1. GRAMMAR & STRUCTURE
Determiners: Articles
Definition
Determiners are small words that come before nouns. Determiners give
information about the noun. Articles - the / a / an - are one type of
determiner.
Example
A tree is burning.
The tree in front of the house is burning.
Explanation
Articles --
• are either indefinite (a / an), definite (the), or zero (nothing).
• come before a noun, and before an adjective + noun (a tree, a tall tree).
• are not used before names of people or places.
Indefinite articles (a / an) --
• are used when the nouns are not specific. For example: "A tree is burning."
We do not know which tree because it is general, not specific.
• are used with singular count nouns. For example: "a cat, an apple."
• have two forms: a and an. "A" is used when the first sound of the noun is
not a vowel. For example: "a cow, a computer, a book". "An" is used when
the first sound of the noun is a vowel (a, e, i, o, u ) sound. For example: "an
apple, an orange, an animal". But note that it is "a university" because the
first sound is y, even though the first letter is u.
Definite article (the) --
• is used when the nouns are specific. For example: "The tree in front of the
house is burning." We know which tree (the tree in front of the house). It is
specific.
2. • is used with singular and plural count nouns. For example: "the cat, the
apples".
• is used with non-count nouns. For example: "the money".
Zero article --
• is used when the nouns are not specific. For example: "I like dogs."
• is used with plural count nouns. For example: "Apples taste good."
• is used with non-count nouns. For example: "Money is important."
GRAMMAR & STRUCTURE — Examples
Determiners: Articles
Sentences using articles
There is a cat in Indefinite article: a cat - We do not know which cat
the apple tree, Definite article: the apple - We know which tree: the
watching birds. tree. apple tree
Zero article: ___ birds - We do not know the birds,
and "birds" is the plural form
The English Indefinite article: a table - We do not know which
books are in Definite article: the books table
boxes under a Zero article: ___ boxes - We know which books: the
table. English books
- We do not know which
boxes, and "boxes" is the
plural form
The dog drinks Indefinite article: a bowl - We do not know which
water from a Definite article: the floor bowl
bowl on the floor. Zero article: ___ water - We know which floor: the
3. floor in the house
- The water is not specific,
and water is a non-count noun
Flowers in a vase Indefinite article: a vase - We do not know which vase
don't stay fresh as Definite article: the garden - We know which garden: the
long as flowers in Zero article: ___ flowers garden at the house
the garden. - We do not know which
flowers, just flowers in
general, and "flowers" is
plural
The child ate an Indefinite article: an orange, - We do not know which
orange, a banana, a banana orange, banana, or grapes
and grapes for Definite article: the child - We know the child
breakfast. Zero article: ___ grapes - We do not know which
grapes, and "grapes" is plural
I was born in Zero article: ___ Mexico - Use no article before the
Mexico. name of a person or place
GRAMMAR & STRUCTURE — Exercises
Determiners: Articles
4. Answer the following questions to check your knowledge of articles.
Choose the correct article to complete the following sentences.
Example
Look at ______ cat in the corner.
the
a
an
zero
The correct answer is "the".
1. ______ milk is a healthy drink.
the
a
an
zero
2. Where is ______ city centre from here?
the
a
an
zero
3. This is ______ easy question.
the
a
an
zero
4. Byron is ______ very nice person.
5. the
a
an
zero
5. What did you have for ______ dinner?
the
a
an
zero
6. Bob works at ______ university in Canada.
the
a
an
zero
7. I had a sandwich for lunch, but I cannot remember what was in ______
sandwich.
the
a
an
zero
8. I am very hungry because I only ate ______ orange this morning.
the
a
an
zero
9. Where do you live in ______ Canada?
the
6. a
an
zero
10 My house is ______ yellow one on Dunsmuir Road.
.
the
a
an
zero
7. GRAMMAR & STRUCTURE
Determiners: Demonstratives
Definition
Determiners are small words that come before nouns and give more
information about the noun. Demonstratives show whether nouns are near
(this, these) or far (that, those).
Example
This dress here is very beautiful.
demonstrative noun (The dress is close to the person.)
That dress on the shelf is very beautiful.
demonstrative noun (The dress is far from the person.)
Explanation
Demonstratives --
• help describe nouns.
• come before nouns.
• express whether a noun is near or far.
• have plural and singular forms.
8. GRAMMAR & STRUCTURE — Examples
Determiners: Demonstratives
Sentences using demonstratives
Example Explanation
This car beside me is very expensive. Singular noun: car
Location: near
Demonstrative = this
That car across the street is very cheap. Singular noun: car
Location: far
Demonstrative = that
These flowers on the table are beautiful. Plural noun: flowers
Location: near
Demonstrative = these
Those flowers in the garden are beautiful. Plural noun: flowers
Location: far
Demonstrative = those
This table is cleaner than that table by the Singular noun: table
window. Location: near = this
Location: far = that
Those sweaters at the back of the store are more Plural noun: sweaters
expensive than these sweaters. Location: near = these
Location: far = those
9. GRAMMAR & STRUCTURE — Exercises
Determiners: Demonstratives
Answer the following questions to check your knowledge of demonstratives.
Decide if the nouns are near or far.
Example
I would like to buy that table beside the sales assistant.
near
far
The correct answer is "far".
1. How much are these pictures on the wall beside me?
near
far
2. Those sandwiches should be in the fridge.
near
far
3. This book in my arms is much heavier than the last one I read.
near
far
4. Those exercises in the big yellow exercise book are much more difficult than
the ones in the red exercise book.
near
far
10. 5. I do not want that computer because I like the computer at my desk.
near
far
Choose the correct demonstrative for each of the following sentences.
6. If that key does not work, try ______ one.
this
that
these
those
7. I am not sure where ______ people next door came from.
this
that
these
those
8. Look at the great flowers here. Have you seen ______ flowers before?
this
that
these
those
9. ______ pencils are much better than the ones I used yesterday.
this
that
these
those
10 What did you think about ______ test? I thought it was easy.
