UNIT 7: GRAMMAR

Articles/ countavle and uncountable nouns/quantifiers



Indefinite article

There are two indefinite articles in English: ‘a’ and ‘an’. ‘An’ is used before

vowel sounds

Use

Example

Singular countable nouns (when we

are not being specific or when we

mention something for the first time)

There’s a good film on TV tonight.



Whether we use ‘an’ or ‘a’ depends on the sound, not the spelling.

✔ The news is on TV in an hour.

✘ The news is on TV in a hour.

✔ Being in a film was a unique experience for me.

✘ Being in a film was an unique experience for me



Definite article

There is one definite article in English: ‘the’

Use

Example

Singular countable nouns (when we

are being specific)

Where’s the DVD you were talking

about?

Singular countable nouns (when we

are talking generally)

The radio seemed amazing to people

at first.

Plural countable nouns (when we are

being specific)

I didn’t believe the rumours about the

Prime Minister.

Uncountable nouns (when we are

being specific)

I followed the advice my lawyer gave

me.



The way we say ‘the’ changes depending on the sound at the start of

the next word.

Before a consonant sound ( the media, the USA, the programme), we

pronounce it

Before a vowel sound ( the announcer, the actor, the editor), we pronounce it



We often use ‘the’ when we are talking about something there is only

one of

The sky, the sun, the moon, the Prince of Wales, the North Pole, the World

Cup



Zero article

We often don’t use an article at all. This is sometimes called the zero article.

Use

Example

Plural countable nouns (when we are

talking generally)

Journalists often face dangerous

situations.

Uncountable nouns (when we are

talking generally)

News travels fast these days.



Articles in phrases and expression

Notice how we use articles in the following phrases and expressions. Many of

these are examples of general categories. For example, ‘the River Thames’