Embedded Files
Singular
A girl
A boy
The girl
The boy
Plural
Some girls
Some boys
The girls
The boys
Plural
Girls
Boys
The girls
The boys
A changes to an before any word beginning with a vowel sound.
a book a man a unit a university
an apple an old man an honest man an honor man
Supply a or an.
There is .......... automobile in the garage.
There is .......... car in the garage.
Today is .......... hot day.
There is .......... car in front of our building entrance.
.......... woman is reading a book in front of Janine's desk.
There is .......... orange on Thiago’s desk.
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There is .......... man at the door.
Mrs. Tanaka was in her office ......... hour ago.
Harvard is .......... university.
The teacher has ......... old car.
Thiago has .......... new Porsche.
BEI is ......... international education center.
New York is .......... old city.
PRACTICE
A Complete the following sentences with a or an.
It is ………… lovely day.
It is ………… old university.
He is ………… unusual man.
It is ………… exception to the rule.
It is ………… long trip, but it is ………… easy one.
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It is ………… large library.
It is ………… orange.
It is ………… pear.
He is ………… honest man.
She is ………… old woman.
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His car is ………… used one.
It is ………… tall tree.
It is ………… egg.
It is ………… apple.
It is ………… old bus.
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It is ………… empty bottle.
It is ………… hour till lunch.
It is ………… windy day.
It is ………… good idea.
It is ………… one-story building.
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Write 5 sentences using a or an.
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–
–
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B Add “a,” “an,” or “the” where necessary.
I have just moved to apartment downtown. It’s very convenient. It’s on quiet street near park. There are shops and stores nearby and bus stop in front of apartment. It’s big apartment with excellent view, and it’s fully furnished. There’s big living room and dining room with sofa and dining table. There are two bedrooms, each with bathroom. kitchen is great. It has electric stove, microwave oven, refrigerator, and two sinks. But I still need to buy some things for apartment. I plan to get television, some bookcases, and carpet for living room, and I need new washer and dryer.
Indefinite
“A” and “an” are indefinite articles. They refer to objects that have not been specifically identified. A changes to an before any word beginning with a vowel sound.
A book is on the table.
An interesting book is over there.
Definite
“The” is a definite article. It refers to a particular object.
The book that I am reading is on the table.
A Complete the following sentences with the proper article.
…….....…. chair on which you are sitting is not comfortable.
There is …….....…. pencil (no particular pencil) on the desk.
There is …….....…. customer (no particular customer) outside who wishes to see Mr. Smith.
…….....…. customer whom Mr. Smith telephoned this morning is here now.
I want to find …….....…. good book (no particular book) to read tonight.
…….....…. book which I am reading now belongs to John.
…….......…. book which gave me the greatest pleasure was “1984”
…….....…. good book (any good book) is always a pleasure for me.
Have you …….....…. cigarette? (no particular cigarette)
…….....…. cigarette which John is smoking has a strange odor.
I must buy …….....…. new briefcase. (At this point I have no particular briefcase in mind.)
…….....…. new briefcase which I bought yesterday is made of leather. (It is now a definite briefcase.)
John bought …….....…. new hat yesterday in Macy’s. (As yet no definite hat.)
…….....…. hat which John bought in Macy’s yesterday (now a definite hat) arrived this afternoon.
I also bought …….....…. new hat in Macy’s yesterday. (Though perhaps a definite hat to me, it is still not a definite hat to my listener.
B Complete the blanks with a, an, some or any.
