The indefinite article a an is used. The indefinite article in English (The indefinite article). Definite article with place names

That is, the absence of the article. In this article, we will look at the indefinite article a \ an in English.

Article a or an?

The indefinite article has two forms: a and an. The rules for using them are very simple.

• Article in the form "a" used before a consonant: a boot, a tie, a lock, a house, a car, a job.
• Article in the form “an” used before vowels: an apple, an iron, an oven, an error.

Even if the word starts with a consonant but starts with a vowel, “an” is used. These cases include:

• unpronounceable h at the beginning of a word: an hour[ən ˈaʊə], an honor[ənˈɒnə].
• Some abbreviations that are read by individual letters: an FBI agent[ən ɛf biː aɪ ˈeɪʤənt].

The indefinite article a \ an in English is the basic rule

If we reduce the rules to the main general, it will be like this.

General rule: The indefinite article is used to denote not specific, but some, some object (that is why it is called indefinite). In Russian, we could instead say “some”, “some”, “some”, “one”.

By the way, the article a \ an comes from the word one (one) - knowing this, it is easy to understand its meaning and use. Consider examples.

I need a shovel. - I need (any) shovel.

I'd like to buy a ticket. - I would like to buy (one, any) ticket.

Compare, if you replace a \ an with the definite article the, the meaning will change:

I need the shovel. – I need (this particular) shovel.

I'd like to buy the ticket. - I would like to buy (that specific) ticket.

Rules for using the article a (an) in English

Let's look at more specific rules. So, the article a \ an is used when:

1. This refers to anyone, no matter which representative of a class of objects or persons.

A baby can do that. - A baby (anyone) can do it.

A triangle has three sided. - A triangle (any) has three sides.

The article does not necessarily stand immediately before , between them it can be denoting the attribute of a noun.

I need a cheap ball pen. I need (some) cheap ballpoint pen.

I want to buy a good hockey stick. I want to buy (some) good hockey stick.

Note that if, in a similar case, the definite article the is used, the meaning will change dramatically, for example:

I want to buy the hockey stick. I want to buy a (certain) stick.

2. A noun refers to who or what an object or person is.

Most often this is a profession, if it is a person, or the name of an object (class of objects), if it is about something inanimate. In this case, the article is difficult to “translate” into Russian. You need to understand that a noun denotes an object \ person as a whole, not as a separate instance, but as a generalizing concept.

I am a doctor. - I am a doctor.

He is anexperienced graphicdesigner. – He is an experienced graphic designer.

This is a snowboard. - It's a snowboard.

If you use the, it will not be about the class of objects as a whole, but about a specific representative:

Hi is the experienced designer. – He is an experienced designer.

3. We are talking about one object or person.

That is, literally about the subject in the amount of one piece. Here the article a \ an means almost the same thing as one.

I'd like a cup of hot chocolate. I would like (one) cup of hot chocolate.

I need a day to rest. I need (one) day to rest.

With the article the, it will also, in general, be about one subject, but about a specific one. For example, not just about a cup of chocolate, but about the cup that you brewed first, her foam came out prettier:

I'd like the cup of hot chocolate. I would like (that) cup of hot chocolate.

4. We are talking about an object or person mentioned in a conversation for the first time ...

... and when we speak for the second, third, tenth time, we use the article the.

Here the use of articles is dictated by simple logic. Speaking about an object for the first time, we usually speak of it as “something”, “something”.

– You know, I watched interesting movie yesterday. – You know, I watched (some) interesting movie yesterday.

Five minutes have passed, we have already discussed the film inside and out, and we are no longer talking about it as some but how about quite certain movie:

– Yeah, I think, I’m going to rewatch the movie!– Yes, I think I will review (this) film.

In general, this rule is very easily violated. For example, I decided to intrigue the interlocutor and say right off the bat that I watched not just some movie, but THE SAME movie:

– You know, I watched the movie yesterday. – You know, I watched THAT movie yesterday.

Or in this particular conversation, the subject may be mentioned for the first time, but both interlocutors perfectly understand what it is about.

Mary: Honey, where is mirror? “Darling, where is the mirror?”

