Tanya- thank you for your invitation to the group. I'll be only to happy to take your and other users' advice regarding the above mentioned issue. I mean when to use "a" and when to use "the".It is not always I get it wrong but struggle quite often. And I'm sure more people do. May this place help all those who like me have sometimes problems with using them.Regards,Ash
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"......a super laser with the power to burn as hot as a star." If I was writing this I would probably write:"a super laser with a power to burn as hot as a star."
4)the names of universities, schools, colleges of they start with the personal name:
Stetson University
Shenn's Medical School
5) the names of countries consisting of one word, the names of cities, continents:
China
France
Paris
America
6) the names of states, provinces, counties:
Florida
California
7) the names of sports:
football
swimming
8) the abstract nouns:
freedom
happiness
friendship Exception:
the truth
9) the collective nouns (if we speak about them in general):
money
gold
10)the names of scienses:
history
art
sociology
11)the names of holidays:
Christmas
Thanksgiving
July Fourth
12)the names of days, months:
Monday
July
13)the names of meals if there is no adjective before the noun:
breakfast
lunch
In case there is the adjective before those nouns, we use article “a”.
a nice dinner
We never use any articles
1) If before the noun is:
а)the possessive pronoun:
mу book
your dog
б)the cardinal:
two books
five people
Sometimes we use article “the” before cardinals if we want to emphasize the certain number:
The only two of us know about that.
в) the demonstrative pronoun:
this book
that guy
2)before the personal names of people:
Annie Brown
David Smith
3)before addresses Mr., Ms, Mrs., Master, Sir, Ma'am, Officer, Doctor
Mr. David Smith
Mrs. Annie Brown
Exception:
We use article “the” before the last name if we mean the family. In this case the last name is used in the plural form.
the Browns
Exersises Ex.1. Insert the articles where it is necessary.
1. _ Earth is__ planet.
2. I am___student.
3. He is___new director.
4. He wants to buy___ new house.
5. She is___my friend.
6. ___ USA is___big country.
7. They are_____ Smiths.
8. This is___girl. She is___ nice. She is____ schoolgirl._____ girl is going to___ school.
9. There is___Dnieper River in___ Kiev.
10. Wait for___hour.
11. ___ America is washed by___ Atlantic and___ Pacific oceans.
12. ___ snow is cold.
13. There is____dry wine in____glass.
14. ___ apples on___plate are____ red-and-yellow.
15. ___ grapes are sweet.
16. I study___English.
17. He studies___French language.
18. ___ lifestyle is very low in__this country.
19. I like to play___ soccer.
20. She plays____ piano.
Ex. 2.Insert the articles where it is necessary.
1. Would you like___apple?
2. Could you close___door, please?
3. We live in____ small apartment near___ center of_____ city.
4. Does___police come in time?
5. My parents have___cat and___ dog.___ dog never bites___cat, but___ cat often scratches___dog.
6. ___ mailman brings___mail every morning.
7. ___ President of___ USA is elected every four years.
8. When are you going to finish____ book I lend you last week?
9. Walking along___street I saw___ $ 10 note on___pavement.
10. I have to go to___office and___ bank.
11. I should see___ dentist.
12. All things fall on___ground.
13. ____ sky is blue.
14. Turn off___light.
15. ___French are famous for ___their food.
16. ___carpet is on___ floor.
17. As soon as you see___ fire, you should call____ fire brigade.
18. I need___good job.
19. I want to get___ job I applied for.
20. No one in ____ Spanish class knew ____ correct answer to____ Mrs. Press' question.
The article the can be used before singular and plural count nouns as well as before non-count nouns in appropriate cases. This article defines definite thing, person or their definite number or amount. In general, we use this article when:
1)we mean definite people or things:
The guy in the corner is my friend.
2)we speak about any object which has been mentioned before with the article a:
Here is a boy. The boy is eating an apple.
3)in simple sentences containing the modifier of place or before the modifier of place in the most of sentences .
The book is on the table.
The plane is in the sky.
There is nobody in the room.
4)if the noun defines some unique object.
The Sun is a star.
The Times. ( a newspaper)
We don’t use article the before non-count nouns if we mean that substance, material, etc. in general. For example:
Sugar is sweet.
Milk is white.
But if we mean appropriate or limited amount of it, we use the :
The milk in the glass is sour.
We use the in the same way with plural nouns:
I like oranges. (any oranges)
The oranges on the. table were bought yesterday.
