Articles in English

1. Articles in English

a/an, the, and zero article

2. Why do we even need articles?

To show us the noun
A (the) book – книга. To book – бронировать
A (the) set – набор. To set - устанавливать

3. The place of articles in sentences

Articles are the part of a noun or a word with a function of noun.
If the noun has an adjective, then the article moves before the
adjective.
E.g.
It is an interesting movie
It is a very interesting movie.

4. A/an

General definition – one, one of. Can be used only for singular and
countable things. Use it:
to show that something belongs to a group
If you mention something for the first time
E.g.
- A cat is a beautiful animal.

5.

A – if the noun starts with consonant sound
An - if the noun starts with vowel sound
- A spoon - ложка
- An apple – яблоко
- An hour – час
- An SOS – звонок SOS

6. The

General definition – this/these, that/those. Use it:
To show the uniqueness of something/someone, to highlight the
individual from a group.
If you mention something not for the first time
E.g.
- There is an apple on the table. The apple is peeled.

7. Zero article (no article)

When you want to use a/an, but the noun is either in plural form or uncountable.
E.g.
Children like fluffy toys.
When you want to use the, but you have already something what highlights an
individual from a group. It can be possessive pronouns, or numeric index.
E.g.
My cat is smart
Look at pages 34-35

8. Some practice:

9.

__ book is on the table.
His friend is __ designer.
She is __ designer I hired for my new project.
Beethoven was __ great composer.
Please, take __ taxi.
Do you like __ classical music?

10. Of course it can’t be that easy

The are some strict rules and lots of exceptions.

11. Use a/an:

“There is” construction
A thousand, a million
As a replacement of “one”
Before adjectives (mostly)
Can be used with “few” and “little” with changing their definition
E.g.
There is a thousand of possibilities.
I’ve made this presentation in a day.
A brilliant idea, a nice play, a big house
I have few friends. – У меня мало друзей.
I have a few friends. – У меня немного друзей.

12. Use the:

With superlative adjective
Date
Period of time
Musical instruments
Single existing objects
Nationalities/masses
E.g.
The best teacher.
The 30th of September.
The 1990th wasn’t a good period for Russia.
I can’t play the guitar.
The Sun is out.
The British drink a lot of tea. The rich/the poor

13. Use no article:

For games, sports, education subjects
For words “work”, “home”
Name of cities/towns, streets, continents
Planet names except The Earth
E.g.
I play chess well.
Yesterday I came home at 15 o’clock.
Moscow is the capital of Russia.
Jupiter is the biggest planet of the Solar System.

14. Articles and proper names

The
Names of countries which contain
“State”, “Kingdom”, “Republic”,
“Union”, “Federation” and some
exceptions like “The Netherlands”,
“The Ukraine”
Oceans, seas, rivers, deserts
Group of islands, lakes or
mountains
Institutions with “of” in their
names
Places on the map for NOT regular
visits
Zero article
All the other countries
Solo lakes, solo mountain or solo
island
Places on the map for regular visits

15.

E.g.
The United Kingdom, The United States, the Phillipines
Russia, France, Argentina
The Nile, The Amazon, The Sahara
The Pacific Ocean, The Black Sea
Lake Baikal
The Falkland Islands, The Andes
Sicily, Everest
The University of Cambridge

16. And some really advanced practice!

__ London is the capital of __ United Kingdom.
I pay taxes for my flat in __ Serpukhov once __ month.
__ Amazon is ___ longest river on __ Earth.
There is __ opinion that my grandmother cooks __ best honey cake in
__ world.
__Everest is __ highest mountain on __ Earth.
__Mercury is the closest planet to __ Sun.
Columbus discovered __ America in __ 1492.
Tomorrow will be __ 1st of __ October.

17. There should be something, but I have no idea