Using Articles (#3), more English

Using English Articles (#3)

Because the English articles (a, an, the) are often very challenging for learners of the language, the next several Hints will provide guidelines on their usage.

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The Definite Article The

The definite article the is used in several different ways in English. One use is with nouns (singular or plural, countable or uncountable) that are specifically identified because the listener or reader knows (or can assume) that only one specific noun is being talked or written about: Are my keys in the car? (The speaker / writer assumes that the listener / reader knows which car is being referred to.) John can't hear you. He's in the shower. (John can be in only one specific shower.) Are the children asleep yet? (The writer / speaker is referring to specific children; the listener knows which children he / she means.) Evita's son is in the first grade. (Evita's son can be in only one specific first-grade class.) He's not telling the truth. (There is only one truth.) Could you check the oil, please.? (The speaker is asking someone to check the oil in one specific car--probably the he or she is driving.) I'll see you the day after tomorrow. (Only one specific day is after tomorrow.) Is someone at the door? (We can assume that only one specific door is being referred to.) Francisco is the tallest student in the class. (Only one student can be the tallest.) Is the coffee ready yet? (A specific pot of coffee is being referred to, not any pot of coffee.) The stars are very bright tonight. (Specific stars--the stars that we can see-- are being referred to.) It's hard to believe that men have walked on the moon. (In this sentence, the speaker / writer is referring to one specific moon: the moon that revolves around the earth.) The banks are closed today. (The speaker / writer assumes that the listener / reader knows which banks are being referred to--probably all the banks in a specific city.)

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Next: more on articles.

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