. In an English sentence or statement, a particle serves to emphatically or semantically highlight a specific word or statement as a whole.

Particles are not members of a sentence. Most often they appear before those words to which they are directly related and rarely after them.

For example,

Almost all particles can coincide in their outer shell with adverbs, pronouns and other parts of speech. It is important not to confuse them.

The main difference between particles and other (nominative) parts of speech is that particles do not have a lexical meaning and do not describe the qualities, properties and actions of objects.

Classification of particles in English

All English particles can be sorted into five main groups according to the functions they perform:

1. Negative particles not, no.

In the English language they are rightfully considered the main means of expressing various kinds of negations. Negative particles can either refer to one specific word or to the entire sentence in general.

2. Reinforcing particles simply, all, even, just, yet, still.

They are used to enhance the expressive meaning of a sentence and give the statement an emphatic character.

3. Excretory-restrictive particles alone, just, merely, even, only, solely.

Some excretory-restrictive particles may coincide in shape with intensifying ones. In order not to confuse them, you need to look at the functions they perform:

enhancing particles highlight and enhance the effect or quality of an object
exclusive-restrictive ones put a certain limit or restriction on the action or quality of an object.

4. Clarifying particles exactly, just, right, precisely.

The main function of such particles is to clarify and specify an action or phenomenon.

5. Complementary particle else.

Conclusion: you can build sentences and statements without particles, but speech without them will definitely become insipid and unemotional. But a person is not a robot; he expresses his emotions, including through speech.

The particle is an important component of the living English language.

A And an are called the indefinite article. The is called the definite article.

Indefinite article a used before words beginning with a consonant: a face a camera a used before u And eu when they are pronounced like y (/j/): a university, a euro.

Indefinite article an used before words starting with a vowel sound: an arm, an onion Also the indefinite article an used before words starting with h, When h unreadable: an hour, an honor.

A series of articles will soon appear on the blog in which the use of articles will be discussed in detail. This article only covers the main points.

A/an

Indefinite article a/an came from the numeral one, and is used only with singular countable nouns.

The indefinite article is used in the following cases:

When we talk about a person and an object that mentioned for the first time, and is unknown to the interlocutor or reader.

I've been to a concert recently. — I recently went to a concert.

I live in a small town. - I live in a small town.

When we talk about any a person or object from some class.

A triangle has three sides. — A triangle has three sides.

With titles professions or type of activity.

My brother is a pilot, and I am a student. — My brother is a pilot, and I am a student.

The

Definite article the derived from the demonstrative pronoun that, and is used with countable nouns in both singular and plural.

The definite article is used in the following cases:

When we talk about a person or thing that previously mentioned in conversation or text.

I went outside and saw a car parked in front of my house. The car seemed familiar. — I went outside and saw a car parked in front of my house. The car seemed familiar to me.

When it is clear from the context or situation that which one exactly person or thing we are talking about.

I'm going to the supermarket. — I'm going to the supermarket (the one where I usually go).

Could you open the window? — Please open the window (the window in this room).

When we talk about a person or thing, one of a kind.

The Moon revolves around the Earth in an elliptical orbit. — The Moon revolves around the Earth in an elliptical orbit.

With adjectives in excellent degrees.

You are the best mom ever! - You are the best mother.

5. With many expressions with of.

In the middle of the night

At the end of my holiday

The and absence of article

The is used in the following cases:

In the names of countries that are formed using the plural, or in which there are words Kingdom or Republic.

the United Arab Emirates, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom

With the names of everything related to water: oceans, rivers, seas, bays, straits (except for the names of individual lakes, which are used without an article)

the Baltic Sea, the British Channel, the Pacific Ocean, the Persian Gulf

With the names of mountain ranges (the names of individual mountain peaks are used without an article).

the Alps, the Apennines

With names of parts of the day.

in the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening

With many prepositions of place and time.

on the right, at the bottom

The article is not used in the following cases:

With the names of most countries, cities and continents

Asia, Saudi Arabia, Beijing

With the names of individual mountain peaks and lakes

Mountblanc, Lake Titicaca

With exact indications of day, month and time

on Monday, at nine o"clock, in July

With some prepositional phrases of place

at work, at home, in bed

School, university, hospital, prison, church, etc.