We always use article the before
1)the names of the oceans, seas, rivers, gulfs, groups of lakes:
the Black Sea
the Pacific Ocean
the Persian Gulf
the Volga River
the Great Lakes
2)the massifs and mountain ridges:
the Rocky Mountains
the Andes
3) the following celestial bodies:
the Earth
the Moon
the Sun
4) the names of schools, universities, colleges when its name starts with the words: school, university, college
the University of Florida
the College of Fine Arts
5)the names of the wars (except World ones)
the Crimean War
the Vietnamese War
Compare:
World War II (WWII)
6) the names of the countries including more than one word:
The United States of America
The United Kingdom of Great Britain
Exception:
Great Britain
7) the names of the documents
the Constitution
8) the names of ethnic groups:
the Indians
the Aztecs
9) the names of the newspapers, magazines, books, movies if the first word is not a personal name:
The Times (newspaper)
The Client (fiction)
10) ordinals:
the third chapter
the second grade
11)superlative degrees of adjectives:
the biggest city
the least expensive
Exception:
most of
12)the names of different public or government services:
the army
the police
the emergency
13) the names of different public places and establishments:
the toilet
the airport
the station
the bank
14) The words defining different news Media and amusements:
the theater
the movie theater
the radio
the News Media
the press
Let me start my explanations as to articles. It is imposible to say it in a few words. So, let's start from the very beginning.
Article "a" is indefinite article. It determines an object which belongs to the class of the same or similiar objects. In fact, it replaces the word "one". I.e., one book (or any book) = a book. It means that it is nothing else but a book (not a journal or a table or....). We use "a" only before count singular nouns. For example:
I write with a pen. (it is not a particular pen)
Will you give me a cup, please? (any cup you see here)
Count nouns describe things, people, animals, etc. and some other concepts like: interests, laws, rules, paragpaphs.....
We use article "a" only in two cases.
1. When we mention a count noun first and others don't know what we mean. Next time when we use the same noun it should be with article "the". For example:
I see a boy. The boy is reading a book.
2. When the object describes the subject in this or that way. For example:
I am a teacher (profession).
She is a nice girl (there is a definition before the noun).
He is a challenger (feature of a character).
Article "the" is a definite one. It is same as "this". Compare:
Replies
Regards,
Ash
As to your question.
"You" is a pronoun. As I mentioned above, we don't use any articles before any pronouns.
We use article "a" before the nouns starting with the consonant sound. For example:
a pen
a cat
If a noun starts with the vowel sound, we use article "an":
an apple
an eagle
However, there are two letters which can produce both vowel and consonant sounds. They are "u" and "h". Compare:
a house (consonant) an hour (vowel)
a union (consonant) an uncle (vowel)
Is it clear now?
Ashliegh said:
If I was writing this I would probably write:
"a super laser with a power to burn as hot as a star."
and I would have been told off :) Am I right?
We don’t use any articles before:
1)the names of single lakes:
Lake Geneva
2) the names of mountain peaks and single mounts:
Mount Vesuvius
Communism Peak
3)the names of planets:
Venus
Mars
Orion
4)the names of universities, schools, colleges of they start with the personal name:
Stetson University
Shenn's Medical School
5) the names of countries consisting of one word, the names of cities, continents:
China
France
Paris
America
6) the names of states, provinces, counties:
Florida
California
7) the names of sports:
football
swimming
8) the abstract nouns:
freedom
happiness
friendship
Exception:
the truth
9) the collective nouns (if we speak about them in general):
money
gold
10)the names of scienses:
history
art
sociology
11)the names of holidays:
Christmas
Thanksgiving
July Fourth
12)the names of days, months:
Monday
July
13)the names of meals if there is no adjective before the noun:
breakfast
lunch
In case there is the adjective before those nouns, we use article “a”.
a nice dinner
We never use any articles
1) If before the noun is:
а)the possessive pronoun:
mу book
your dog
б)the cardinal:
two books
five people
Sometimes we use article “the” before cardinals if we want to emphasize the certain number:
The only two of us know about that.
в) the demonstrative pronoun:
this book
that guy
2)before the personal names of people:
Annie Brown
David Smith
3)before addresses Mr., Ms, Mrs., Master, Sir, Ma'am, Officer, Doctor
Mr. David Smith
Mrs. Annie Brown
Exception:
We use article “the” before the last name if we mean the family. In this case the last name is used in the plural form.
the Browns
Exersises
Ex.1. Insert the articles where it is necessary.
1. _ Earth is__ planet.
2. I am___student.
3. He is___new director.
4. He wants to buy___ new house.
5. She is___my friend.
6. ___ USA is___big country.
