grammar
Our English grammar contains a very small, yet very important component that we oftentimes misuse without even noticing our own blunder. Yes, it happens to the best of us. This English grammatical component is called an 'article'. An article in the English language refers to a grammatical word used with a noun and can be divided into two categories. These two categories are: indefinite articles and definite articles. The two indefinite articles are: 'a' and 'an'. Then we have only one definite article which is 'the'.
English grammar
By now you may be wondering, "How in the world will I remember how and when to use these articles correctly?" Yes, I wondered that too as I was learning the English language and I would like to share with you what I learned. But before we go any further, let's review our alphabet and separate our vowels from our consonants. Our vowels are: A-E-I-O-U and sometimes -Y and the rest of the letters are called consonants.
Are you ready? Here we go!
When using the indefinite article 'a' always place the article before the word that starts with a consonant. For example: a desk, a chair, a book, a cat, a car, a zebra, a noun, a closet, a teacher.
Read the sentences below and see the differences in the correct and incorrect article usage.
Incorrect: Sonia sat on 'an' soft chair.
Correct: Sonia sat on 'a' soft chair.
Note the use of "a" before the consonant in the word soft.
When using the indefinite article 'an' always place the article before the word that starts with a vowel. For example: an apple, an adverb, an egg, an owl, an engineer, an introduction, an instructor.
Read the sentences below and see the differences in the correct and incorrect article usage.
Incorrect: Mario went all the way back home to eat 'a' apple.
Correct: Mario went all the way back home to eat 'an' apple.
Note the "an" before the vowel in apple.
When using the definite article 'the' always remember that this refers to a definite and specific one, which may be a specific person, place, event, situation, or thing. For example: the choir, the building, the city, the man, the child, the song.
Read the sentences below and see the differences in the correct and incorrect article usage.
Incorrect: Put oranges in small bag.
Correct: Put 'the' oranges in 'the' small bag.
Note the definite article 'the' that identifies the oranges and the size of the bag.
In summary: This English grammatical component called an 'article' is used with a noun and can be divided into two categories which are: indefinite articles and definite articles. The two indefinite articles are: 'a' and 'an' leaving one definite article which is 'the'. The use of articles will become a lot easier with practice and the more you read English materials the better you'll get at reading and writing using the English articles correctly.
grammar
English grammar
By now you may be wondering, "How in the world will I remember how and when to use these articles correctly?" Yes, I wondered that too as I was learning the English language and I would like to share with you what I learned. But before we go any further, let's review our alphabet and separate our vowels from our consonants. Our vowels are: A-E-I-O-U and sometimes -Y and the rest of the letters are called consonants.
Are you ready? Here we go!
When using the indefinite article 'a' always place the article before the word that starts with a consonant. For example: a desk, a chair, a book, a cat, a car, a zebra, a noun, a closet, a teacher.
Read the sentences below and see the differences in the correct and incorrect article usage.
Incorrect: Sonia sat on 'an' soft chair.
Correct: Sonia sat on 'a' soft chair.
Note the use of "a" before the consonant in the word soft.
When using the indefinite article 'an' always place the article before the word that starts with a vowel. For example: an apple, an adverb, an egg, an owl, an engineer, an introduction, an instructor.
Read the sentences below and see the differences in the correct and incorrect article usage.
Incorrect: Mario went all the way back home to eat 'a' apple.
Correct: Mario went all the way back home to eat 'an' apple.
Note the "an" before the vowel in apple.
When using the definite article 'the' always remember that this refers to a definite and specific one, which may be a specific person, place, event, situation, or thing. For example: the choir, the building, the city, the man, the child, the song.
Read the sentences below and see the differences in the correct and incorrect article usage.
Incorrect: Put oranges in small bag.
Correct: Put 'the' oranges in 'the' small bag.
Note the definite article 'the' that identifies the oranges and the size of the bag.
In summary: This English grammatical component called an 'article' is used with a noun and can be divided into two categories which are: indefinite articles and definite articles. The two indefinite articles are: 'a' and 'an' leaving one definite article which is 'the'. The use of articles will become a lot easier with practice and the more you read English materials the better you'll get at reading and writing using the English articles correctly.
grammar