Usage of articles

The article is a fictitious word, the most typical qualifier, which cannot be used by itself, but can only be attached to a noun to help illustrate its meaning. It is a sign of a noun. In English, there are two kinds of articles: the definite article the and the indefinite article a and an: a is used in front of words beginning with consonant phonemes, and an is used in front of words beginning with vowel phonemes. The indefinite article is only used before singular countable nouns. It is used to indicate the meaning of "-", but does not emphasize the idea of number, but only indicates that the noun is an unspecified person. The definite article, on the other hand, indicates that the noun is specific. It means "this, these, that, those" and can be used before countable nouns singular, plural and uncountable nouns.

1. Basic Usage of Indefinite Articles

(1) There are two kinds of indefinite articles: a and an: a is used in front of words beginning with a consonant phoneme, and an is used in front of words beginning with a vowel phoneme. For example: a boy, a city, a girl, a useful animal , an old man, an honest boy, a bad apple, a tall elephant

(2) It is used to mean "-" but not "-". " meaning, but does not emphasize the idea of number, but only indicates that the noun is an unspecified person. That is, it does not specify who or what it is. For example:

A teacher is looking for you.

We work five days a week.

(3) The indefinite article contains the meaning of "-", but the idea of number is not one

-- An orange is good for you.

-- How much is it ? How much is it ?

-- Two yuan a kilo.

(4) It is generally used before the singular of countable nouns to refer to a particular kind of person or thing. For example:

Bill is a student.

Pass me an apple, please.

Exception: I have never seen such a fine film.

(5) It is used in certain fixed phrases. For example:

a lot of, a moment ago, a few, a little

2. Usage of the definite article

(1) It refers to someone or something. For example:

The book on the desk is mine.

Show me the photo of the boy, please.

(2) To refer to a person or thing that both parties know. For example:

Open the door, please.

Did you see the boy?

What's the new teacher's name?

(3) Refer to the person or thing mentioned above. For example:

He lives on a farm. The farm is not big.

He lives on a farm which is not big.

There are some dogs. The dogs are very lovely.

There are some dogs here. The dogs are very lovely.

(4) Use before something that is unique in the world. For example:

The sun is bigger than the moon.

But when these nouns are used as descriptive determiners, the indefinite article can be used. For example:

Look! A red sun is rising! A red sun is rising.

(5) It is used before ordinal numbers and the highest level of adjectives. For example:

The first island is the biggest of the three.

(6) It is used before proper nouns such as party, country, etc. formed by common nouns and proper nouns such as river, ocean, mountain, archipelago, strait and bay. For example:

They will visit the Great Wall next week.

They came to the United States of America last year.

The Communist Party of China was founded on July 1st, 1921.

The Yellow River is the second longest river in China.

(7) Used before an adjective to indicate a class of people, the + adjective refers to a group of people in a plural sense, so the verb should be in the plural form after it. . For example:

The old are sick.

(8) Used before the plural form of a name to indicate a family. For example:

The Smiths have moved to London.

(9) Used in certain idiomatic expressions. For example:

in the morning, on the left, the day before yesterday, all the same

Three cases without articles

(1) Weeks, months, seasons and festivals are generally not preceded by articles. But it is customary to use articles before traditional Chinese festivals. For example:

All of us like the spring festival.

It's Sunday today.

He was born on June 12, 1999.

Today is Father's Day.

If winter comes, can spring be far behind?

But if it is modified by a restrictive determiner or has the prepositions during, through

and indicates a specific period of time, then the definite article is added before the season. For example:

She came to Shanghai in the spring of 1987.

She came to Shanghai in the spring of 1987.

The school was completed in the September of 2000.

The school was completed in September 2000.

He swims every day during the summer.

While not referring specifically to a season of the year, the speaker sees a season as part of the year, i.e., a period of time in the year. Then the definite article is added before the season. For example:

We play football in the winter.

(2) Before a term of address or a noun indicating a title. For example:

Mr. Li is our headmaster.

After lunch Aunt Huang came in.

(3) When the plural of each word denotes a class of persons or things. But if the plural of each word is modified by a restrictive determiner, the definite article the is added. For example:

I like cakes very much.

My father and mother are the doctors in People's Hospital of Shanghai.

(4) Before three meals, ball games and board games, and nouns in the names of subjects. However, if it indicates a particular kind or a particular concept use the article. For example:

He had supper with us yesterday. It's a very good supper.

He had supper with us yesterday and it was a good supper.

My brother likes to play football.

Let's go and watch them play chess.

(5) Before material nouns, abstract nouns, personal names, geographical names and uncountable nouns.

Smith is our teacher.

Milk is good for us.

The water in the pool is very dirty.

(6) When a noun is preceded by a determiner such as this, that, my, your, some, any, etc., the water in the pool is very dirty. For example:

Come this way, please.

I've some question to ask you.

My brother is a student.