grammar: the articles Flashcards
1. the; 2. an/a; 3 no article
meaning THE:
- definite article: het/de
form THE:
has ONLY one form: THE
pronunciation THE:
- /ðə/: the following word starts with a consonant sound
* vb: the man - /ði/: the following word starts with a vowel sound
* vb. the ocean - /ðiː/: when stressed
* vb. the audience
use THE:
- talk about known items (singular and plural)
* vb: a man walks into the restaurant. THE
man asks his girlfriend to move in with him. - it has been mentioned before
* vb: THE girlfriend said yes. - it’s unique, there’s only one
* vb: on THE other side of the menu.
generalizations THE:
the + singular: inventions, scientific/musical
instruments
* vb: Galileo invented THE telescope
meals THE:
noun + relative clouse= SPECIFIC
* vb: THE lunch they had served in the
hotel
buildings/instructions THE:
- visited as a visitor, superlative adjective + building
* vb: Pamela went to THE church to take some
photos. –> visited as a visitor - theatres, hotels, galleries, museums, monuments
* vb: THE British Museum - buildings with an of-phrase
* vb: THE Statue of Liberty - buildings with an adjective
* vb: THE historic Tower of London - most regions
* vb: THE Riveria - island groups
* vb: THE Azores - motorways
* vb: THE M1 motorway goes north from
London - mountain ranges
* vb: THE Himalayas - rivers/canals/seas
* vb: THE river Thames
English NOT same USE as in Dutch: THE:
- to play + the + specific musical instrument
* vb: Little Abigail is learning to play THE
violin. - at the seaside (ASHORE)
* vb: We spent a month at THE seaside.
meaning A/AN:
- indefinite article: een
form A/AN:
- a: following word starts with a consonant sound
* vb: A DIY-project - an: following word starts with a vowel sound
* vb: AN Olympic medal
pronunciation A/AN:
- a:
- /ə/: the following word starts with a consonant
sound
* vb: A man - /eI/: when stressed
* vb: A U-turn
- /ə/: the following word starts with a consonant
- an:
- /ən/: the following word starts with a vowel sound
* vb: AN endless story - /æn/: when stressed
* vb: AN expedition
- /ən/: the following word starts with a vowel sound
use A/AN:
an unknown item (a/an + singular countable noun)
* vb: A man walks into A bank
generalizations A/AN:
one example for the class
* vb: A bad worksman blames his tools
meals A/AN:
adjective + noun
* vb: A marvellous dinner
use ONE or AN/A:
- one:
- when emphasing the number
* vb: Someone knocked ONE of the glasses of
the table. - when contrasting with another number, with
‘other’, phrases of time
* vb: At ONE time.
: ONE or two of our house - one + ‘of- phrase’
* vb: Someone knocked ONE of the glasses
of the table.
- when emphasing the number
- a/an:
- when mentioning an unknown item for the first
time. - when it can be replaced by PER
* vb: I usually go to the gym four times A
week. - when followed by-> noun + OR + number; noun + OR + SO
- vb: AN hour OR SO ; A day OR TWO
- when mentioning an unknown item for the first
English NOT the same USE as in Dutch: A/AN:
- to be + noun complement (he is a PLUMPER)
- minor ailments/symptoms: a HEADACHE
- vb: I had A headache.
- vb: The girl with a was she.
generalizations NO ARTICLE:
meaning ALL
*vb: Whales are huge animals.
meals NO ARTICLE:
noun
* vb: We had breakfast.
buildings/ instructions NO ARTICLE:
- used or visited for their primary purpose
- vb: She has just had a baby. She is still in /
hospital.
- vb: She has just had a baby. She is still in /
- most buildings & building starting with a
possessive/genitive & proper noun
* vb: The Queen lives at / Buckingham Palace - continents/countries
* vb: France - islands
* vb: Cuba - lakes
* vb: lake Victoria - roads/streets
* vb: - most mountains
* vb:
English NOT the USE as in Dutch: NO ARTICLE:
- illnesses (flu, bronchitis)
- by + means of transport
- to go into town + to be in town
- to be at sea (ON A BOAT)