John: Your mom's present is in the bathroom, as always. “Your mom’s gift in the bathroom, as usual.

5. In a number of stable expressions

Basically, they are related to time and quantity:

• in a day \ week \ month \ year - in a day \ week \ month \ year
• in an hour - in an hour
• in a half an hour - in half an hour
• a few - a few
• a little - a little
• a lot (great deal) of - a lot

The indefinite article a \ an is often used in set expressions like to have (to take) + noun, implying some kind of one-time action:

• to have (take) a look - look
• to have a walk - take a walk
• to have (take) a seat - sit down
• to take a note - make a note, write down

Notes:

1. Some expressions according to this scheme are used with a zero article, for example: to have fun - have fun.
2. With the definite article the in most cases, the words are used: the future, the past, the present.
3. The names of the seasons are used with the or zero article: in (the) winter, in (the) summer, etc.

Indefinite article before adjective and pronoun

Articles (any) can be used before adjectives. In this case, they serve as determiners not to adjectives, of course, but to the noun, the sign of which these adjectives designate:

• She is a nice beautiful girl. – She is a nice beautiful girl.
• I need the red hat. - I need a red hat.

Articles are not used before a noun if it is already defined by a possessive (my, your, his, her, etc.) or a demonstrative pronoun (this, these, that, those). The point is that if the subject is said to be “whose -that”, this already means that the subject is specific, definite - this makes the article a \ an impossible, and the article the superfluous.

• Not right: I am looking for a (the) my dog.
• Correctly: I am looking for my dog.

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First of all, thank you so much for your emails and feedback! We are very pleased that our work helps you in learning English! :)

Especially at your request, we have prepared a material on the use of the indefinite article A (AN).

What is an article? This is a service part of speech that is placed before a noun to show the definiteness or indefiniteness of the subject. In other words, articles make it clear whether the interlocutors are familiar with the subject or not. The function of articles is to define, therefore the part of speech to which they refer is called Determinants or Determiners.You can learn more about them from this article.

The article A (AN) comes from the numeral ONE (one) and therefore is called indefinite, which means not a specific object known to the interlocutors (unlike the), but one of many, some, no matter which, indefinite.

Why does the article A have two forms?

You may know that the AN form is used when the noun after the article begins with a vowel:

An apple, an egg, an elephant

But be careful, because the choice of the form of the article does not depend on the letter (which we see on the letter), but on the sound. For example, take the word university . The first letter u conveys two sounds: . The first, as you can see [j]. It is a consonant, so the article a should be used before the word univercity. Likewise with the words hour or the adjective honest (combined honest man). In both words, the first h is not readable, so we start pronouncing the word with a vowel and use the article AN.

In English, there are many words with silent consonants or diphthongs at the beginning, so when choosing an article, be guided by the pronunciation of the word, not its spelling.

Let's take a look at the main cases in which we use the article A. They are all similar in some ways and complement each other in many ways, but if you understand the basic idea of ​​using the article, you can always use it correctly.

The article A is used in the following cases:

1. If there is only one subject and it is indefinite. To check, you can substitute the following words instead of the article: some, one of many, one of, any

I work in an office. - I work in an office. (I work in some office / in one of the offices).
She bought a car. She bought (one) car. (She bought one car / some car).
They passed an exam. - They passed (one) exam. (They passed some exam / one of many exams).
I would like a cup of coffee. - I would like (one) cup of coffee. (Not two, one).

2. If the subject belongs to a certain class, is "one of many" representatives of this class. Therefore, A is always used before the names of professions, nationalities:

I am a teacher. - I'am a teacher. (There are many teachers and I am one of them).
She wants to become a student of this university. She wants to become a student of this university. (There are many students in this university and she wants to become one of them).
He is a Republican. - He is a Republican. (He is one of the Republicans, belongs to this category).
We want to buy a flat in the center . - We want to buy an apartment in the center. (There are many apartments in the center and we want to buy one of them).

