1. ARTICLES
The Indefinite Articles a and an;
The Definite Article the;
The use of NO Article (Ø).
My mother has a house near the beach.
The car my father bought is blue.
People in Brazil are great.

2. A x AN
A = consonant sound. AN = vowel sound.
a car a dog a book an apple an eraser
Words beginning with h or u depend on the
beginning sound:
a hat a university
an hour an umbrella

3. THE
1. To talk about something specific:
− The ball on the floor belongs to the teacher.
2. When the speaker and the listener are talking
about the same specific item:
− Joe, can you open the door, please?

4. THE
3. For the second and all other references to the
same noun:
− There was a cat. The cat was black.
4. With the superlative form of an adjective:
− Brad Pitt is the most handsome actor.

5. THE
5. For the name of countries that look plural,
ending in -s or with the words united, union,
republic or kingdom.
− The United States is a very rich country.
6. Parts of something (except for body parts):
− When I entered the room it was a mess. The clothes
were on the floor and the sneakers on the armchair.

6. THE
7. Most bodies of water (except individual lakes):
− The Amazon River is the largest in the world.
8. With geographic parts of the globe and areas,
deserts and peninsulas:
− The Sahara Desert is the hottest in the world.

7. NO ARTICLE (Ø)

To talk about a category or group in general:

Dogs are great pets. (NOT: The dogs are the great
pets.)
Before abstract nouns such as feelings or
ideas:
Patience is a virtue. (NOT: The patience is a virtue.)

8. What's wrong with these sentences?
1. My cousin showed the courage when he pulled
a girl out of a burning house.
2. What great day today was!
3. In general, children do not like the vegetables
very much.
4. I have spent more than a hour waiting for my
friend.

9. What's wrong with these sentences?
1. My cousin showed the courage when
he pulled a girl out of a burning house.

Do not use the with abstract nouns
or ideas.

10. What's wrong with these sentences?
2. What great day today was!
a

Do not use a singular count noun
without an article.

11. What's wrong with these sentences?
3. In general, children do not like the
vegetables very much.

Do not use the with a plural noun that refers to
the whole category.

12. What's wrong with these sentences?
4. I have spent more than a hour
waiting for my friend.

Do not use a with a word that begins
with a vowel sound.

13. TDC1 -2nd semester 2012
Students: Ana Cristina Gerin, Fabiana Cajueiro
and Raquel Cunha
Teacher: Elton Carvalho