Compare:

1. Tim is studying maths at university. — Tim is studying mathematics at the university.

There is a large park not far from the university. — Not far from the university there is a large park.

2. He won't be in hospital for two weeks. — He will be in the hospital for two weeks.

Is there a chemist's shop in the hospital? — Is there a pharmacy in the hospital?

3. The kids go to school by bus. — Children go to school by bus.

There was a fire at the school last year — Last year there was a fire at the school.

If someone is in school/hospital/prison, etc., because he is a student/patient/prisoner, then the article not used.

If someone is in a school/hospital/prison for some other reason, or if we mean a building, then it is used the.

How well do you know this grammatical topic?

Test yourself! You can find all online tests on the rules for using articles.

One of the first topics with which learning English begins is articles. Unfamiliar and, at first glance, having no analogues in Russian, they force beginning students to frantically abandon their textbooks, and with them their English studies. But are articles really that complicated? Let's focus on one of them and figure out when the article the is used in English.

The main purpose of articles is to provide additional information about the noun. This or that article can show whether the object or person in question is indefinite or definite. In simple words, the article indicates whether it is talking about an abstract (any) or concrete object or person. The article the is responsible for specificity.

The is the definite article in English, which is used for both singular and plural; with both countable and uncountable nouns. Some rules for using the article the have a logical explanation, others must be remembered and taken as an axiom. Let's consider each case separately.

When the article the is used in English:

The article the is used if in translation into Russian it can be replaced by a demonstrative pronoun. For example:

When talking about an object or person that has already been mentioned earlier. Let's compare:

When all interlocutors know what object or person we are talking about.

The article the in English is also used if a noun has a definition that distinguishes it from others.

When a sentence contains a definition that is expressed by a subordinate clause or phrase.

When the definition is expressed by an adjective in the superlative degree. Not to be confused with comparative degree.

When the definition is expressed as an ordinal number.

When the definition is expressed by a proper name.

The European quality of life is high enough.

The quality of life in Europe is quite high.

When definitions are used that themselves indicate a specific object or person. These include:

central - central / main	The central idea was hidden in the title of the book. (The main idea of the book was hidden in its title.)
main– main / main	The main rule you must follow is to keep silence. (The main rule you must follow is to remain silent.)
upcoming- upcoming	What is the location of the upcoming show? (Where will the upcoming show be held?)
same- the same / the same	She told me about the same thing over and over again. (She told me the same thing over and over again.)
previous- previous	The previous story was much more interesting. (The previous story was much more interesting.)
last- last	This Is It was supposed to be the last tour of Michael Jackson. (“This Is It” was to be Michael Jackson’s last tour.)

The use of the definite article is also necessary if one-of-a-kind items are mentioned.

In addition, the article the is used in classifying people and animals. It is worth noting that in the case of classifying people, the adjective becomes a role.

The is used in cases where a specific quantity of an uncountable item is spoken of:

Particular attention should be paid to the use of the definite article in English with. Articles are not always used when they are mentioned, therefore, in order to determine the need for their use, you need to know a number of rules.

The article is used if the name of the country (organization) contains the words:

The definite article is also used in the title:

Articles are used in titles groups islands and mountain chains. Comparison table:

The is also used with parts of the world:

The North	North
The South	South
The East	West
The West	East

As with any rule, there are exceptions that you just have to try to remember. Here are some of them: the Netherlands (Netherlands), the Crimea (Crimea), the Caucasus (Caucasus), the Congo (Congo).

The use of the article the is necessary when mentioning an entire nation or using a surname when talking about one specific family:

The article the is used in the names of newspapers, magazines, hotels, cinemas and theaters. The article is often used in the names of musical groups.

