ARTICLES AND THEIR USE

The indefinite article (a, an) and the definite article (the) are difficult for non-native speakers to master and their misuse or omission is one of the most common written errors made by Hong Kong students.
Follow one of the links below to read about the grammar and usage if you need to, check the common errors below, then try the quiz to check your accuracy.

Common Errors

1. General and Particular
Articles are not normally used with uncountable or plural nouns if the meaning is general.

e.g.		The life is sweet.
		Life is sweet.
		My brother loves the animals.
		My brother loves animals.
e.g.	Compare
		We expect this program to educate children. (children in general)
		Her husband used to be an authority figure to the children. (particular children)
e.g.		Oil doubled in price during the crisis (oil in general)
		The oil will be delivered tomorrow (particular oil).

2. Classifying Nouns
A/an is usually used with nouns indicating the group or type someone/something belongs to

e.g.		She's administrator.
		She's an administrator
		Mr. Callaway is an officer and trustee

3. Uncountable Nouns
Some uncountable nouns are used with a or an to express

a) 'a type' of or 'a portion of'

e.g.		a fluid for cleaning photocopiers
		a coffee please

or

b) a particular/specified meaning

e.g.		a knowledge of English
		a good sleep

However, some nouns cannot be used like this

e.g.		We're having a good weather.
		We're having good weather.
		You've made an excellent progress.
		You've made excellent progress.
		She speaks a good English.
		She speaks good English.

4. Other Determiners
Articles are not used with other determiners

e.g.		the my fieldwork supervisor.
		my fieldwork supervisor.
		room for improvement to the those services.
		room for improvement to those services.

5. Proper Nouns
Articles are not usually used with proper nouns (names)

e.g.		Wei Man is from the Shenzen.
		Wei Man is from Shenzen.

6. Prepositions of Time, Place and Movement
In some common fixed expressions with prepositions of place, time and movement, the countable nouns do not take an article as they usually would

7. Statements/Exclamations
In exclamations, a/an is used with countable nouns after 'what'

e.g.		What extraordinary situation!
		What an extraordinary situation!

Uncountable nouns in exclamations do not take an article

e.g.		What a rubbish he talks!
		What rubbish he talks!

Click here for a short 10-question interactive quiz

Links
Click here for a summary of article usage

This web page gives a succinct overview of the use of definite and indefinite articles (the, a/an) and their uses. There are two exercises to check your accuracy in usage at the end.
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/esl/eslart.html
(Accessed 7 February 2003)

This web page is quite detailed on article usage and again, there are two quizzes for self-testing at the end. You can also 'page up' for grammar information on quantifiers and determiners.
http://webster.commnet.edu/grammar/determiners/determiners.htm#articles
(Accessed 7 February 2003)

This web page gives an alternative explanation from the University of Illinois
http://www.iei.uiuc.edu/structure/structure1/grammar_articles.html
(Accessed 7 February 2003)