1. Unit 7 Grammar Presentation:
Definite and Indefinite Articles
Based on the “Step 2 Grammar
Presentation” on Page 108

2. Some languages have articles and
some do not.
English has two articles:

3. The indefinite article a/an
The definite article the

4. It is difficult to know when to use
an article and when not to.
It is also difficult to know which
article to use.

5. Articles are especially difficult if
your native language does not have
them.

6. Most Asian languages have no
articles. Russian doesn’t have them,
either.
Most European languages have
articles, and so does Arabic.
The languages that have articles
vary in the ways they are used.

7. The indefinite article a/an is only
used with a singular count noun:
He saw a statue at an exhibition.
I ordered a book from a site online.

8. He saw a statue at an exhibition.
I ordered a book from a site online.
I am talking about non-specific things.
I’m not telling you which statue or
which book.
I’m not telling you which exhibition or
which Web site.

9. Compare:
I ordered a book from a site online.
(I am talking about a non-specific thing. I’m
not telling you which book.)
I ordered the book for this class from the
Web site that the teacher recommended.
(I’m telling you the specific book and the
specific Web site.)

10. We also use a/an with a generic
(=general) meaning, when we are
defining or describing something in
a general way:
A statue is a three-dimensional
figure.
A drawing or a painting is two-
dimensional.

11. Compare:
The three-dimensional work on the left
is a sculpture; the two dimensional
work on the right is a painting.
(I am explaining and even picturing the
specific things I am talking about.)

12. I use the definite article the to talk
about a specific thing.

13. For example, I always use it with a
superlative like best or most:
This is the most boring class I ever
took.
He bought the best computer he
could find.

14. I use the when I am identifying
something:
The rain forests (that are) in South
America are being cut down.
(Which rain forests am I talking
about? The ones that are in South
America.)

15. I can use the with a non-count
noun when I am identifying the
kind that I am talking about:
The stone from that quarry is very
soft.
(Which stone am I talking about?
The stone that is from that quarry.)

16. I sometimes use the with a singular
noun to mean all of those things:
The computer is a great invention.
(= Computers are a great invention.)
The dog has a more highly developed
brain than the cat.
(=Dogs have more highly developed
brains than cats.)

17. I can use the with a plural noun to
mean all of those things in the
world:
The rain forests are in danger
everywhere.
(Note: it also OK to use no article in
this sentence.)

18. Proper nouns for geographical
features and landmarks usually use
the:
She crossed the Sahara, visited the
Pyramids, and sailed down the Nile.

19. Here are some of the common
situations in which we use a noun
with no article:

20. With a plural count noun, when I
am speaking in a non-specific way,
for example:
Easter Island has many impressive
statues.
(Clue: don’t use an article when
you have many or some.)

21. With a non-count noun, when I am
talking in a general way about a
substance:
The statues are made of stone.
Stone is an important building
material.

22. With a plural count noun, when I
am making a general statement
about a group of things:
Statues are made in all shapes and
sizes.

23. People’s names have no article.
Cities, states, countries and most other
place names have no article:
Ms. Johnson spent a year on Easter
Island. She also worked in Egypt and
Hawaii. She now lives in New York City.

24. The story of Dr. Hatanaka, someone
your teacher knew years ago when
she lived in Japan.

25. Dr. Hatanaka was born in Japan.

26. When he was a young man, he left Japan
and went to study at Harvard University in
the U.S.

27. Then he went to an American medical
school, and became a surgeon in the U.S.

28. He married an American woman.

29. Years later, they went back to live in
Tokyo, and he had both Japanese
and English-speaking patients. He
and his wife always spoke English
together, even in Tokyo.

30. Dr. Hatanaka’s English was almost
perfect! Just an accent and
occasional problems with unusual
idioms, and …

31. problems with articles.

32. One time, we were eating peanuts.
He said, “What’s this?”
I said, “a peanut.”

33. He opened it and said, “What’s
inside?”
I said, “two peanuts.”

34. He divided one in two. “And this?”
I said, “half a peanut.”

35. He said, “That’s why I give up.”

36. However, work through Unit 7, and
do the best you can!