Definite and Indefinite articles (The, a, an, no article and some)
(brother and sister) Where did we park ______ car?
"the".
Talking about a specific noun.
I read a great book yesterday. _____ book was a mystery about a crime in New York City.
"the"
Use the when the noun has been introduces and now identified (second mention)
I think that being _____ honest person is a good quality.
"an"
Make a general statment talking about "clothes"
Example: I need new clothes. Don't use an article to make general statements.
_______ sun comes up in the east and goes down in the west.
"the"
Use the definite article "the" with nouns that are easily identified or universally known (everyone in the world knows what the sun is)
(husband and wife) Where did you leave ________ keys?
"the".
Talking about a specific noun.
Martha just bought _____ new backback. The backpack is red.
"a"
Use "a/an" to talk about a noun for the first time
I decided to visit _____ university in New York to see if I wanted to go there.
"a"
Use "A" before words that sound like they begin with a consonant
Make a general statement about "jazz music"
Example: I like jazz. Do not use an article to make general statment about a noncount noun
_____ moon rotates around the earth. Saturn also has _____ moon.
"the" and "a"
We use "the" in the first blank because everyone knows which moon we are talking about. We use "a" in the second becuase this moon is not universally known.
Sheri needs _____ new car.
"a".
Talking about a group of similar things, not one specific thing.
I found _____ old dress of my mother's in the attic. The dress was beautiful, with pearl buttons and lace.
"an"
Use "a/an" to talk about a noun for the first time
I'd like to buy ______ umbrella.
"an"
Use "an" before words that sound like they start with a vowel
Make a general statement about the zoos
Example: Zoos are cruel places.
Don't use an article when you make a general statement about a whole group of category.
Our class went to _____river to go rock climbing.
"the"
Use "the" when the noun is locally known
To make cookies, you need ____ eggs and _____flour.
"no article" or "some"
You don't need an article with noncount or plural count nouns.
I bought _____ new skirt yesterday. _____ skirt was on sale!
"a" and "the"
Use "a/an" for the first mention and "the" for the second mention
Mary is ______ very energetic person.
"a"
Use "A" in front of words that sound like they start with a consonant
Does this sentence need an article?
"Most people like vacations"
"no". You don't need an article if you are making a general statment about a whole group or category.
My friend and I went to ________ mountains to go camping this past weekend.
"the"
Use "the" with nouns that are regionally known
Marsha needs________ new software and ________new instruction manuals.
"some"
Use the indefinite article "some" to talk about a nonspecific number or quantity with plural nouns or non-count nouns.
I saw _____ orangutan and _____ tiger at the zoo yesterday. ______ orangutan was acting very silly and ____ tiger was acting very agressive.
"an", "a", "the", "the"
Use a/an for first mention and the for second mention
I'd like to buy ________ new CD's and DVD's, and then I'd like to listen to music and watch movies all day.
"some" or no article
Use "some" or no article with plural count nouns and noncount nouns
Which blank needs an article? __1_rice is eaten all over Asia, but __2_ countries prefer noodles.
#2 "...but "some" countries prefer noodles.
In the second blank we are not talking about a whole group or category anymore. We use some to talk about quantity (p. 290)
(in a family that has a pet cat) Did you feed _____ cat?
"the"
Use "the" with nounds that are locally known