Chapter III Article..pptVIP

CHAPTER III: THE ARTICLE 3-1． There are two articles in English, the indefinite article “a” (or “an”) and the definite article “the”. Both are used before the noun and serve to specify it. But their use in the sentence is so variable and changeable that it is indeed a puzzle to  us, the students of English as a foreign language. An outline of their main uses is given below. The definition of the word ”article” An article is a word used with  a noun to show whether the noun refers to a particular example  of something (the definite article the) or to a general or not already mentioned example of something (the indefinite article a / an). (-- LDCE) 3-2．The indefinite article is generally used only before singular countable nouns. The definite article can be used before singular or plural nouns whether countable or uncountable. The form “a” is used before words beginning with a consonant sound, while the form “an” is used before words beginning with a  vowel sound, e.g.  a machine an airplane a university an umbrella a one-act-play an ounce a European an experiment a house an hour a yard an x-ray 3-3. The indefinite article is used: 1. With the meaning “one”, “any”, “it doesn’t matter”, e.g. · There are about a hundred factories in the city. · The plan will be ready in a day or  two. · -- How many do you want?  -- A dozen, please. 2. To denote the sense of “a certain”, e.g. · The machine is invented by a young man. · Last month we were working in a factory in town. · She picked up a magazine and  began to read. 3. To denote the sense “per”, e.g. · They work eight hours a day. · We have English les