Forum newsfeeds
Forum Newsfeeds


Sites for Teachers

Sites for Teachers


Go Back   UsingEnglish.com ESL Forum > Learning English > Ask a Teacher

Notices

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1 (permalink)  
Old 12-May-2004, 16:20
diogo
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default articles

I would like to know when the definite and indefinite articles are used
Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
  #2 (permalink)  
Old 13-May-2004, 09:10
Editor, UsingEnglish.com
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Country: UK
Posts: 25,661
Current Location: Phnom Penh
First Language: English
Member Type: English Teacher
Thanks: 6
Thanked 536 Times in 472 Posts
Tdol has disabled reputation
Default

It's quite a complex area, but here are the basic ideas:

http://www.usingenglish.com/glossary...e-article.html
http://www.usingenglish.com/glossary...e-article.html

Reply With Quote
  #3 (permalink)  
Old 13-May-2004, 20:44
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Country: Kalemyo
Posts: 258
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
henry
Default Re: articles

Quote:
Originally Posted by diogo
I would like to know when the definite and indefinite articles are used
Here are some examples and explanations.

a = indefinite article (not a specific object, one of a number of the same objects) with consonants
She has a dog.
I work in a factory.

an = indefinite article (not a specific object, one of a number of the same objects) with vowels (a,e,i,o,u)
Can I have an apple?
She is an English teacher.

the = definite article (a specific object that both the person speaking and the listener know)
The car over there is fast.
The teacher is very good, isn't he?

The first time you speak of something use "a or an", the next time you repeat that object use "the".

I live in a house. The house is quite old and has four bedrooms.
I ate in a Chinese restaurant. The restaurant was very good.

Hope that helps.
:D
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Tags
articles

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
groups of people and english articles Anonymous Ask a Teacher 1 08-Oct-2004 23:15
problems with articles ripley Ask a Teacher 3 26-Sep-2004 10:15
use of articles Anonymous Ask a Teacher 1 09-Aug-2004 08:02
Articles in the english language Anonymous Ask a Teacher 1 11-Dec-2003 09:51
articles Anonymous Ask a Teacher 1 12-Jun-2003 13:42


New To Site? Need Help?

All times are GMT. The time now is 08:36.


vBulletin, Copyright ©2000 - 2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.2.0
Copyright © 2002 - 2008 UsingEnglish.com