Page 166 - Oxford_English_Grammar_Course_Basic_2015

SECTION 11 articles: and

grammar summary

A/An shows that we are talking about one person or thing. We often use a/an:
• in descriptions
She's an interesting person. He's got a loud voice.

• when we say what something is, or what somebody's job is.
This is a return ticket. I'm an engineer.
The usually means'You know which one(s) I'm talking about'.
Can I use the phone? (The hearer knows that this means 'your phone'.)

Nouns used without articles often have a special meaning.
I dislike cats. (This means 'all cats'.)

Most Western European languages have articles. So if you speak (for example) French, German, Spanish
or Greek, you will not have too many problems with a/an and the: they are used mostly in the same way
as your articles. There are a few differences: see pages 156-161. If you speak a non-Western-European
language (for example Russian, Polish, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese), you may find articles more difficult.
Study all of this Section, especially pages 154-155.

There is a mountain far away.
And on the mountain stands a tree.
And on the tree there is a branch.
And on the branch there is a nest.
And in the nest there is an egg.
And in the egg there is a bird.
One day the bird will fly.

One day we will be free.
(old folksong)

An Englishman, an Irishman, There’s some bacon in the We went to the Czech
a Scotsman and a Welshman went fridge if you’re hungry. Republic on holiday

into a pub. The Englishman ... last year.

My wife's from California.
I'm afraid Ann’s in
Shut the door and turn off the hospital again.
lights when you go, will you? I’ll meet you at the Palace Hotel
in Clark Street at 8.00.
We both studied at
We’ve got offices in Australia, Birmingham University.
Canada and the United States. He’s got a very nice smile.

People are strange.
You have beautiful eyes.
He's a doctor and she's
an engineer.

ARTICLES: A/AN AND THE 151