3. When we give a definition, we explain what this or that object is. In doing so, we mean that this definition is applicable to any representative of this category:

A doctor is a person who treats sick people. - A doctor is a person who treats the sick. (Any doctor treats the sick).
A penguin is a bird that can't fly. - A penguin is a bird that cannot fly. (Any penguin can't fly.
The penguin is one of the birds that cannot fly).
A bear is a wild animal. - The bear is a wild animal. (Any bear is a wild animal / one of the wild animals).

You can object and say that not every doctor treats and not every wild bear, but we are considering particular cases, but general ones.

4. In type descriptions: A + adjective + noun to describe the subject. In this case, the choice of the article A or AN is determined by the first sound of the adjective, not the noun:

This is an orange ball. - It's an orange ball.
He is a clever student. - He is a smart student.
We saw a very tall tree. - We saw a very tall tree.

5. When talking about using things. Construction: use something as a ... :

He used a stub as a stool. - He used the stump as a stool.
She used a napkin as a note. - They used the napkin as a note.
Don't use your fork as a pointer. - Don't use your fork as a pointer.

6. In negative and interrogative sentences and after turnover there is with a countable noun in the singular:

In this case, we know nothing about the subject, except that it is one of many.

7. Article A is used in measurements:

Once a day - once a day
Twice a week - twice a day
40 km an hour - 40 kilometers per hour

In words denoting one unit of measure (for example: one hundred, thousand, kilogram), A and one can be interchanged:

One hundred = a hundred
One thousand = a thousand
One kilo = a kilo One mile = a mile

8. In exclamations combined with what, what a lot and such (to emphasize the severity of the sign):

What a nice day! - What a wonderful day!
What a lot of books! - How many books!
He is such an intelligent person! - He's such a smart man!

9. We use A with paired nouns. Some nouns are considered in pairs, in which case the article a is placed before the first noun:

A knife and fork - knife and fork
A cup and saucer - cup and saucer

Do not confuse pairs with single nouns that simply stand side by side in a sentence:

I bought a pen and a book. - I bought a pen and a book.

10. With words denoting health problems:

A headache
a cold - a cold
a sore throat - sore throat
a broken arm/leg - broken arm/leg
a weak heart - a weak heart
(a) toothache - toothache (possible without the article)
(an) earache - pain in the ear (possible without the article)

11. And last, but perhaps most important, the indefinite article A is used when we mention something for the first time, when the interlocutor does not know anything about the subject:

I have got a cat. - I have a cat.
He met a beautiful girl. - He met a beautiful girl.

For further mention, the already defined article the should be used, but more on that in the next article.

To summarize the main thing: The indefinite article A is used only with countable nouns in the singular, if the subject we are talking about is mentioned for the first time, is indefinite, one of many of its kind, any.

Usually articles are not translated into Russian. However, in rare cases, the context requires the translation of the indefinite article by the words some, any, one of), and a certain that (most) or this one (most):

She murmured a name and name was not John. she whispered some name, and name is it wasn't John.

Consider three cases: when an indefinite or definite article is used before a noun, and when it is not used.

Indefinite article

Indefinite article a (an) derived from the numeral one (one), so it is used only with singular nouns.

When changing the singular to the plural, the article is omitted, and if a certain amount is implied, then the pronoun is put instead of the article some:

Give me a book. - Give me books.
Give me an apple. - Give me some apples.

The indefinite article has a variant a, if it comes before a noun that starts with a consonant: a s student; and option an before a noun that starts with a vowel: an a pple.

A noun with an indefinite article is the name of an object in general, and not the name of a specific object. For example a student evokes an idea of ​​a student in general, that is, a student of a higher educational institution, but not of a specific person.

The meaning of the indefinite article can be expressed in Russian with such words as one, one of, some, any, any, any, any, each.

Rules of use

When it is possible to substitute in front of a noun some, any, one of:

There is a pen on the table. — There is a (some indefinite) pen (one of the class of pens) on the table.
A child can understand it. — (Any) child can understand it;

When the value is stored one:

Wait a minute! - Wait one minute!

The indefinite article is used with singular countable nouns. It is not used in the plural, sometimes it is replaced by indefinite pronouns some (several) any (any, anyone).

If there is a definition before the noun, then the article is placed before this definition: a story(story) an interesting story(interesting story).

