Articles

Articles are important because they provide information on a subject.

There are three types of articles:

(a)		Indefinite article
(b)		Definite article
(c)		Zero article

5.1

Indefinite Articles

There are two articles in this category: 'a' and 'an'.

Article 'a' is used before a countable noun that starts with a consonant sound.

Article 'an' is used before a countable noun that starts with a vowel sound (any of these sounds: a,e,i,o, or u).

Examples:

(a) a bicycle

(b) a year

(d) a university

Note: University is read as 'Yew-ni-ver-si-ty', thus it starts with a 'yew' sound not a 'u' sound.

Examples:

(a) an umbrella

(b) an event

(d) an hour

Note: Even though 'hour' starts with the letter 'h', which is a consonant, the word is read as A-WER. The 'h' sound is not pronounced.)

5.2

Definite Article

The definite article 'the' is used to refer to:

Use	Examples
(a) A particular item that can be in the singular or plural form.	The bicycle I lost was a present from my dad. (singular noun) The buffaloes in the field belong to Encik Salleh. (plural noun)
(b) Something which is one of a kind.	Satellite 110 circled around the earth ten times. The sun rises in the east.
(c) Specific places such as buildings, seas, oceans, and rivers.	Yesterday afternoon, the fire broke out at the Jaya Shopping Complex. The Red Sea is the saltiest ocean in the world.

5.3

Zero Article

Do not use any article when you refer to a plural object in general.

Countable Nouns	Is zero article possible?	Which article to use?
Countable Nouns	YES	THE
tiger	Tigers are wild animals. (Meaning: all tigers)	The tigers are fed twice a day. (Specific tigers)
flower	Brightly coloured flowers attract butterflies. (Meaning: all flowers with bright colours attract butterflies)	The flowers in the vase are not real. (Specific flowers)

Articles

Articles are important because they provide information on a subject.

There are three types of articles:

(a)		Indefinite article
(b)		Definite article
(c)		Zero article

5.1

Indefinite Articles

There are two articles in this category: 'a' and 'an'.

Article 'a' is used before a countable noun that starts with a consonant sound.

Article 'an' is used before a countable noun that starts with a vowel sound (any of these sounds: a,e,i,o, or u).

Examples:

(a) a bicycle

(b) a year

(d) a university

Note: University is read as 'Yew-ni-ver-si-ty', thus it starts with a 'yew' sound not a 'u' sound.

Examples:

(a) an umbrella

(b) an event

(d) an hour

Note: Even though 'hour' starts with the letter 'h', which is a consonant, the word is read as A-WER. The 'h' sound is not pronounced.)

5.2

Definite Article

The definite article 'the' is used to refer to:

Use	Examples
(a) A particular item that can be in the singular or plural form.	The bicycle I lost was a present from my dad. (singular noun) The buffaloes in the field belong to Encik Salleh. (plural noun)
(b) Something which is one of a kind.	Satellite 110 circled around the earth ten times. The sun rises in the east.
(c) Specific places such as buildings, seas, oceans, and rivers.	Yesterday afternoon, the fire broke out at the Jaya Shopping Complex. The Red Sea is the saltiest ocean in the world.

5.3

Zero Article

Do not use any article when you refer to a plural object in general.

Countable Nouns	Is zero article possible?	Which article to use?
Countable Nouns	YES	THE
tiger	Tigers are wild animals. (Meaning: all tigers)	The tigers are fed twice a day. (Specific tigers)
flower	Brightly coloured flowers attract butterflies. (Meaning: all flowers with bright colours attract butterflies)	The flowers in the vase are not real. (Specific flowers)

Articles

Articles

Chapter : Reading Skills

Topic : Articles

Related notes