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4.6 Indefinite and Definite Articles

Indefinite Articles: A, An, Some, (Ø)
She needs a coat.
Singular Count Nouns
He has an idea.
We bought some peaches.
Plural Count Nouns
I like Ø apples.
Non-Count Nouns She doesn’t drink Ø tea.

Definite Article: The
Singular Count Nouns We looked at the map.
Plural Count Nouns She opened the packages.
Non-Count Nouns I washed the fruit.

1. Use the indefinite article a or an to talk She is at a party.
about a person, place, or thing that is not (We don’t know which party.)
specific.
Where can I buy an umbrella?
(I want to buy any umbrella, not a specific one.)
Remember: Use a before nouns or a college an adventure
adjectives that begin with a consonant a university an important point
sound. Use an before nouns or adjectives
that begin with a vowel sound.
2. Use some or no article before plural count There are some motorcycles in the parking lot.
nouns or non-count nouns to talk about I need to buy some gas.
something that is not specific. He likes motorcycles.
We need gas.
3. Use the definite article the to talk about a My English course ends next week. I’m studying
specific person, place, or thing. for the test.
(We know which test.)
4. Use the before a noun when
a. there is only one person, place, or thing a. Why are you looking at the sun?
(There is only one sun.)
b. the speaker and listener are thinking b. Did you feed the baby?
about the same thing (The speaker and listener know which baby.)
c. the speaker or listener has mentioned c. There’s a woman with a child outside. the
the person, place, or thing before child is laughing.
(The speaker has mentioned the child before.)

4 Circle the correct article or Ø for no article to complete each sentence.

1. Andrew Skurka had problems with the / a snow during his trip.

2. Skurka took a / some raft with him.

3. A / The route of Skurka’s expedition went through eight national parks.

4. He bought some / a supplies for his journey.

5. Some / The trip took 176 days.

unit 4 lesson 3 105
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