Articles Tell us if it is new or familiar information or it tells us something about quantity.

Indefinate articles: a/an (two forms of the same word) (an = used with words that start with a vowel (a,e,i,o,u) or words that sound like they start with a vowel, a = used with words that start with a consonant or words that sound like the start with a consonant e.g. University: I went to look at a university today.) Definate article: The The is used when we are thinking of a specific thing. E.g. Tim sat down on a chair (any chair in the classroom) vs. Tim sat down on the chair by the door. (a specific chair) Paula is looking for a job (any job) Did Paula get the job she applied for? (a specific job that she applied for) We use the when it is clear in the situation which thing or person we mean. E.g. in a room we talk about the windows, the carpet, the floor, the light. Can you turn off the light please (the light in this room) Id like to speak to the manager please (the manager in that shop) I have to go to the bank (we know which bank we want to go to) Is there a bank near here? (could be any bank) Other uses for the: - When there is only one of something. E.g. what is the longest river in the world? (there is only one longest river and one world) - But we use a/an to say what kind of thing something is. E.g. The hotel we stayed in was a very nice hotel. -We say: the sky, the environment, the sea, the country. - We dont use the for names of meals i.e. breakfast, lunch, dinner, but if there is an adjective before we use a. e.g. I had a very nice breakfast today. A/an used when we dont know i.e. for new information. e.g. I bought a magazine and an apple. The magazine is in my bag but I lost the apple. (We already know about the magazine and the apple so we can use the).

Countable and uncountable nouns.

Countable nouns: e.g. I eat a banana every day. (article used) Uncountable nouns: e.g. I eat rice every day. (no article used) An uncountable noun only has one form e.g. you cannot say rices or one rice, two rices. (you cannot use numbers with uncountable nouns) But you can say bananas so it is countable or you can say one banana. Other examples of uncountable nouns include: water, money, coffee, jewellery, music, make up. Singular countable nouns need an article. E.g. I eat a banana but not when it is plural e.g. I like bananas. We do not use articles with countries e.g. I went to Poland, Germany, France etc. -We always say: the cinema, the pub, the sea -No articles with expressions of time e.g. Last year, on Sunday, next week. -We need articles with professions e.g. My mother is a doctor, a lawyer, a dentist.

Put in a/an or the

1. a This house is very nice. Has it got _________ garden? b Its a beautiful day. Lets sit in _________ garden. c I like living in this house, but its a pity that _________ garden is so small. 2. a Can you recommend _________ good restaurant? b We had dinner in _________ very nice restaurant c We had dinner in _________ best restaurant in town. 3. a She has _________ French name, but in fact shes English, not French. b Whats _________ name of that man we met yesterday? c We stayed at _________ very nice hotel I cant remember _________ name now. 4. a There isnt _________ airport near where I live. _________ nearest airport is 70 miles away. b Our flight was delayed. We had to wait at _________ airport for three hours. c Excuse me, please. Can you tell me how to get to _________ airport? 5. a Are you going away next week? No, _________ week after next b Im going away for _________ week in September. c Gary has a part-time job. He works three mornings _________ week.