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2. THE USE OF ARTICLES
A. THE USE OF INDEFINITE ARTICLE
The indefinite article is used: a. To refer to something for the first time:
Once upon a time, there was a man living in a jungle. Ive finally got a good job.
b. With names of jobs: John is a doctor.
Mary is training to be an engineer.
c.. With nationalities and religions: John is an Englishman.
Kate is a Catholic.
d. With musical instruments: Sherley was playing a piano when the visitor arrived.
I can play a guitar and a bass.
e. To refer to a kind of, or example of something: The mouse had a tiny nose.
It was a very strange car.
f. With singular nouns, after the words what and such: What a shame
Shes such a beautiful girl.
g. Meaning one, referring to a single object or person: Id like an orange and two lemons please.
The burglar took a diamond necklace and a valuable painting.
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B. THE USE OF DEFINITE ARTICLE
The definite article is used: a. To refer to something which has already been mentioned.
Once upon a time, there was a man living in a jungle. The man was friends with a chimpanzee. The chimpanzee helped him gathering food to eat.
b. When both the speaker and listener know what is being talked about, even if it has not been mentioned before.
Wheres the bathroom? Its on the first floor.
c. In sentences or clauses where we define or identify a particular person or object: The man who wrote this book is famous.
My house is the one with a blue door.
d. To refer to objects we regard as unique such as the sun, the moon, the world, the universe, the sky, etc.
The sun sets in the east. She is staring at the moon while thinking of her boyfriend.
e. Before superlatives and ordinal numbers: Petronas tower is the highest building in South East Asia.
We are discussing the last chapter.
f. With adjectives, to refer to a whole group of people: The Chinese eats rice with chopsticks.
The young must respect the old.
g. With names of geographical areas and oceans, such as the Caribbean, the Sahara, the Atlantic, etc.
I wish I could see snow fall on the Sahara. The ship sails across the Atlantic.
24 h. With decades, or groups of years:
She grew up in the seventies. Grease was released in the eighties.
C. EXCEPTIONS TO USING THE DEFINITE ARTICLE
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