3. Definite (the) and Indefinite articles (a, an)

MOST FREQUENT WORDS IN ENGLISH

This = esto/a

but = pero

His = el

from = de, desde

By = por

They = ellos / as

her = ella

say = decir

we = nosotros/as

10

she = ella

REVIEW. NOUN + TO BE + NOUN SINGULAR AND PLURAL NOUNS

Noun + To Be + Noun

• Singular Noun + IS + Singular Noun
• Plural Noun + ARE + Plural Noun
• A is used before a word that begins with a consonant.
• AN is used before a word that begins with a vowel.

DEFINITE AND INDEFINITE ARTICLES

In English there are three articles: a, an, and the. Articles are used before nouns or noun equivalents and are a type of adjective. The definite article (the) is used before a noun to indicate that the identity of the noun is known to the reader. The indefinite article (a, an) is used before a noun that is general or when its identity is not known. There are certain situations in which a noun takes no article.

Let´s make sentences

MOST FREQUENT WORDS IN ENGLISH

This = esto/a

but = pero

His = el

By = por

from = de, desde

They = ellos / as

we = nosotros/as

her = ella

say = decir

10

she = ella

SOME RULES

1. Definite article: the (before a singular or plural noun)
2. Indefinite article: a (before a singular noun beginning with a consonant sound)
3. Indefinite article: an (before a singular noun beginning with a vowel sound)
4. Count nouns - refers to items that can be counted and are either singular or plural
5. Non-count nouns - refers to items that are not counted and are always singular

LET`S DIG A BIT MORE

For example, if we are speaking of water that has been spilled on the table, there can be one drop (singular) or two or more drops (plural) of water on the table. The word drop in this example is a count noun because we can count the number of drops. Therefore, according to the rules applying to count nouns, the word drop would use the articles a or the.

However, if we are speaking of water in general spilled on the table, it would not be appropriate to count one water or two waters -- there would simply be water on the table. Water is a noncount noun. Therefore, according to the rules applying to noncount nouns, the word water would use no article or the, but not a.

NOW SOME MORE RULES

Rule #1 - Specific identity not known: Use the indefinite article a or an only with a singular count noun whose specific identity is not known to the reader. Use a before nouns that begin with a consonant sound, and use an before nouns that begin with a vowel sound.

Rule #2 - Specific identity known: Use the definite article the with any noun (whether singular or plural, count or noncount) when the specific identity of the noun is known to the reader.

AND FINALLY

Rule #3 - All things or things in general: Use no article with plural count nouns or any noncount nouns used to mean all or in general..

MOST FREQUENT WORDS IN ENGLISH

This = esto/a

but = pero

His = el

By = por

from = de, desde

They = ellos / as

we = nosotros/as

her = ella

say = decir

10

she = ella

¡We`re done!

CLASS No. 3