This document summarizes the use of articles (a, an, the) and no article (Ø) in English. It explains that "a" is used before consonant sounds, "an" before vowel sounds, and "the" is used for specific or previously mentioned nouns. No article is used for general categories or with abstract nouns. It provides examples of correct and incorrect usage of articles and identifies errors in sample sentences.

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