ILC Articles
The Independent Learning Centre http://www.ilc.cuhk.edu.hk Mastering Grammar
Articles
he zero article
English articles (a/an, the and zero article) are vital for successful communication. Articles tell you what assumptions people make about their listeners when they speak. For example, if a stranger asks you on campus: ‘Where’s the library?’, he/she thinks there is only one library on campus and assumes that you think so, too.
Replacing one article for another, or leaving one out, can often cause misunderstanding. For example, you cannot say ‘I like English’ (the language) when you actually mean ‘I like the English’ (the people).
Articles can help you clarify your exact meaning.
What are articles?
Articles are words we use before nouns or noun phrases to indicate the kind of reference or meaning intended. There are three types of articles in English:
(1) Indefinite articles: a and an
e.g. “Education is an ornament in prosperity and a refuge in adversity.” – Aristotle
(2) Definite article: the
e.g. “Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your selfconfidence.” – Robert Frost
(3) Zero article (Ø)
e.g. “Ø Education is not Ø preparation for Ø life; Ø education is Ø life itself.” – John Dewey
Exercises on Articles
How do we choose articles
Indefinite Article a or an
Indefinite Article a/an and Definite Article the
Indefinite Article, Definite Article and Zero
Article
Exercise 1 (easy)
Exercise 2 (intermediate)
Exercise 3 (easy)
Exercise 4a (intermediate)
Exercise 4b (advanced)
1
How do we choose articles?
The kind of noun that follows the article affects our choice:
Noun
Article
Singular noun
Plural noun
Specific
Indefinite a/an Definite the Zero article (Ø)
a pen an umbrella the pen the umbrella
some pens
Uncountable noun some money
the pens
the money
Ø pens
Ø money
General
Exercise 1: a/an, the or zero article
Below is an extract from a speech about telecommunications. Read the underlined phrases to
Articles
he zero article
English articles (a/an, the and zero article) are vital for successful communication. Articles tell you what assumptions people make about their listeners when they speak. For example, if a stranger asks you on campus: ‘Where’s the library?’, he/she thinks there is only one library on campus and assumes that you think so, too.
Replacing one article for another, or leaving one out, can often cause misunderstanding. For example, you cannot say ‘I like English’ (the language) when you actually mean ‘I like the English’ (the people).
Articles can help you clarify your exact meaning.
What are articles?
Articles are words we use before nouns or noun phrases to indicate the kind of reference or meaning intended. There are three types of articles in English:
(1) Indefinite articles: a and an
e.g. “Education is an ornament in prosperity and a refuge in adversity.” – Aristotle
(2) Definite article: the
e.g. “Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your selfconfidence.” – Robert Frost
(3) Zero article (Ø)
e.g. “Ø Education is not Ø preparation for Ø life; Ø education is Ø life itself.” – John Dewey
Exercises on Articles
How do we choose articles
Indefinite Article a or an
Indefinite Article a/an and Definite Article the
Indefinite Article, Definite Article and Zero
Article
Exercise 1 (easy)
Exercise 2 (intermediate)
Exercise 3 (easy)
Exercise 4a (intermediate)
Exercise 4b (advanced)
1
How do we choose articles?
The kind of noun that follows the article affects our choice:
Noun
Article
Singular noun
Plural noun
Specific
Indefinite a/an Definite the Zero article (Ø)
a pen an umbrella the pen the umbrella
some pens
Uncountable noun some money
the pens
the money
Ø pens
Ø money
General
Exercise 1: a/an, the or zero article
Below is an extract from a speech about telecommunications. Read the underlined phrases to
References: A University Grammar of English by Randolph Quirk & Sidney Greenbaum, pp. 67-76 (CC PE1112.Q52 1979) Grammar for English Language Teachers (with exercises and a key) by Martin Parrott, pp. 4553 (UCIS PE1112 .P37 2000) Collins Cobuild English Guides 3: Articles by Roger Berry (UCI PE1251.B47 1993) Smith-Palinkas (UCI PE1112 .F615 2004) Advanced Grammar in Use by Martin Hewings, pp Understanding and Using English Grammar by Betty Schrampfer Azar, pp. A20-23 (UCI PE1128 .A97 2002) Using English Grammar by Edward Woods and Nicole McLeod, pp. 159-169 (UCIS PE1112 .W66 1989) Practical English Usage (International Student’s Edition) by Michael Swan, pp. 61-70 (UCIS PE1106 .S94 1996) The Heinemann English Grammar by Digby Beaymont & Colin Granger, pp. 108-174 (UCI PE1112 .B43 1992) The Grammar Book (an ESL/EFL Teacher’s Course) by Marianne Celce-Murcia & Diane LarsenFreeman, pp. 269-296 (UCIS PE1128.A2 C39 1999) 16