Using Articles (#2), by more English

Using English Articles (#2)

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 Indefinite Articles
A and An

The indefinite articles a and a are used in several different ways in English. One use is with singular countable nouns that are not specifically identified. Another important use is in making generalizations: A whale is a mammal. An artichoke is a vegetable. A clarinet is a woodwind instrument. An awl is a tool used to punch holes. A yard is a measure of length. An orange is a citrus fruit. In all of the sentences above, one of a large group of things is used to refer to all of the items of the particular group. (The first sentence, for example, can be understood in this way: 'Any whale that you choose is a mammal.') ________________________________________________ Special Notes: 1.   Another way to make generalizations is by using plural nouns: Whales are mammals. Artichokes are vegetables. Clarinets are woodwind instruments. Awls are tools used to punch holes. Yards are measures of length. Oranges are citrus fruits.       2.   Generalizations may also be made with uncountable nouns. With uncountable nouns, however, there are no articles: Gold is a precious metal. Rice is a staple food in many countries. Water is necessary for life on earth. Butter is made from the fat in cream. Venison is the meat of a deer. Patience is a quality I admire. Notice that in the examples above, the first noun (gold, rice, water, butter, venison, patience) is uncountable and is used to make a generalization. In some of the example sentences, the second noun is countable and, therefore, uses an article: a precious metal, a staple food, a quality.

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Next: more on articles.

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