Using Articles (#2), by more English
Using English Articles (#2)
Because the English articles (a, an, the) are often verychallenging for learners of the language, the next severalHints will provide guidelines on their usage.
_____________________________
The Indefinite ArticlesA and An
The indefinite articles a and a are used in several differentways in English. One use is with singular countable nounsthat are not specifically identified. Another important use isin making generalizations:
A whale is a mammal.
An artichoke is a vegetable.
A clarinet is a woodwind instrument.
An awl is a tool used to punch holes.
A yard is a measure of length.
An orange is a citrus fruit.
In all of the sentences above, one of a large group of thingsis used to refer to all of the items of the particular group.(The first sentence, for example, can be understood in thisway: 'Any whale that you choose is a mammal.')
________________________________________________
Special Notes:
1.
Another way to make generalizationsis by using plural nouns:
Whales are mammals.
Artichokes are vegetables.
Clarinets are woodwind instruments.
Awls are tools used to punch holes.
Yards are measures of length.
Oranges are citrus fruits.
2.
Generalizations may also be made withuncountable nouns. With uncountablenouns, however, there are no articles:
Gold is a precious metal.
Rice is a staple food in many countries.
Water is necessary for life on earth.
Butter is made from the fat in cream.
Venison is the meat of a deer.
Patience is a quality I admire.
Notice that in the examples above, the firstnoun (gold, rice, water, butter, venison,patience) is uncountable and is used to makea generalization. In some of the examplesentences, the second noun is countableand, therefore, uses an article: a preciousmetal, a staple food, a quality.
Next: more on articles.
radar6