The Indefinite Article( a, an ) is a weakened form of the numeral “one” and is historically related to it. It has 3 functions:
· Classifying (meaning “one of” ). For example: It’s a letter.
· Generalizing (meaning “any” ) .For example: A tiger is a dangerous animal
· Numerical (meaning “one” ).For example: Wait a minute!
The Indefinite article is used only with singular nouns. In the plural such nouns are used without any article. For example: There are books on the shelves
The indefinite article - a
The indefinite article is the a is the same for all genders.
a boy, a girl, a cat
The indefinite article has no plural form.
a boy - boys
We use an if the following word starts with a vowel.
the following word starts with a consonant
the following word starts with a vowel
a boy - an aunt
a school - an old school
a girl - an American girl
Mind the pronunciation of the following word.
a unit - an uncle
This u sounds like a consonant, so we use a.
This u sounds like a vowel, so we use an.
Use of the indefinite article a/an
- before phrases of time and measurements (per week/weekly)
We have English 4 times a week.
I go on holiday twice a year.
Our car can do 220 kilometres an hour.
Tomatoes are $2 a kilo.
- before phrases of jobs
My father is a car mechanic.
- with a noun complement
He is a good boy.
- before phrases of nationality
Bruce Springsteen is an American.
- half/quite
We need half a pound of sugar.
|
This is quite a good story.
Exercises:
Elementary:
Exercise 1 (complete the text with a, an or the)
Exercise 2 (choose a, an, or some)
Exercise 3 (check the right answer)
Exercise 4 (complete with a or an)
Exercise 9 (complete the text with a, an or the)
Exercise 10 (complete the text with a, an, the or 0)
Exercise 11 (write a or an) Exercise 12 (fill in all the gaps) Exercise 13 (write a or an) Exercise 14 (choose the correct answer) Exercise 15 (write a or an)
Intermediate:
Exercise 1 (choose the correct answer) Exercise 2 (choose the correct answer) Exercise 3 (fill in all the gaps) Exercise 5 (choose the correct answer) Exercise 6 (choose the correct answer) Exercise 7 (choose the correct answer) Exercise 8 (choose the correct answer) Exercise 9 (choose the correct answer) Exercise 10 (choose the correct answer) Exercise 11 (choose the correct answer) Exercise 12 (fill in all the gaps) Exercise 13 (choose the correct answer) Exercise 14 (fill in all the gaps) Exercise 15 (choose the correct answer) Advanced: Exercise 1 (complete the sentences with a suitable article) Exercise 2 (choose the correct answer) Exercise 3 (choose the correct answer) Exercise 4 (choose the correct answer) Exercise 5 (fill in all the gaps) Exercise 6 (fill in all the gaps) Exercise 7 (choose the correct answer) Exercise 8 (fill in all the gaps) Exercise 9 (fill in all the gaps) Exercise 10 (fill in all the gaps) Exercise 11 (choose the correct answer) Exercise 12 (fill in all the gaps) Exercise 13 (fill in all the gaps) Exercise 14 (fill in all the gaps) Exercise 15 (choose the most appropriate phrase) |
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