Articles Flashcards
Rule #3 - All things or things in general: Use no article with plural count nouns or any noncount nouns used to mean all or in general.
Trees are beautiful in the fall. (All trees are beautiful in the fall.)
He was asking for advice. (He was asking for advice in general.)
I do not like coffee. (I do not like all coffee in general.)
Additional Information Regarding the Use of Articles
When indicating an unspecified, limited amount of a count or noncount noun, use some.
Noncount nouns are those which usually cannot be counted. Following are some common examples:
◊ Certain food and drink items: bacon, beef, bread, broccoli, butter, cabbage, candy, cauliflower, celery, cereal, cheese, chicken, chocolate, coffee, corn, cream, fish, flour, fruit, ice cream, lettuce, meat, milk, oil, pasta, rice, salt, spinach, sugar, tea, water, wine, yogurt
Noncount nouns are those which usually cannot be counted. Following are some common examples:
◊ Certain nonfood substances: air, cement, coal, dirt, gasoline, gold, paper, petroleum, plastic, rain, silver, snow, soap, steel, wood, wool
Noncount nouns are those which usually cannot be counted. Following are some common examples:
◊ Most abstract nouns: advice, anger, beauty, confidence, courage, employment, fun, happiness, health, honesty, information, intelligence, knowledge, love, poverty, satisfaction, truth, wealth
◊ Areas of study:
◊ Sports:
◊ Languages:
Other:
history, math, biology, etc.
soccer, football, baseball, hockey, etc.
Chinese, Spanish, Russian, English, etc.
clothing, equipment, furniture, homework, jewelry, luggage, lumber, machinery, mail, money, news, poetry, pollution, research, scenery, traffic, transportation, violence, weather, work
◊ Use the with:
united countries, large regions, deserts, peninsulas, oceans, seas, gulfs, canals, rivers, mountain ranges, groups of islands
the Gobi Desert
the United Arab Emirates
the Sacramento River
the Aleutians
◊ Do not use the with:
streets, parks, cities, states, counties, most countries, continents, bays, single lakes, single mountains, islands
Japan
Chico
Mt. Everest
San Francisco Bay
Rule #2 - Specific identity known:
Use the definite article the with any noun (whether singular or plural, count or noncount) when the specific identity of the noun is known to the reader, as in the following situations:
Use the article the when a particular noun has already been mentioned previously.
I ate an apple yesterday. The apple was juicy and delicious.
Use the article the when an adjective, phrase, or clause describing the noun clarifies or restricts its identity.
The boy sitting next to me raised his hand.
Thank you for the advice you gave me.
Use the article the when the noun refers to something or someone that is unique.
the theory of relativity
the 2003 federal budget
Rule #1 - Specific identity not known:
Use the indefinite article a or an only with a singular count noun whose specific identity is not known to the reader. Use a before nouns that begin with a consonant sound, and use an before nouns that begin with a vowel sound.
Use the article a or an to indicate any non-specified member of a group or category.
I think an animal is in the garage
That man is a scoundrel.
We are looking for an apartment.
Use the article a or an to indicate one in number (as opposed to more than one).
I own a cat and two dogs.
Use the article a before a consonant sound, and use an before a vowel sound.
a boy, an apple
◊ Sometimes an adjective comes between the article and noun:
an unhappy boy, a red apple
The plural form of a or an is some. Use some to indicate an unspecified, limited amount (but more than one).
an apple, some apples
Definite article:
Indefinite article:
the (before a singular or plural noun)
a (before a singular noun beginning with a consonant sound)
an (before a singular noun beginning with a vowel sound)
Count nouns:
Non-count nouns:
refers to items that can be counted and are either singular or plural
refers to items that are not counted and are always singular
