Основні правила вживання артиклів

Main rules for using articlesthe a/an Ø

Rule 1 – Use the Correct Formarticle (+adjective) + noun• A kitchen• A large house• The box over there• The small house on the hill

Rule 2 – A or AN for Non-Specific Nouns • I’m going to ask a friend to come with me – (It could be any friend, I don’t mind or I haven’t decided yet). • I’m watching for an answer – (I don’t know what the answer will be, but I expect an answer of some kind).

Rule 3 – THE for Specific Nouns • The Prime Minister of the UK. (There may be many prime ministers in the world, but the context is that there is only one specific Prime Minister of the UK). • Can you pass me the sugar that’s on the table. (We mean not any sugar but that which is on the specific table). • The cars outside my home are blocking my driveway.

Rule 4 – A Before a Constant Sound • I want to buy a camera. • I’d like to live in a big apartment. • My son is choosing a university (the letter ‘u’ is a vowel but it gives sound ‘y’ the consonant, so we use a).

Rule 5 – AN Before a Vowel Sound • The ship hit an iceberg. • An epic journey. • He’s an honest man. (Letter ‘h’ is silent so the first sound is ‘o’ – vowel, that’s why we use an).

Rule 6 – Ø for Standard Place Names, Nationalities and Languages • I’m going to Spain for my holidays. • London is a very expensive city. • My cousin is German. • I speak Spanish and French, I can read Italian. Note: I am English but I am an English man.

Rule 7 – THE with Group Place Names • The United Kingdom • The Lake District • The Scottish Highlands • The Republic of France• The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Note: France but The Republic of France.

Rule 8 – Ø for Nouns Describing Abstract Ideas • Friendship (in general) is wonderful. • Without creativity (in general) we would have no art. • I’d like to go out for dinner (abstract idea) to a restaurant. • He showed great bravery in the face of danger.

Rule 9 – Ø with Uncountable Nouns General Concept • He drinks a lot of water (general concept). • I’d like some water (uncountable). • Too much sugar (general concept) is bad for your teeth. • There is little sugar (uncountable) in my tea. Note: He drinks a lot of water but He’d like a glass of water.

Rule 10 –THE with Uncountable Specific Nouns • He drank the water she brought him. • He dropped the sugar he was using all over the floor.

Rule 11 – The or Ø for Locations to Change Meaning • My son is at school. (My son is a pupil and studying). • My son is at the school. (My son is at a specific building of school and he is here for reason other than study).