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Indefinite Article ( A, An)

Grammar notes

Practice

"A" is used for nouns that begin with a consonant sound.  

 e.g.  a pen;   a dog;    a bus;    a man;    a lion   

                     

"An" is used for nouns that begin with a vowel sound /a/, /e/, /i/, /o/,/u/.                                                                                                  e.g.   an apple;   an orange;   an umbrella                               

N.B. We also use 'an' before words that begin with a silent h.                e.g. an hour;    an honest man

 

"A", "An" are used :

bullet

To describe a singular noun

         e.g. I have a pencil and a rubber in my school bag.

bullet

To talk about a person or thing for the first time

         e.g. An elephant and a mouse are friends.

               Would you like a hamburger?

bullet

To talk about jobs

        e.g. I'm a teacher.

bullet

Before hundred, thousand, million

       e.g. a hundred people

             a million dollars   

N.B. We don't use 'a' or 'an' before a plural noun or an uncountable noun.

        e.g. We like dogs.

               I drink water.

Practice                             

 Level 1

Exercise  1 Exercise  2

 Level 2

Exercise  1

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Definite Article ( The)

Grammar notes

Practice

 

We use 'The'

bulletwhen we talk about the person and thing again.

        e.g.This is the man I told you about.

bulletbefore a noun which is unique.

        e.g. the sunthe moon;   the sea

bulletbefore comparatives and superlatives.

        e.g. He is the tallest in the class.

bulletto describe a specific object.

       e.g. Open the window.

              The lion is sleeping under the tree.

bulletwith musical instruments.

      e.g. I play the guitar.

 

We don't use 'The'

bulletbefore words like bed, church, class, hospital, market, school, town, university.

        e.g. We go to school at eight o'clock.

bulletbefore a plural noun used in general sense

       e.g. Birds fly.

bulletbefore names of language, people, seasons, festivals and days of the week.

        e.g. His name is Peter.

              I like English.

              She plays piano on Sundays.

              It snows in winter.

 

Practice                             

 Level 2

Exercise  1 Exercise  2