Articles

WHAT IS AN ARTICLE?

We call articles the words that we use to indicate if nouns refer to something non-specific, specific, or things in general.

Types of articles:

>Definite article: The

>Indefinite article: A/ An

> Zero article

The definite article is used:

a. Whenever we talk about something unique.

E.g.: 

💥 The sun  🌙 The sun

*It is common to use some adjectives (first, last, only, etc.) and superlative to indicate that we are talking about something unique.

b. When we talk about a particular/ definite/ specific thing, place, or person. 

E.g.: 

"The thief has run away."

c. Public places:

E.g.: 

The cinema, the supermarket, etc. 

d. Others:

E.g.:

The Titanic (names of ships), The Atlantic ocean (names of geographical features)

*The name of some countries (normally those which include states, kingdom, or republic)

The indefinite article is used: 

a. With singular countable nouns. 

E.g.:

A house

A plants

A milk 

b. Whenever we talk about something in a non-specific way. 

E.g.: 

I live in a house. 

c. To make generalizations when the noun is countable and singular. 

E.g.: 

"A house is a building for human habitation, especially one that is lived in by a family or small group of people."

Zero Article is used:

a. To make generalizations with plural count nouns or non-count nouns. 

People must respect the laws. 

b. With proper nouns

c. Some locations.

E.g.: work, school, church, home