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LESSON ONE
The indefinite article.
Clara and Billy grew up in an industrial town. There were factories and tall blocks of flats. There were some large houses with gardens for managers and factory owners. Clara lived in a house like this in an exclusive part of town. Her father was a barrister and her mother was a university lecturer.
A A VS AN
We use a if the next word begins with a consonant or “w” or “y” sound: a grammar book (consonant) a one way street a university lecturer (sound “w” / ”y”). We use an if the next word begins with a vowel sound ( a, e, i, o, u ) or silent “h”: an industrial town an honest person an hour-long journey.
B USE
A/an are indefinite articles. 1 We use them with singular countable nouns the first time we refer to a person, animal or object: They grew up in an industrial town. (first time we refer to this town) She lived in a house. (first time we refer to this house) 2 We use be + a/an + noun to talk about people’s jobs , etc.: Her father is a barrister. He was an actor. Carlos is a Mexican. We can also use the indefinite article to talk in general about members of a profession , species , etc.: A dentist earns a lot of money. A horse is a herbivorous animal. 3 We also use a/an to talk about cost, frequency and speed : It costs £5.00 a litre. (cost)
Clara goes to school six days a week. (frequency) He drove at 100 miles an hour. (speed) Per is used in the same way: £5.00 per litre/100 miles per hour/six days per week.
C ONE
We use one instead of a/an when the number is important , for example when we are counting: There is only one car factory in the town. But Yesterday I visited a factory. There were three people, one man and two women. But A man was standing outside the bank.
D SOME/ NO ARTICLE
When we refer to a plural noun for the first time we often use some : There is a large house in the suburbs. There are some large houses in the [suburbs. But we use no article : 1 when we are referring to all houses/all cars, etc. in general : Large families need to live in large houses. Cars are useful but bicycles are more environmentally friendly. 2 with a plural noun if we are not interested in indicating the quantity: There were factories and tall blocks of flats. 3 in expressions like this with of : a block of flats a box of chocolates a tin of baked beans
The rooms were damp and the heating didn’t work. (we already know about the flat – so we know that the rooms and the heating exist even though this is the first time the writer mentions them) In these cases, the writer/speaker shares knowledge with the reader/listener. We all know there is a story. We all know that a flat must have rooms. So we say the story/ the rooms/ the heating
C GENERALISATIONS
If we are talking about a general idea, we do not use the****. Many languages use the In sentences like this, so it is an easy mistake to make: general idea (without the ) Men and women often don’t understand each other. Love affairs sometimes end in tears. Parents and children sometimes quarrel. specific (+ the ) The men and women at the club often argue. The love affair between Clara and Billy went wrong. The parents took their children to school by car.
D NO ARTICLE
Remember it is often not necessary to use an article when we refer to a plural noun for the first time. She bought apples and pears from the shop. (also possible: She bought some apples and pears ).
More about articles.
Clara travelled from the south to Nottingham by train. Billy travelled from the north. They planned to meet at Nottingham Station. The sun was shining in the sky and Clara was thinking about Billy. What had he been doing for the last twelve years? Had he been in prison? Had he been in hospital? The train crossed the River Trent. It was stopping at Platform 1.
A SOME USES OF THE WITH NAMES, ETC.
There are many rules about the use of articles. Here are some of them. But you will also learn how to use article correctly by experience. When you are reading or listening to the TV or radio, notice how writers and speakers use them. We also use the : 1 with words like sky, sun, moon (there is only one): Look at the moon above the [sea 2 with names of hotels, cinemas, theatres, restaurants: the Ritz/ the ABC cinema but not with: hotels, restaurants which end in ‘s: We ate at Macdonald’s. 3 with names of mountain ranges, rivers, seas, oceans, deserts, and some lakes: The Alps/ The River Thames/ The Pacific Ocean/ The Great Lakes 4 with radio. We say: to listen to the radio but to watch TV 5 with cardinal points: the north the south-east the west 6 with parts of the body in prepositional phrases, especially with in: He went red in the face. They hit him in the stomach. We also use the when we are talking generally: He is a specialist in treating the heart.
She goes to work every day. They went home. She is at home. Compare: He went to the hospital to visit his sick friend. (a particular visit) He went to hospital because he had a weak heart. (for treatment) 9 expressions with by : They travelled by air/by train/by road/by taxi etc. It is made by hand/by machine. 10 some special days and festivals: Christmas (Day)/Easter (Day)/Thanksgiving 11 abbreviated writing: in newspaper headlines, academic notes, instructions, notices, small ads, etc. we can shorten sentences by omitting articles. GOVERNMENT BUILDS NEW HOSPITAL. (headline) DON’T PARK IN FRONT OF GATE. (notice) REMOVE SCREWS FROM TOP SHELF. (instructions)
EXERCISES.
1 The following text misses the articles. Rewrite it adding a, an or the in the right places. Billy came from very different background. His mother was dancer in night club and his father was unemployed builder. Clara was tall, clumsy girl with big hands and feet. She came from elegant neighbourhood but she wasn’t elegant person. Billy was giant. He wanted to be boxer or basketball player. He didn’t have intelligent or handsome face but he had deep brown sensitive eyes. They met in youth club. Clara had rich boyfriend but when she saw Billy she felt shiver along her spine. She knew he was special person for her. Billy had similar sensation; love affair was beginning. But Billy was reacting badly to situation. He hated restrictions of his new life. He went out to pub and drank with his friends from past. Clara sometimes wore rings which her first boyfriend had given her. One day they had huge quarrel. Billy hit Clara and she called police. They took him to police station and he spent two nights in cells. After that, Billy disappeared. He went to Scotland and worked on farm. He still drank too much and farmer soon dismissed him. Over next years, he spent money which he earned on drink and lost jobs which he found. One day, twelve years later, Clara got letter: “I’m always thinking of you. I’m sorry. Please see me.” Clara was successful journalist now working for newspaper in London but she replied to letter and agreed to meet him at station in Nottingham on anniversary of their wedding. It would be first time they had met since they split up. But when train stopped at Nottingham Station, she didn’t get out of carriage. She saw Billy on platform – as train started moving again, he saw her through glass of window. But it was too late. She travelled as far as York station, stayed overnight in Baker’s Hotel, and then returned to London by coach. They never tried to meet again. Billy bought farm in Republic of Ireland near River Shannon and married Irish girl. Clara worked for Times in several countries – Russia, United States, Netherlands. Twenty years later, when Clara died in hospital, they found photo of Billy in her handbag. Billy died on same day. Last word he spoke was her name: “Clara!”
3 Abbreviate these instructions, notices and headlines. Omit articles and the items in italics. Ex.: Don’t walk on the lawns or the flower beds. Don’t walk on lawns or flower beds.
- Enter the castle by the bridge over the moat. ……………………………………………………
- The warring nations have accepted an offer of peace. …………………………………………………………….
- The Prince is to marry a supermarket assistant. …………………………………………………………..
- A single woman is looking for a flat in Canterbury. …………………………………………………………..
- Add the sugar to the mixture using the spoon. …………………………………………………………