Definite article

The definite article has a single form the and derived from the demonstrative pronoun that(that). It is used with nouns, both singular and plural.

Article the pronounced twice:

• [ðǝ] before nouns that start with a consonant: the student[ðǝˊstju:dǝntJ;
• [ðɪ] before nouns that start with a vowel: the evening[ðɪˊɪ:vnɪη].

The definite article is used:

When it is possible to put before a noun this(most) or that(most):

That is the house that Jack built. This is the house that Jack built.

Before singular nouns:

the sun - the sun;
the moon - the moon.

Before superlative adjectives:

the cleverest boy - the smartest boy;
the most difficult question - the most difficult question.

No article

The indefinite article is not used: before nouns in plural: an article - articles.

real nouns, uncountable: water (water), salt (salt), tea (tea)- nouns that cannot be counted, for example, you cannot say: three waters.

The article is not placed before the noun when it is used. in the abstract:

Man is the head but woman is the neck. The man is the head, the woman is the neck.

Therefore, abstract and real nouns are most often used without the article. But if these nouns are used in some specific sense (as a part of a substance, a shade of a feeling, a certain quality of a phenomenon), then they are used with a definite or indefinite article in accordance with the above rules:

Light was coming into the room from somewhere. The light came from somewhere into the room.
soon he saw a light in the distance. Soon he saw in the distance some light.
The light was faint and uncertain. — This the light was faint and uncertain.
You may buy butter and bread in a shop. — You can buy butter and bread at any store.
The butter was bought in the nearest shop. — it The oil was purchased from a nearby shop.
A coffee without bread can never serve as breakfast. — Any coffee without bread cannot serve as breakfast.

Even proper nouns follow these rules:

Is that the John I knew many years ago? - Is it really the same The John I knew years ago?
Florence will never, never, never be a Dombey. Florence will never one of Dombey.

The use of articles with other determiners

The indefinite article is used after words such- such, rather- enough, quite- at all, as as well as after what(in exclamatory sentences) and half- half:

What a nice day! - What a wonderful day!
It's rather a long way to the village. - It's quite a distance from the village.

The definite article is used:

After

• pronouns both- both and all- Everybody:

All the stories were interesting. All stories were interesting.

• phrases most of- majority, some of- some , many of- many , none of- none of:

Most of the gentlemen looked angry. Most of the gentlemen looked angry.

Front in words: the same- the same, wrong- not the one right- that, very- precisely that one, only- the only one, next- next, last- last:

You are the very person I wanted. You are exactly the person I need.

If the word next used in the meaning future, a last - past, then they are used without articles and prepositions.

Compare:

What is the next question? - What will be the next question?
I "ll come here next year. - I will come here next year.

Note!

With other determinants such as possessive and demonstrative pronouns, as well as negation no articles are not used:

There is no book on the table. — There is no book on the table.
She puts on her hat and coat. She puts on a hat and coat.

The use of articles with proper names

Proper names are used either with a definite article or without an article. Study the following table:

Exceptions: The Hague - The Hague, The Netherlands - the Netherlands, The Crimea - Crimea, The Ukraine - Ukraine, The Caucasus - the Caucasus, The Congo - Congo, The Strand - Strand (street in London).

Rules for using the articles a, an and the in English

Let's look at examples together and fix the rules for using articles in English.

Indefinite article

The indefinite article is used before a noun when it only names an object, classifies it as a representative of a certain kind of objects, but does not specifically highlight it.

a table - any table (just a table, not a chair) a chair - a chair.

When mentioning an object or person for the first time

That "s a pretty girl. - Beautiful girl.

In a general sense: a noun with an indefinite article in this sense means: any, anyone.

A cow gives milk. - A cow (any) gives milk.

With professions:

My Dad is a Doctor. - My dad is a doctor.
She "s an architect. - She is an architect.

With some quantity expressions:

a pair - a pair, a little - a little, a few - a few.

In exclamatory sentences: before a singular countable noun after the word what (what).

What a beautiful day! - What a wonderful day!
What a pity! - What a pity!

Use of the definite article

The definite article is put if the subject or person in question is known to both the speaker and the listener (from the context, the environment, or as previously mentioned in this speech).

