Articles 

THE- definite article 

Developed from the word meaning this.

Signals a particular person or thing- the student sitting next to you.

Used with singular or plural nouns. 

Uses: 

1. For known persons or objects in the environment.  He walked into the house and hung his coat in the closet. 
2. For persons, things, or ideas particularized by the verbal context
1. Preceding context- A strange dog came onto the porch.  The dog seemed very friendly. 
2. Following context- The man standing near the window will be our guest speaker tonight.

3. For a class as a whole.  The lion is an animal.
4. With a “ranking” adjective.  The best way; the fifth lesson.
5. With nouns or gerunds + of phrases.  The election of officers; The changing of the guards.
6. In of phrases after words of quantity.  Most of the men in the factory; four of the children from that school.
7. For place names.  The Mississippi River; The Alps

 The word “A” as an indefinite article 

Developed from the word meaning one.  An used before vowel sounds. 

Signals an unspecified one of others--  A student sitting in the front row.

Used chiefly with singular countable nouns. 

Uses: 

1. In the sense of one or each.  I waited an hour.  His rent is $700 a month.
2. For an unidentified member of a class.  We saw a lion at the zoo.
3. For a representative member of a class.   
1. Identifying an individual member.  That animal is a lion.
2. Defining a smaller class.  The lion is an animal.

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This page last updated on 1/27/03