🎶Don't Stop Me Now
Tonight I'm gonna have myself _____ real good time
I feel alive and the world I'll turn it inside out - yeah
And floating around in ecstasy
So don't stop me now don't stop me
'Cause I'm having _____ good time having _____ good time
I'm _____ shooting star leaping through the sky
Like _____ tiger defying the laws of gravity
I'm _____ racing car passing by like Lady Godiva
I'm gonna go go go
There's no stopping me
I'm burnin' through the sky yeah
Two hundred degrees
That's why they call me Mister Fahrenheit
I'm trav'ling at the speed of light
I wanna make _____ supersonic man out of you
Don't stop me now I'm having such _____ good time
I'm having _____ ball
Don't stop me now
If you wanna have _____ good time just give me _____ call
Don't stop me now ('Cause I'm having _____ good time)
Don't stop me now (Yes I'm havin' _____ good time)
I don't want to stop at all
Yeah, I'm _____ rocket ship on my way to Mars
On _____ collision course
I am _____ satellite I'm out of control
I am _____ sex machine ready to reload
Like _____ atom bomb about to
Oh oh oh oh oh explode
I'm burnin' through the sky yeah
Two hundred degrees
That's why they call me Mister Fahrenheit
I'm trav'ling at the speed of light
I wanna make _____ supersonic woman of you
Don't stop me don't stop me
Don't stop me hey hey hey
Don't stop me don't stop me
Ooh ooh ooh, I like it
Don't stop me don't stop me
Have _____ good time good time
Don't stop me don't stop me ah
Oh yeah
Alright
Oh, I'm burnin' through the sky yeah
Two hundred degrees
That's why they call me Mister Fahrenheit
I'm trav'ling at the speed of light
I wanna make _____ supersonic man out of you
Don't stop me now I'm having such _____ good time
I'm having _____ ball
Don't stop me now
If you wanna have _____ good time (wooh)
Just give me _____ call (alright)
Don't stop me now ('cause I'm having _____ good time - yeah yeah)
Don't stop me now (yes I'm havin' _____ good time)
I don't want to stop at all
La da da da daah
Da da da haa
Ha da da ha ha haaa
Ha da daa ha da da aaa
Ooh ooh ooh
Songwriters: Freddie Mercury
Don't Stop Me Now lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
1. ▶ The definite article “a” “an” is used only with singular nouns.
There is a notebook on the table.
There are notebooks on the table.
▶ The definite article “the” is used with both singular and plural nouns.
The book that I am reading is on the table.
The books that I am reading are on the table.
2. ▶ Nouns of indefinite quantity or quality do not take an article.
Gold is an important metal.
Honesty is the best policy.
▶ When such nouns are used to indicate a particular quality or quantity, they should be preceded by the.
The gold in this ring is very old.
The honesty of this man is above question.
3. ▶ No article is used before the names of persons, countries, streets, cities, or towns when they are used as proper nouns.
I live in New York City on the corner of Broadway and 76th Street.
Mr. Smith is going to England and France.
▶ If such words are used as adjective, they are preceded by an article.
Chicago is a large city.
The Chicago fire was very large.
Broadway is very interesting.
The Broadway merchants held a meeting.
▶ Names or rivers, seas, mountain chains, and countries are preceded by the whey they contain an adjective or some qualifying word.
the Mississippi River.
the Ural Mountains.
the Pacific Ocean.
the United States.
4. ▶ No article is used when a noun is modified by someone’s name.
John’s book.
President Nixon’s speech.
▶ No article is used when a noun is modified by a possessive pronoun.
his hat.
my book.
S6 Identifying the need for articles
S6 Identifying the need for articles
A Write the correct article a, an or the. If no article is needed, write Ø.
Example
There was a documentary about __ United Arabs Emirates on TV last night. 👇
You should write “the” in the blank because the name of the country includes its type of government.
There was a documentary about _the_ United Arabs Emirates on TV last night.
Practice
The old woman made a special tea with _______ herb that smelled of oranges.
Through his telescope we could see what looked like canals on _______ Mars.
The children were released from _______ school early last Friday because of a teachers’ conference.
Robin Hood supposedly stole from _______ rich.
_______ untold number of people perished while attempting to cross Death Valley.
Albert is _______ only actor that I know personally.
An antelope can reach speeds of 60 miles _______ hour.