It is a chair - this is a chair
The chair is at the table - the chair is near the table

Try to substitute the word this or that before the noun. If the meaning of what is being said does not change, then the definite article must be put before the noun, and if it changes, then the indefinite article is put before the noun in the singular (if it is countable), and not put before the plural noun at all.

re-mentioned, when it is clear from the previous text what it is about:

The girl was beautiful. (This) girl was beautiful.

Clear on the situation when it is clear what/who is meant:

The lesson is over. - The lesson is over.

Having an individuating definition, that is, a definition that distinguishes this person or object from a number of similar ones.

• Definition, n calling a sign:

This is the house that Jack built. This is the house that Jack built.

• Expressed by an adjective in superlative form

This is the shortest way to the river - This is the shortest way to the river

• Expressed by ordinal number

He missed the first lecture. - He missed the first lecture

• Definition expressed by a proper name

the Bristol road - the road to Bristol.

• Definitions expressed in words:
  

The next stop is ours. “The next stop is ours.

Before nouns one of a kind:

the sun - the sun
the moon - the moon
the Earth
the floor - floor (one in the room)
the sea - the sea (the only one in the area)

Before adjectives and participles that have turned into nouns, with a plural meaning:

the strong - strong, the old - old people, the young - youth,

No article (zero article)

If there is a pronoun before the noun or nouns in the possessive case.

My room is large - My room is large.

A noun is used without an article in the plural in the following cases: When in the singular in front of him there would be an indefinite article:

I saw a letter on the table. — I saw a letter on the table.
I saw letters on the table. — I saw the letters on the table.

Uncountable real nouns.

water water, milk milk, chalk chalk, sugar sugar, tea tea, snow snow, grass grass, wool wool, meat meat and others.

Uncountable abstract nouns (abstract concepts).

weather weather, music music, power force, knowledge knowledge, art art, history history, mathematics mathematics, light light, love love, life life, time time
I like music - I love music.

But at the same time, some abstract nouns can be used with the indefinite article, expressing a kind of quality, state.

He got a good education. He received a good education.

In English, plural nouns may be preceded by a definite article, the pronoun some (any), or the determiner may be absent.

If one of the following words can be placed before a Russian noun: a few, a few, some, some the corresponding noun in an English sentence is preceded by the pronoun some (any).
If none of these words can be placed before the Russian noun, then there is no determiner before the corresponding noun in the English sentence.

I bought some apples yesterday - I bought apples yesterday ( some, some apples)

The article is one of the determinants of a noun and is placed before the noun or before the words that are definitions for it.

Indefinite article a(an - before words beginning with a vowel) comes from the numeral one and means one of many, some, any.

I am a student. I am a student (one of many).
This is an apple. This is an apple (one of many).

If a singular noun is preceded by an indefinite article, it is omitted in the plural.

This is a book. These are books.

Thus, the indefinite article a(an) can only be used before singular nouns.

The definite article the comes from the demonstrative pronoun that. Often translated by the words this, this, this, these. Used before nouns in both singular and plural.

The definite article is used:

When it comes to a specific person or thing.
Where is the pen? Where is the pen? (known to us)

Before a noun if it is preceded by a superlative adjective or ordinal number.
What is the longest river in the world? He was the first to come.

Before geographical names (names of oceans, seas, rivers, mountain ranges, parts of the world, etc.).
The Indian ocean, the Baltic sea, the North, the Thames, the Alps.

Before nouns, the only ones of their kind.
What is the highest mountain in the world?

In some expressions such as
in the morning, in the evening, in the afternoon, etc.

If you are mentioning a subject for the first time, use the article a (an). The next time you mention this item, give details, use the.

I have a dog.
The dog is black and has white ears.

Zero article. Articles are not used:

If any noun is used in the most generalized sense.
Crime is a probem in most big cities. Crime as such, not any specific crime.
Life has changed a lot in the last two years. Life as such, in general.

Before proper names (names of countries, cities, states, provinces, lakes, mountain peaks; the exception is the union of states or the plural in the name, for example, The United States, The Netherlands):
England, Russia, London, Mr. Johnson, Tuscany.