Don’t also forget about stable phrases with the article the:

in the morning/afternoon/evening (morning / afternoon / evening)	We came home at 7 o'clock in the evening. (We came home at 7 pm.)
play the guitar/violin/piano (play guitar/violin/piano)	She plays the piano every day. (She plays the piano every day.)
to the theater/cinema (to theater/cinema)	Let's go to the theater (Let's go to the theater.)
on the one / other hand	On the one hand, this offer is tempting, but on the other (hand), the risk is too great. (On the one hand, the offer is tempting, but on the other hand, the risk is too great.)
to tell the truth - in truth, to be honest	To tell the truth, I didn’t make the presentation. (To be honest, I didn't make a presentation.)

You may initially have some difficulty deciding when to use the article the and when it is not necessary in English. Despite the fact that in practice in most cases you will be understood without using the definite article, its use will not hurt the ears of a native speaker and will make your speech natural. You can also practice and complete exercises on articles offered on our website.

Many foreign languages have such a concept as an article. Starting to study grammar with this topic would be a good option for those who want to know English. The article (the rule of use will help you understand the question) is a functional part of speech in the English language. It shows certainty or uncertainty. Below in the text are the rules for its use when the article a (an), the is omitted.

Types of articles

There are two types of articles in English:

definite - the;
indefinite - a (an) (two forms).

The definite article shows that we are talking about some well-known or familiar object that is more individualized and stands out from others in some way. And indefinite indicates a more generalized meaning or an object that appears in the text for the first time. Examples:

The girl has a dog./The girl has a dog.

From this sentence it can be understood that we are talking about a specific girl who is already familiar to the reader and she was previously mentioned in the text, but the word “dog” is more general, what kind of dog is unknown.

Origin

We have already found out that in English there is such a part of speech as the article: a (an), the. They originally came from other words and to some extent retained their old meaning.

For example, the definite article is a shortened form of the word that (that, that), which is why it carries such a specific meaning.

Comes from the word one (someone, some).

Definite article

In English, the definite article has two functions: the first of them is specifying, and the other is generalizing. And this part of speech is used if a person knows exactly what object is being discussed, or if this object is unique.

The definite article in a specific meaning

It is used if one item stands out from the entire set, it has some excellent parameters, it stands out due to a unique case, context. Before adjectives in

He is the best player in our team./He is the best player in our team.

Placed before the words following, last, next, only and very. They make the noun more specific.

And not the next day./And not the next day.

Superlative adjectives are also preceded by a definite article.

It is the worst day in my life./This is the worst day in my life.

The definite article in its general meaning

Generalizing - when a noun can be attributed to a whole type of object.

Examples include the German Shepherd - the double coat is straight, and short length./For example, the German Shepherd. The coat has two characteristics: straight and short.

Here we are talking about all dogs belonging to a specific breed.

Omitted if replaced by a possessive pronoun.

She sure had some love for her German Shepards./She definitely loves her German Shepherds.

If you can put the word “this” in front of a noun.

The hotel also features easy access to the several subway stations./The hotel (this hotel) is also easily accessible from several subway stations.

When indicating the era, significant events.

The First World War./First World War.

Before uncountable nouns, only if we are talking about a certain volume of a substance.

And then the farmer has to find another way to deliver the juice./Then the farmer will have to find another way to produce juice.

Before the names of body parts.

The hand/hand.

Before social classes and strata of society.

The police./Police officers.

The definite article with proper names and some names

The table below will help you better understand how to use articles with proper names and some names. All the words below must be preceded by the definite article the.

Proper names	Examples
Rivers	the Nakdong
Newspaper names	the Washington Post
Geographical names	the North Pole
Objects from astronomy	the Moon
Mountain names	the Andes
Cardinal directions	in the East
Surnames in the plural (meaning all family members)	the Adamsons
Channels	the Nicaragua Canal
City districts	the West End
Nationalities	the Italian
Unique architectural structures	the Winter Palace
Deserts	the Bolivian
Names of reservoirs	the Black Sea
Vessel names	the Aurora
Some countries	the Argentina
Nicknames	the Tall Ben

Definite article. Plural

If the definite article is used before a word in the singular, then it is also placed before it in the plural.

