The article

The article is a structural part of speech used with nouns.

There are two articles in Modern English: the indefinite a/an used only with nouns in the singular & the definite the article used with nouns both in the singular & in the plural.

The indefinite article is used:

1. With countable nouns in the singular to show that the noun belongs to a certain class (has the meaning какой-то, один из, любой). In the plural no article is used in this case. Have you got a car?-Never.

2. With a countable noun mentioned for the first time. I’ve bought a hat. It is expensive.

3. To talk about smb’s job. She is a doctor. He works as a pilot.

4. With a noun in general sense (has the meaning of every, any). A drawing man catches at a straw.

5. In the meaning of one. Wait a minute!

6. After the construction there is/are & it is, this is. There is a letter on the table. It is a book.

7. After the words such, rather, quite. What…! Ann is such a pretty girl. What a strange person!

8. With a noun modified by the adjective in the positive degree. Are you a good driver?

9. a/an+ordinal numerals has the meaning ещё один. She gave me a second cup of coffee.

10. Also with a dozen, a hundred, a thousand, a million, a week, an hour in the meaning “one”. We have English classes twice a week.

The definite article is used:

1. With a noun when it is clear in the situation which thing or person is meant, or with the noun mentioned before. Can you turn the light please? We stopped at a village. The village was old but nice.

2. When the noun is modified by a particularizing attribute (an of-phrase or an attributive clause, always used in post position). He knocked at the door of the nearest house. This is the flat that Ann bought. The apples I’d bought were not ripe.

3. With the nouns modified by the adjective in the superlative degree & the ordinal numbers. But: a most- in the meaning весьма, крайне. It’s a most interesting film!

4. With the nouns in the singular used in the generic sense. The tragedy & the comedy first appeared in Greece.

No articles:

1. Before the nouns modified by the pronouns: possessive: my, his, her, its, our, your, their; demonstrative: this, that, these, those; interrogative: what, which, whose; indefinite: some, any, each, every, many, much, no; cardinal numerals. My friend & I would like to spend our holidays in some quiet place. I’d like to read this book. What question have you discussed? Take any book you like. Platform 2, size 42, page 5, room 49.

2. Before plural countable nouns in general sense. Children learn a lot from playing. I like pets.

3. most+ noun (without article)- the noun is used in general sense. Most+of+the- definite objects are meant. Most children like ice-cream. Most of the streets in London are not wide.

The use of articles with nouns of material and abstract nouns

Nouns of material	In a general sense – no article	When modified by a particularizing attribute or the situation makes it definite – the	Notes
Butter, tea, iron, water, honey, wine, snow, etc.	– Blood is thicker than water. ­– He doesn’t like coffee. – She was as pale as snow.	­– Rosa tasted the wine. It was good. – The coffee she made was hot. – She looked with hungry eyes at the bread and meat the landlady brought her.	1. When an indefinite part of the substance is meant, some/any are used. – I bought some bread and cheese. 2. We use a/an when: a) sorts of food are meant – They give a good coffee here. b) a portion of something is meant – He drank a tea and went out. – I’ll buy you an ice. c) the noun indicates an object made of a certain material – There is a tin of sardines on the table. – She has bought a paper.
Abstract nouns	– While there is life there is hope. – What fine weather we are heaving! – They walked in silence along the path.	– Last night I heard “Carmen” and enjoyed the music. – We enjoyed the stillness of the air. – He was in a state of the greatest excitement.	A/an is used with uncountable abstract nouns a) when modified by a descriptive attribute which brings out a special aspect. – A hot anger rose in the chest. – There was a wonderful happiness everywhere. b) when the adjectives changes its meaning and becomes a noun – I have just seen a real beauty.
Anger, beauty, curiosity, freedom, happiness, love, modesty, pride, time, respect, etc.
Adjectives, adjective pronouns, adjectivized participles	An only child in the family, a first love, a first night, a first time, a first child, a last minute decision(поспешное решение)	The right, the left, the very (тот самый), the only, the main, the principle, the central, the left, the right, the same, the following, the former (первый), the latter(последний), the first, the last
	Silence-тишина молчание Decision- решительность Kindness- доброта Experience- опыт Favour- милость Indiscretion- неосторожность Failure- неудача Nature- природа		A silence-пауза A decision- решение A kindness- доброе дело An experience-случай A favour-одолжение An indiscretion- неблагоразумный поступок A failure-неудачник A nature- натура