Definite and indefinite articles

• Engels
• Secundair onderwijs

INTRODUCTION

• articles (lidwoorden), nouns (zelfstandige naamwoorden), adjectives (bijvoeglijke naamwoorden)
• translation exercise

an

book

noun

adjective

article

interesting

Translate into English:
"Ik lees een boek."

Translate into English:
"Ik lees het boek."

What difference do you notice?
"I read a book." vs "I read the book."

DO THE EXERCISE ON PAGE 21

Complete the sentences with ‘a’, ‘an’, ‘the’ or ‘–’ if no article is needed.

EXERCISE PAGE 21 - KEY 

1.  –                                  5. an

2. The                             6. the

3.  –                                 7. a

4. the                              8. a

THEORY PAGE 21-24

After the long day, the cup of tea tasted particularly good. 

VS

After a long day, a cup of tea tastes particularly good.

1. The definite article ‘the’

• limits the meaning of a noun to one particular thing
• Should I bring a gift to the party?
  => your friend is referring to a specific party that both of you know about

1. The definite article ‘the’

• singular, plural or uncountable* nouns:
  I love the dress you are wearing.
  I love the dresses in your wardrobe.
  I love the music you're listening to.                      *see next class

2. The indefinite article ‘a’ / ‘an’

• ‘a’ when it precedes a word that begins with a consonant sound, e.g. a dress, a pizza, a shop
• ‘an’ when it precedes a word that begins with a vowel sound, e.g. an idea, an outfit, an armchair

2. The indefinite article ‘a’ / ‘an’

• refers to a general idea or category (not a specific thing)
• Should I bring a gift to the party?
  => your friend is not referring to a specific type of gift 
• only singular nouns

3. More examples ‘a’ or ‘an’

• using 'a' or 'an' is tricky sometimes
• consonant, but no consonant sound, e.g. an honour /ˈɒn.ər/
• vowel, but no vowel sound, e.g. a unity /ˈjuː.nə.ti/

4. Articles before adjectives

• word order = article + adjective + noun
• use ‘a’ or ‘an’ based on the word that immediately follows it
  a dress, an amazing dress
  an outfit, a fabulous outfit

5. Indefinite articles with uncountable nouns

• countable VS uncountable:
  many kisses VS much love
  (see also next class)

5. Indefinite articles with uncountable nouns

• intangible concepts, e.g. information, advice
• things that are considered as wholes, e.g. jewellery, luggage
• homogeneous physical substances, e.g. milk, sand

5. Indefinite articles with uncountable nouns

• never 'a' or 'an' !
  *Please give me a water.

5. Indefinite articles with uncountable nouns

• indefinite adjectives or countable units
  ✔ Please give me some water.
  ✔ Please give me a bottle of water.

6. Using articles with pronouns

• possessive pronouns can help identify whether you’re talking about specific or nonspecific items
• my, your, his, her, our, their book(s) = specific

6. Using articles with pronouns

• articles can't be used with pronouns
  * Why are you reading the my book?
  ✔ Why are you reading the book?
  ✔ Why are you reading my book?

7. Omission of articles

• ?
  * The creativity is a valuable quality in children.
  
  ✔ Creativity is a valuable quality in children.

7. Omission of articles

• abstract ideas
  * The creativity is a valuable quality in children.
  
  ✔ Creativity is a valuable quality in children.

7. Omission of articles

• ?
  * I studied the French in high school for four years.
  ✔ I studied French in high school for four years.

7. Omission of articles

• languages
  * I studied the French in high school for four years.
  ✔ I studied French in high school for four years.

7. Omission of articles

• ?
  * My sister was always good at the tennis / the math.
  ✔ My sister was always good at tennis / math.

7. Omission of articles

• sports and academic subjects
  * My sister was always good at the tennis / the math.
  ✔ My sister was always good at tennis / math.

I always love ... good pizza.

1. a
2. an
3. the
4. _

Unfortunately, I'm allergic to ... cats.

1. a
2. an
3. the
4. _

Sally is ... honest girl.

1. a
2. an
3. the
4. _

Can you please give me ... milk?

1. a
2. an
3. the
4. _

This is ... useful exercise.

1. a
2. an
3. the
4. _

DO THE EXERCISE ON PAGE 25

Complete the sentences with ‘a’, ‘an’, ‘the’ or ‘–’ if no article is needed.

EXERCISE PAGE 25 - KEY 

1.  a                                  5. an                                 9. –

2. an                                6. –                                  10. an

3.  the                             7. an

4. –                                  8. The

DO THE EXERCISE ON PAGE 25

Check whether you understand everything by answering the following questions.

What is the function of an article?

What are examples of indefinite and definite articles?

What is the difference in meaning?
(1) I want to eat an apple.
(2) I want to eat the apple.

When should we not use articles?

INTRODUCTION

• countable nouns (telbare zelfstandige naamwoorden) 
  => e.g. an apple, two apples, three apples ...
• uncountable nouns (ontelbare zelfstandige naamwoorden)
  => e.g. air, rice, water ...

DO THE EXERCISE ON PAGE 26

Are the following nouns countable (C) or uncountable (UC)?

EXERCISE PAGE 26 - KEY 

Are the following nouns countable (C) or uncountable (UC)?

EXERCISE PAGE 26 - KEY 

1. Countable nouns

• items that can be counted, even if the number might be extraordinarily high
• articles such as ‘a’ / ‘an’ and ‘the’ => Here is a cat.
• quantifiers such as ‘a few’ and ‘many’ => Here are a few cats.
  

2. Uncountable nouns

• nouns that come in a state / quantity impossible to count
• no articles => I don't like homework.
• quantifiers such as ‘some’, ‘any’, ‘a little’, and ‘much’.  => We have much homework.

3. Both C and UC nouns

• context of the sentence 
• countable: Did you have a good time at the party?
  
• uncountable: I don’t think I have time to do my hair before I leave.
  

ice cream

coffee

a beer

a chocolate

countable nouns

uncountable nouns

a loaf of

a piece of

a bottle of

a bar of

milk

bread

sugar

soap

chocolate

a bowl of

4. Quantifiers in + / - / ? 

• + positive sentence: I like you.
• - negative sentence: I don't like you.
• ? question: Do I like you?

DO THE EXERCISE ON PAGE 28

Study the following sentences and complete the grid on the next page with the correct quantifier.

EXERCISE PAGE 28-29 - KEY 

Study the following sentences and complete the grid on the next page with the correct quantifier.

4. Quantifiers in + / - / ? 

• when we are asking for / offering something, we normally use ‘some’
  => Do you want some chocolate?
  => Can we have some more chairs, please? 

4. Quantifiers in + / - / ? 

• we also use ‘some’ in a question when we think the answer will be ‘yes’
  => Have you got some new glasses? 
  

DO THE EXERCISE ON PAGE 29

Complete the sentences with ‘some’ or ‘any’. 

DO THE EXERCISE ON PAGE 30

Complete the sentences with ‘a lot of’, ‘(how) much’ or ‘(how) many’.

DO THE EXERCISE ON PAGE 30

Complete the sentences with one word. Sometimes, multiple answers are possible.