You can bring the ball with, if you want./If you want, take the ball with you.

You can bring the balls with, if you want./If you want, take the balls with you.

Also, the article remains before the plural if we are talking about a group as a whole.

The members of Golf club can breathe fresh air./Members of the golf club can breathe fresh air. (Everyone can breathe fresh air).

Indefinite article a (an)

Use “a” if the first letter in the word is a consonant, “an” if it is a vowel:

a table, a carpet, a dog/table, carpet, dog;
an elephant, an eagle, an orange.

Exceptions to the rule:

the article "a" is always placed before words that begin with the letter "u" if it is pronounced as /ju:/ (English is a universal language);
before the words “one”, “ones” the article “a” is always used (a one-parent family);
If abbreviations begin with a consonant, but are read with a vowel (F is pronounced like /ef/), then the indefinite article “an” (an FBI agent) is always used before them.

Classifying, generalizing and numeral meaning of the indefinite article

In expressive sentences, in exclamatory sentences that begin with the word what, the indefinite article is used.

What a great!/How great!

With singular nouns preceded by words such as rather, quite, such and most.

In a rather prescient way./Very far-sighted.

If a noun is a generalizing meaning for an entire class, type, layer, etc., then an indefinite article is placed before it. Most often, such a noun appears at the beginning of a sentence and does not carry any important information. More significant details are described later in the text.

A newspaper text is a very laconic and relevant essay./Newspaper text is a laconic and relevant essay.

In its numerical value, the article denotes its original meaning - one.

I can stay in Paris for only a day./I could stay in Paris for just a day. (Here it is clear that the particle -a can be replaced by one, the word from which the article a (an) was formed (the - from that). In this sentence, the particle takes its usual place).

The indefinite article a (an). Plural

Articles that are used before nouns in the singular are not used in the plural.

She had a book of astrology./She had a book on astrology.

She had two books./She had two books. (As you can see, the article is omitted.)

Proper names and articles a (an)

The article a (an) is used before if they:

unknown

A Mr. Anderson has come to see you./A certain Mr. Anderson came to see you.

used as common nouns

You think, I am a Leonardoda Vinci?/Do you think I am Leonardo da Vinci?

point to individual family members

It is no wonder; in fact, she is a Smith./No wonder, because she is Smith.

describe the position of a place or object

We saw a rebuild Rome./We saw Rome rebuilt.

In addition, there are stable expressions that, regardless of the context, never change and always remain in their place. You just need to learn these phrases:

a few/several, it is a pity/sorry, a little/a little, etc.

When the article is not needed

In English there is such a thing as when it is absent in sentences before nouns. Cases where the article is omitted have already been mentioned in the article. Let's look at a few more typical rules.

If the nouns are preceded by the adjectives old/old, little/small, poor/poor, lazy/lazy, honest/honest.

She is little girl./She is a little girl.

If there is no definition for the noun.

I do not like Peter./I don’t like Peter.

Before titles, titles.

Lord Green./Lord Green.

Exercises on articles

To consolidate the acquired knowledge, you need to do several exercises. Then check your answers with the keys and analyze the errors. For example, you can do the task below.

Fill in the missing article a (an), the:

Paris is…beautiful town./Paris is a beautiful city.

What's going on? I think it's … salute./What's going on? I think it's a fireworks.

Britney Spears is ... singer./Britney Spears is a singer.

This is Nick. He is... engineer./This is Nick. He is an engineer.

… spider has eight legs./Spiders have eight legs.

It is... tomato./This is a tomato.

I am...nurse./I am a nurse.

She is... best./She is the best.

To take... seat./Sit down.

In... country./In the country.

Answers to the exercise. How to correctly insert the article a (an), the:

1. a. 2. a. 3.a. 4. an. 5. a. 6.a. 7. a. 8. the. 9. a. 10. the.