S7 Checking articles
If the underlined article is used incorrectly, cross it out and write the correct article.
Example A island in the Pacific Ocean was used for the experiment.
An
Countless tourists will be thronging[1] to the Greek islands. ________
The tomato originated in Central America. ________
The steam engine was developed in an eighteenth century. ________
A hour passed before the rescue ship arrived. ________
The Russia has a very diverse culture. ________
A university education was one of the requirements for position. ________
The doctor refrained[2] from giving him a advice. ________ .
[1] Throng = multitude, mass, crowd, horde, swarm, mob, host, Antonym few
[2] Refrain = desist, abstain, avoid doing, cease, renounce, catchphrase, exhortation, Antonym = persist
S8 Checking demonstratives
Check the letter of the demonstrative that completes the sentence.
Example _ _ _ _ books are the ones I bought at the auction.
(A) This (B) These
You should check letter (B) because the demonstrative must agree in number with its noun. The plural “these” is used with the plural noun “books.”
1. I was shocked by _ _ _ _ _ _ _ news.
(A) that (B) those
2. The last reliable sighting of _ _ _ _ _ _ _ bird was in 1952.
(A) this (B) these
3. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ species of deer is almost extinct.
(A) That (B) Those
4. I know _ _ _ _ _ _ _ boy over there.
(A) This (B) That
5. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ fish tastes best when baked in butter.
(A) this (B) these
6. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ physics courses offered at the university are very elementary.
(A) That (B) Those
7. Only in the park are _ _ _ _ _ _ _ buffalo protected.
(A) that (B) those
8. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ two rings here on my little finger belonged to my great-grandmother.
(A) Those (B) These
S9 Correcting articles and demonstratives
Examples
He is going to school.
This sentence is correct
Elderly sometimes need special care.
The elderly
The first sentence is correct. For the second sentence you should write “The” before the world “elderly” because “the” is necessary when an adjective is used without its noun. “The elderly” means “elderly people.”
A Correct any sentence that contains an error in the underlined phrase.
The brick house is the nicer of the two.
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Staff evaluation procedures are completed at least twice the year.
-
For a first time ever, the developed market economy countries drew up a document covering international policies.
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Postwar women had more opportunities to find the work than they had had in the prewar days.
-
The general always listened to advice from his staff.
-
Since beginning of the age of computers, technological advances have increased tenfold.
-
Jackson Pollock’s freer techniques raised painting to new levels of the improvisation.
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The boy took his sister by the hand.
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Example
A lemon originated in the China and spread south to the Malaysian islands and west to India.
A lemon originated in the China and spread south to the Malaysian islands and west to India.
You should underline and circle “A” before “lemon” - see 3B - and “the” before “China” – see 3H -
You should underline “the” before “Malaysian” – see 3F.
A Underline all the articles and demonstratives in the following sentences. Then mark (X) any that have been used incorrectly.
That dissertations have to be completed within a four-year time limit.
The good Dr. Snyder began his first year at Arizona State University after having been appointed as associate professor.
At a height of the tourist season, the small seaside community boasts a population of 15,000.
Since the beginning the research, Dr. Ahmadi has collected 70 different kinds of plant rocks.
In a famous book by Daniel Defoe, the hero, Robinson Crusoe, spent 20 years on a island.
Those child’s computer was installed with added features for the blind.
The tourists on the bus witnessed the beauty of the Mount Rushmore.
The kangaroo travels at speeds up to 20 miles the hour by jumping on the powerful hind legs.
Check exercises S6 S7 S8 S9 and S10
Check S6 Identifying the need for articles
The old woman made a special tea with ___an____ herb that smelled of oranges.
an herb (see 1C)Through his telescope we could see what looked like canals on __Ø___ Mars.
Ø Mars (see 3F)The children were released from __Ø_____ school early last Friday because of a teachers’ conference.