7. They are_____ Smiths.
8. This is___girl. She is___ nice. She is____ schoolgirl._____ girl is going to___ school.
9. There is___Dnieper River in___ Kiev.
10. Wait for___hour.
11. ___ America is washed by___ Atlantic and___ Pacific oceans.
12. ___ snow is cold.
13. There is____dry wine in____glass.
14. ___ apples on___plate are____ red-and-yellow.
15. ___ grapes are sweet.
16. I study___English.
17. He studies___French language.
18. ___ lifestyle is very low in__this country.
19. I like to play___ soccer.
20. She plays____ piano.
Ex. 2.Insert the articles where it is necessary.
1. Would you like___apple?
2. Could you close___door, please?
3. We live in____ small apartment near___ center of_____ city.
4. Does___police come in time?
5. My parents have___cat and___ dog.___ dog never bites___cat, but___ cat often scratches___dog.
6. ___ mailman brings___mail every morning.
7. ___ President of___ USA is elected every four years.
8. When are you going to finish____ book I lend you last week?
9. Walking along___street I saw___ $ 10 note on___pavement.
10. I have to go to___office and___ bank.
11. I should see___ dentist.
12. All things fall on___ground.
13. ____ sky is blue.
14. Turn off___light.
15. ___French are famous for ___their food.
16. ___carpet is on___ floor.
17. As soon as you see___ fire, you should call____ fire brigade.
18. I need___good job.
19. I want to get___ job I applied for.
20. No one in ____ Spanish class knew ____ correct answer to____ Mrs. Press' question.
The article the can be used before singular and plural count nouns as well as before non-count nouns in appropriate cases. This article defines definite thing, person or their definite number or amount. In general, we use this article when:
1)we mean definite people or things:
The guy in the corner is my friend.
2)we speak about any object which has been mentioned before with the article a:
Here is a boy. The boy is eating an apple.
3)in simple sentences containing the modifier of place or before the modifier of place in the most of sentences .
The book is on the table.
The plane is in the sky.
There is nobody in the room.
4)if the noun defines some unique object.
The Sun is a star.
The Times. ( a newspaper)
We don’t use article the before non-count nouns if we mean that substance, material, etc. in general. For example:
Sugar is sweet.
Milk is white.
But if we mean appropriate or limited amount of it, we use the :
The milk in the glass is sour.
We use the in the same way with plural nouns:
I like oranges. (any oranges)
The oranges on the. table were bought yesterday.
We always use article the before
1)the names of the oceans, seas, rivers, gulfs, groups of lakes:
the Black Sea
the Pacific Ocean
the Persian Gulf
the Volga River
the Great Lakes
2)the massifs and mountain ridges:
the Rocky Mountains
the Andes
3) the following celestial bodies:
the Earth
the Moon
the Sun
4) the names of schools, universities, colleges when its name starts with the words: school, university, college
the University of Florida
the College of Fine Arts
5)the names of the wars (except World ones)
the Crimean War
the Vietnamese War
Compare:
World War II (WWII)
6) the names of the countries including more than one word:
The United States of America
The United Kingdom of Great Britain
Exception:
Great Britain
7) the names of the documents
the Constitution
8) the names of ethnic groups:
the Indians
the Aztecs
9) the names of the newspapers, magazines, books, movies if the first word is not a personal name:
The Times (newspaper)
The Client (fiction)
10) ordinals:
the third chapter
the second grade
11)superlative degrees of adjectives:
the biggest city
the least expensive
Exception:
most of
12)the names of different public or government services:
the army
the police
the emergency
13) the names of different public places and establishments:
the toilet
the airport
the station
the bank
14) The words defining different news Media and amusements:
the theater
the movie theater
the radio
the News Media
the press
Exception:
television, TV
Article "a" is indefinite article. It determines an object which belongs to the class of the same or similiar objects. In fact, it replaces the word "one". I.e., one book (or any book) = a book. It means that it is nothing else but a book (not a journal or a table or....). We use "a" only before count singular nouns. For example:
I write with a pen. (it is not a particular pen)
Will you give me a cup, please? (any cup you see here)
Count nouns describe things, people, animals, etc. and some other concepts like: interests, laws, rules, paragpaphs.....
We use article "a" only in two cases.
1. When we mention a count noun first and others don't know what we mean. Next time when we use the same noun it should be with article "the". For example:
I see a boy. The boy is reading a book.
2. When the object describes the subject in this or that way. For example:
I am a teacher (profession).
She is a nice girl (there is a definition before the noun).
He is a challenger (feature of a character).
Article "the" is a definite one. It is same as "this". Compare:
a book = any book
the book = this book
Let me continue later, OK?