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IELTS (International English Language Testing System) Training and Practice

 

SAI - IELTS

English Articles

Use of Articles


LAW  1

The article A is used before singular, countable nouns which begin with consonant sounds.

Examples:

  • Marry is a chemistry teacher.
  • My brother owns a car.
  • I saw a lion at the zoo.

LAW  2

The article ‘AN’ is used before singular, countable nouns which begin with vowel sounds.

Examples:

  • Jane was bewildered because she had seen an elephant for the first time.
  • I didn't get an invitation.
  • I need an angular piece.
  • My mom said, she needed an English teacher to train me in language.

LAW  3

Note: that A / AN means "one" or "a single", so A/ AN cannot be used with plural nouns.

Examples:

  • I saw a lions in the Zoo.  X Not Correct
  • I saw lions in the zoo. Correct

LAW  4

If there is an adjective or an adverb-adjective combination before the noun, A(AN) should agree with the first sound in the adjective or the adverb-adjective combination.

Examples:

  • He is an excellent teacher.
  • My brother owns a big car.
  • Mr. Berth has hit an angular shot to score a home run.
  • I saw a really beautiful eagle at the zoo.

 

LAW  5

A before words such as "European" or "university" which sound like they start with a consonant even if the first letter is a vowel. Also Law  A before letters and numbers which sound like they begin with a consonant, such as "U", "J", "1" or "9". Note:, it is the sound not the spelling which is important. For example, "1" is spelled O-N-E; however, it is pronounced "won" like it starts with a "W".

Examples:

  • She has a euro. Sounds like "yu-ro".
  • I met a European man, he was really good at flying kites.
  • Can you give me a one dollar bill?
  • That number is a "1". Sounds like "won".

LAW  6

Law  AN before words such as "hour" which sound like they start with a vowel even if the first letter is a consonant. Also Law  AN before letters and numbers which sound like they begin with a vowel, such as "F" or "8". Note:, it is the sound not the spelling which is important. For example, "F" is pronounced "eff" like it starts with an "E".

Examples:

  • Jack is an honest worker.
  • He left the meeting about an hour ago.
  • She is an honorable woman, so do not meddle with her.
  • I only have an hour for lunch. Sounds like "au-er".
  • Does his name begin with an "F"? Sounds like "eff".

 

LAW  7

Some words such as "herb" or "hospital" are more complicated becaLaw  they are pronounced differently in different English accents. In most American accents, the "h" in "herb" is silent, so Americans usually say "an herb". In many British accents, the "h" in "herb" is pronounced, so many British say "a herb". In some British accents, the "h" in hospital is silent, so some British say "an hospital" instead of "a hospital".

 

LAW  8

 

Some nouns are considered uncountable like: information, air, advice, salt and fun, etc. so A/AN is not used in these cases:  

Examples:

  • He bought in correct information.
  • She gives a good advice. X Not Correct
  • She gives good advice. Correct

 

 

LAW  9

 

A and AN are indefinite articles. "Indefinite" means "not specific". Law  A(AN) when you are talking about a thing in general, NOT a specific thing.

Examples:

  • Mark must hire a taxi an hour ahead of planned departure to reach airport on time. Not a specific taxi, any taxi
  • I need a phone. Not a specific phone, any phone
  • Mark wants a bicycle. Not a particular bicycle, a bicycle in general
  • Do you have a driver's license? In general

 

when talking about a thing which is new, unknown, or introduced to a listener for the first time. Also when you are asking about the existence of something.

Examples:

  • There is a beautiful painting on the wall. The beautiful painting is being introduced for the first time, be careful, the painting is quite expensive. Now reference is to the specific painting.
  • I have a blue car. The car is being introduced for the first time.
  • Mark is a good teacher. This is new information to the listener.
  • Is there a dictionary in your backpack? Can I have it for a while? Asking about the existence of the dictionary

 

Similarly, Law  A(AN) to introduce what type of thing we are talking about.

Examples:

  • Gone with the Wind is an old classic. Describing the movie for first time.
  • That is an excellent novel. Describing the kind of novel
  • Do you live in a posh area? Asking about the kind of area
  • I ate a thick, juicy apple. Describing the kind ofapple

Note: You cannot Law  A(AN) with plural nouns; as Law  A(AN) means "one" or "a single".

Examples:

  • I saw a people on the street protesting against the atrocities. Not Correct
  • I saw people on the street protesting against the atrocities. Correct

 

LAW  10

THE is called a definite article. "Definite" means "specific". Law  THE when talking about something which is already known to the listener or which has been previously mentioned, introduced, or discussed.

Examples:

  • I have a cat. The cat is black.
  • My neighbor has a car. The car is quite big. 
  • There is a book in my backpack. The book is very heavy.
  • Do you know where I left the car keys? The listener knows which specific car keys you are talking about.
  • Do you own a car? Is the car blue? You assume they do have a car after asking about it in the first sentence.
  • ·         Nobody lives on the Moon. The Moon is known to everyone.
  • Did you see the news about the spacecraft crash on Television today? About the specific news
  • IMPORTANT: You can Law  THE with both singular nouns and plural nouns.
  • Examples:
  • I met the man who climbed Mt. Everest. Correct
  • I met the men who climbed Mt. Everest. Correct

 

LAW  11

Many clauses and phrases make the noun known to the listener by telling the listener which person or thing we are talking about. Let's look at an example sentence:

  • Can you give me the key on the table.

Law  THE in this sentence: The phrase "on the table" tells the listener which key we are referring to. We are not talking about other key, we are talking about a specific book that the listener can see or already knows about.  

Examples:

  • He liked the movie very much he rented from the video store.
  • Did you read the book which I gave you?
  • He didn't like the movie that you suggested.
  • He loved the dessert with chocolate and cherries.
  • The shop on the corner of Harrison belongs to my cousin.
  • Did you know the man who bought this mansion?

 

N.B: Not all clauses and phrases make the noun known to the listener. Some clauses do not introduce noun to the listeners or readers and simply add some extra bit of information.