Ø school (see 4B)Robin Hood supposedly stole from __the_____ rich.
the rich (see 3C)___An___ untold number of people perished while attempting to cross Death Valley.
An untold number (see 4A)Albert is ___the____ only actor that I know personally.
the only actor (see 3D)An antelope can reach speeds of 60 miles ___an____ hour.
an hour (see 2C)
Check S7 Checking articles
Countless tourists will be thronging[1] to the Greek islands. ________
This article is correct. See 3F
The tomato originated in Central America. ________
This article is correct. See 3B
The steam engine was developed in an eighteenth century. ________
the eighteenth century. See 3D
A hour passed before the rescue ship arrived. ________
An hour. See 1C
The Russia has a very diverse culture. ________
Ø Russia. See 3G
A university education was one of the requirements for position. ________
This article is correct. See 1B
The doctor refrained[2] from giving him a advice. ________ .
Ø advice. See 4D
Check S8 Checking demonstratives
1. I was shocked by _ _ _ _ _ _ _ news.
(A) that
(B) those - See Practice with nouns 1
2. The last reliable sighting of _ _ _ _ _ _ _ bird was in 1952.
(A) this
(B) these - See Practice with Articles and Demonstratives 5B
3. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ species of deer is almost extinct.
(A) That
(B) Those - à See Practice with Nouns 3D
4. I know _ _ _ _ _ _ _ boy over there.
(A) This - See Practice with Articles and Demonstratives 5A
(B) That
5. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ fish tastes best when baked in butter.
(A) this
(B) these - See Practice with Nouns 3D
6. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ physics courses offered at the university are very elementary.
(A) That - See Practice with Articles and Demonstratives 5A
(B) Those
7. Only in the park are _ _ _ _ _ _ _ buffalo protected.
(A) that - See Practice with Nouns 3D
(B) those
8. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ two rings here on my little finger belonged to my great-grandmother.
(A) Those à See Practice with Articles and Demonstratives 5A
(B) These
Check S9 Connecting articles and demonstratives
The brick house is the nicer of the two.
This sentence is correct. See 3A and 3D
Staff evaluation procedures are completed at least twice the year.
Twice a year. See 2C
For a first time ever, the developed market economy countries drew up a document covering international polices.
For the first time ever. See 3D
Postwar women had more opportunities to find the work than they had had in the prewar days.
To find work. See 4D
The general always listened to advice from his staff.
This sentence is correct. See 4D
Since beginning of the age of computers, technological advances have increased ten fold.
Since the beginning. See 3D
Jackson Pollock’s[1] freer techniques raised painting to new levels of the improvisation.
of improvisation. See 4D
The boy took his sister by the hand.
This sentence is correct. See 3E
XThat dissertations have to be completed within a four-year time limit.
“That” should be “those” or “these” – see 5B – “a” is correctThe good Dr. Sneider began his first year at Arizon State University after having been appointed Xa associate professor.
“The” is correct (“the” can be used before adjectives preceding names for emphasis); “a” should be “an” – see 1AAt Xa height of the tourist season, the small seaside community boasts a population of 15,000.
The first “a” should be “the”; – see 3D – the other articles are correct.Since Xthe beginning the research, Dr. Ahmedi has collected 70 different kinds of plant rocks.
The first “the” is incorrect. (an article is not used before a verb); the second “the” is correct.In a famous book by Daniel Defoe, the hero, Robison Crusoe, spent 20 years on Xa island.
The first two articles are correct; the last “a” should be “an” – see 1AXThose child’s computer was installed with added features for the blind.
“Those” should be “that” – see 5B; “the” is correct.The tourists on the bus witnessed the beauty of Xthe Mount Rushmore.
The first three articles are correct; the last “the” should be omitted – see 3FThe kangaroo travels at speeds up to 20 miles Xthe hour by jumping on Xthe powerful hind legs.
The first “the” is correct; the second “the” should be “a”; – see 2C – the third “the” should be “its” – see 3E
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