1.1 Countable and uncountable nouns
Before we look at articles in more detail, the first idea that needs to be understood is the concept of countable and uncountable nouns.
The distinction between countable and uncountable nouns must be clearly understood because it affects our choice of article.
Countable nouns are words like cat, bridge, house, idea. We can count them (one cat, two houses, three ideas), so they can have plurals. The indefinite article a/an really means one, so we can use it with singular countable nouns (a house, an idea), but not with plurals.
We live in a small house.
I’ve got an idea.
I’m afraid of spiders. (Not: …a spiders.)
She was wearing blue trousers. (Not: … a blue trousers.)
Uncountable nouns are words like water, rice, energy, luck. These are things that we can divide (a drop of water, a bowl of rice, a piece of luck), but not count. You cannot say one water, two waters, etc. These words do not have plurals. The indefinite article a/an cannot be used with uncountable words.
It’s nice weather. (Not: …a nice weather).
Water is made of hydrogen and oxygen.(Not: A water …).
A lot of words can be bath countable and uncountable, with different meanings or uses (e.g. iron, an iron; coffee, a coffee). Some plural words have no singular (e.g. trousers, scissors).
A very important point: singular countable nouns must always have an article (or another determiner like my, this). We can say a cat, the cat, this cat, my cat, but not cat. Do not leave out the article before the names of professions. [5:237; 8:55]
1.2 The definite article: “the”
The is the commonest specific determiner; it is sometimes called the definite article. The usually means something like “you know which one(s) I mean”. We use the before a noun when our listener/reader knows (or can work out) which particular person(s), thing(s) etc. we are talking about.
Compare:
Did you lock the car? (The listener knows very well which car is meant).
We hired a car to go to Scotland. (The listener does not know which one).
The listener/reader may know which one(s) we mean because:
a) we have mentioned it/them before
She’s got two children: a boy and a girl. The boy’s fourteen and the girl’s eight.
“So what did you do then?” “Gave the money straight back to the policeman.”
The speaker uses the because the listener has already heard about the money and the policeman.
b) we say which one(s) we mean
Could you close the door? (Only one door is open).
Ann’s in the kitchen.
Did you enjoy the party?
What’s the time? [12:55]
Basic uses of “the”
When using the, we must always bear in mind two basic facts:
1. The normally has a definite reference(a person or the thing referred to is assumed to be known to the speaker or reader).
2. The can combine with singular countable, plural countable and uncountable nouns (which are always singular).
These two facts underlie all uses of the. Some of the most important of these uses are discussed in the sections that follow.
· The use of “the” in time sequences
e.g. the beginning, the middle, the end, the first, the last, the next, the present, the past, the future.
· The use of “the” with parts of the day
e.g. in the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening, etc.
· The use of “the” with the seasons
(the)spring/summer/autumn/winter.
· The use of “the” in fixed time expressions
All the while, at the moment, for the time being, in the end, etc.
· We often use “the” with “unique items”
- Historical events: the French Revolution, the Victorian age.
- Ships: the Canberra, the Titanic.
- Political parties: the Conservative Party, the Labour Party.
- Public bodies: the Army, the Police.
- Beliefs: the angels, the saints, the gods.
· We usually use the with superlatives because there is normally only one best, biggest etc individual or group. For the same reason, we usually use the with first, next, last, same and only.
· We normally use the definite article in expressions like play the guitar, learn the piano. The is often omitted in referenced to jazz and rock:
This is a 1979 recording with Ellison on bass guitar.
Fixed phrases with the … the (the sooner the better) and fixed expressions (do the shopping, make the bed)
· Measurement. Note the use of the in measuring expressions beginning with by.
Do you sell eggs by the kilo or by the dozen?
She drinks cough medicine by the liter. [4:7; 10:53]
1.3 The indefinite article: “a/an”
In contrast to the, an indefinite article is use when a reference cannot be regarded as uniquely identifiable from the shared knowledge of speaker. The indefinite article is commonly associated with “first mention” of an item which anaphoric the would be used in subsequent mention:
Her house was burgled and she lost a camera, a radio, and a purse – though fortunately the purse contained very little money and the camera was insured.
There is no difference in meaning between a and an. When using a/an we must always bear in mind the following facts:
1. A/an has an indefinite meaning, (the person, animal or thing referred to may be not known to the listener or reader, so a/an has the sense of any or I cannot tell you which, or it doesn’t matter which).
My brother’s going out with a French girl.
(The listener does not know which particular French girl it is.)
She lives in a nice big house.
Could you lend me a pen?
2. We can also use a/an to talk about any one member of a class.
She is a doctor.
3. We can use a/an after a copular verb or as to classify people and things to say what class, group or type they belong to.
She’s an architect.
I’m looking forward to being a grandmother.
“What’s that noise?” “I think it’s a helicopter.”
He decided to become an engineer.
He remained a bachelor all his life.
Don’t use your plate as an ashtray.
4. A/an can combine only with a singular countable noun. [2:42; 6:157]
1.4 The zero article
The use of nouns on their own without an article is so fundamental in English that we should not regard this merely as “the omission of the article”. We should think of the non-use of the article as something positive and give it a name the zero articles which is usually given the symbol O.
Basic uses of the zero article
We use the zero article before three types of nouns:
1. Plural countable nouns.
Museums are closed on Monday.
Italians make delicious ice-cream.
Trees don’t grow in the Antarctic.
2. Uncountable nouns (always singular).
Water must be pure if it is to be drunk.
Red is my favourite colour.
Smoking is bad for the health.
3. Proper nouns.
Also we should bear in mind the following rules of using the zero article:
· Zero article for days, months, seasons and holidays
Mondays are always difficult.
June is my favourite month.
Spring is a lovely season.
· Zero article for academic subjects and related topics
Art, Biology, Chemistry, Geography, History.
English is a difficult language to learn well.
· Zero article for times of the day and night. Combinations are common with at, by, after, before:
At dawn/daybreak, at sunset/sunrise, by day/night.
We got up at dawn to climb to the summit.
· Zero article for meals
Breakfast, lunch, dinner, supper
· Zero article in fixed phrases
Arm in arm, come to light, face to face, from top to bottom, hand in hand, keep in mind, make friends, make fun of. [12:60; 13:47]
Chapter 2
Different Ways of Teaching Articles
Articles are a problem for students of English because of their meaning and grammar. The correct use of the article is one of the most difficult points in English grammar. Students must understand the main difference between definite and indefinite article. The usually means something like ‘‘you know which one(s) I mean”. We use the before a noun when our listener /reader knows (or can work out) which particular person(s), thing(s) we are talking about. In contrast to the, an indefinite article is used when a reference cannot be regarded as uniquely identifiable from the shared knowledge of speaker. The indefinite article is commonly associated with ‘‘first mention’’ of an item with which anaphoric the would be used in subsequent mention. Teaching articles should be based on such methodological principles as a conscious approach to forming and developing the skill of using articles. Pupils learn to use articles in the word-combinations, sentences in the target languages more successfully if they understand what they write, read or hear. Most grammar cannot be learnt in passing but has to be studied and thoroughly practiced before students can produce it confidently and accurately in new contexts. [7:54]
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