However, surnames used in the plural to refer to members of the same family are preceded by the definite article.
The Johnsons. Johnson family.

Before the names of the seasons, months and days of the week.
He always goes the South in summer. English classes are on Monday.

When it comes to eating, using transport, and also when it comes to places (for example: home, work, hospital, university, church, prison, etc.)

I go home by bus.
I go to school. (I am a student)
We have dinner at 2 o'clock.

In the previous example - I go to school, the article is not used, since it is understood that I am a student, therefore, the purpose of going to school lies in the purpose of the building itself - study.

But such a situation is also possible I go to the school. In this case, this means that the purpose of the visit to the school is different. For example, I go to the school, because I want to see the head master.

My mother is in hospital now. (She's ill.)
Every day I go to the hospital to see her.

The article in English is a service part of speech, it stands before a noun, adverb or adjective and helps to better understand the context of the statement. Articles are not peculiar to the Russian language: we characterize the discussed subjects in oral and written speech in other ways: through intonation, pronouns, particles, suffixes, etc.

Historically, the British, Americans, Germans, French, Spaniards and some other peoples who speak the languages ​​of the Romance and Germanic groups consider it important to clarify each noun in terms of meaning, emphasizing their variety with the help of special short words, which will be discussed in today's article.

The definite article "the" (Definite article)

The article "the" in English is definite because it gives the word the meaning of concreteness, in some cases it emphasizes the uniqueness of an object, object or phenomenon.

It is easy to see that the article "the", without distorting the meaning of the statement, can be replaced by demonstrative pronouns "that, this, these, those".

Cases of using the definite article the

It's a very complicated task to find out the truth while everyone is trying to make up a new lie. - It is very difficult to find the truth where everyone is trying to compose a new fable.

This example clearly reflects the functional specifics of the definite article "the": the truth is the only and unique in the situation of the speaker, it is one, there cannot be another, so we say "the truth".

The sun was shining brightly for the whole morning, so it was impossible to stay asleep. This morning the sun shone so brightly that it was impossible to sleep any longer.

The sun is unique, there is no second such on earth, therefore "the sun". The same applies to our planet: "the Earth" Earth. There is another definite article in the sentence that defines the word "morning": the speaker means a specific morning of the day.

“Not last night, sir, I know she didn’t.”

“Why do you know so positively?”

“Because the box was empty...” -

"Not last night, sir, I know she couldn't do it."

“Why are you so confident about this?”

"Because the box was empty..."

He placed himself as close as he could to the information booth. - It is located as close as possible to the information stand.

At the described moment in time, the hero could lean on the only information stand, and the corresponding article before the word emphasizes this idea.

I have a plan. The plan is too easy to realize, that's why few people will choose it and it will be just ours. - I have a plan. This plan is very easy to implement, so few people will choose it, which means it will only be ours.

In the first sentence, the listener learned about the presence "no one" plan for the first time. In the second sentence, the same plan again met. In Russian, demonstrative pronouns “this, these, this, that, that, those”, etc. perform the same role as the article "the" in English.

They lived in a very small flat. The flat was located in a new house near the library. - They lived in a small apartment. This apartment was in a new building near the library.

The first person she noticed on board was her cousin who knew nothing about her trip. - The first person she noticed on board was a cousin who knew nothing about her journey.

These students are going to study Japanese as the second foreign language. - These students are going to learn Japanese as a second foreign language.

I know exactly that the most difficult thing for my child is to concentrate: he has always been too active. - I know for sure that the most difficult thing for my child is to concentrate on something: he is too active.

The coldest month we've ever had is this November. - This November is the coldest month in our memory.

This way of having negotiations is the worst: if you speak so quickly, nobody will understand what you mean. - This is the worst way to negotiate: if you continue to talk like that, no one will understand what you are talking about.

• the group - group;
• the crowd - crowd;
• the company - company;
• the staff - staff;
• the public - the public, etc.

Lions, tigers and lynxes belong to the cat family. - Lions, tigers and lynxes belong to the cat family.

The Chinese tourist group is coming to our museum tomorrow. - A group of Chinese tourists will come to our museum tomorrow.

The generalization can also apply to surnames in the meaning of "family":

The Addams is the creepiest family of the previous century. - The Addams Family is the most frightening of the last century.

The Smith usually spent summer in the village. The Smiths usually spend their summers in the countryside.

• one of - one of;
• each of - each of;
• some of - some of;
• many of - many;
• most of - the majority;
• all - everything;
• both of - both.

Each of the scientists supposed that it's going to be the last week spent in the expedition. - Every scientist thought that the last week of the expedition had come.

Even all the words you know cannot express the range of emotions you feel. - Even all the words you know will not be able to express the range of emotions experienced.

Some of the people were only waiting for the end while others were happily sinking in their own memories. - They happily drowned in their own memories, when others were just waiting for the outcome.

Both of the twins prefer oil paintings to other kinds of art. - Both twins prefer oil painting to other art forms.

• the cinema - cinema;
• the radio - radio;
• the theater - theater;
• the weather - weather;
• the equator - the equator;
• the world - the world;
• the ground - earth;
• the jungle - jungle;
• the seaside - coast;
• the sky - the sky;
• the piano - piano;
• the park - park;
• the tango - tango;
• the waltz - waltz.

While going to the cinema , we heard a terrifying noise from the park . - On the way to the cinema, we heard a terrible noise coming from the park.

Beautiful birds were disappearing deep in the sky. - Beautiful birds disappeared deep into the sky.

I want to watch the last film from the very beginning. - I want to watch the last movie from the beginning.

The only reason for Jane to come there is her favorite musical band's performance. - The only reason Jane would go there is for her favorite band to perform.

Indefinite article a/an - Indefinite article

There are two indefinite articles in English: "a" and "an". They are equivalent and perform the same function: they indicate that the subject is only one, one of many, or occurs in the text for the first time.

Article "a" used before a consonant "an"- before a vowel.

The indefinite article in most cases can be replaced by the word one one.

Give me one pen, please. - Give me one pen, please.

Cases of using the indefinite article a - an

We are staying in a large wooden house. The house is located far from noisy cities. - We settled down in the big wooden house. The house is located far from noisy cities.

In the first sentence, through the indefinite article, the house is only introduced into the narrative.

She was trying to choose a big orange. The orange suddenly fell down, and I found it as a great opportunity to get acquainted. She tried to choose a bigger orange. He suddenly fell, and I considered this a great opportunity to get to know each other.

It's such a lovely melody! - What a wonderful melody!

The reptile seems to be quite a strange creature. - This reptile seems to be a rather strange creature.

It's a rather chilly climate in Alaska. Quite a frosty climate prevails in Alaska.

She saw there rather a beautiful building. - There she met a rather beautiful building.

My mother has a little milk in the fridge: we can cook pancakes. - Mom has enough milk in the fridge: we can fry pancakes.

There are a few cars near our house: I can "t park here. - Our house has quite a few cars: I can't park here.

There are a lot of toys in the room. - There are a lot of toys in this room.

There is a lot of sugar in the kitchen. - There is a lot of sugar in the kitchen.

Uncountable items in English are almost the same as their Russian equivalents: salt, water, milk, sand, tea, coffee, chocolate, jam, etc.

It's raining cats and dogs, but we have no food in the fridge: let's go and buy a bottle of milk, a loaf of bread, a bar of chocolate and a kilo of fruit. - It's raining so much that you can't kick a dog out of the house, but we have absolutely nothing to eat: let's go and buy a bottle of milk, a loaf of bread, a bar of chocolate and a kilo of fruit.

It's a quarter to eight. - It's 7.45 now.

It seems I've caught a cold while skating today. - I think I caught a cold at the rink today.

We go to the theater twice a year. We go to the theater twice a year.

To have a good health you should go in for sports three times a week at least. - To be healthy, you need to exercise at least three times a week.

A / the Snake is a reptile. - The snake is a reptile.

Man is a mammal. - Man is a mammal.

The / a spider is an insect. - A spider is an insect.

Zero article - Zero article

The article does not need to be put in cases where we are talking about indefinite nouns in the plural, or about people, naming them. However, there are a number of additions and exceptions when using the zero article in English.