definite and indefinite articles

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• havo
• Leerjaar 4

definite & indefinite articles

(in)Definite article

indefinite article : niet specifiek  

definite article: wel specifiek

Indefinite article (a/an)

a-> als je mede klinkers hoort -      an -> als je klinker hoort

bij zelfstandige werkwoorden in het enkelvoud

Wanneer gebruiken:

na be/become + beroep/functie/overtuiging -> His father is a teacher 

Behalve als maar 1 iemand het kan uitoefenen -> 

Who is captain of this ship.

vervolg

na as en without -> As a child he was already aggressive

voor hundred/ thousand -> His library contains a thousand 

definite article

When to use the definite article and when not?

When do you use a definite article?

- because there is only one:

The Pope is visiting Russia. 

 The moon is very bright tonight. 

 Who is the president of France?

-  with a superlative adjective:

He is the tallest boy in the class. 

It is the oldest building in the town.

When do you use a definite article?

- because there is only one in that context:

We live in a small house next to the church. (= the church in our village)

Dad, can I borrow the car? (= the car that belongs to our family)

When we stayed at my grandmother’s house, we went to the beach every day. (= the beach near my grandmother’s house)

Look at the boy over there. (= the boy I am pointing at)

When do you use a definite article?

- to say something about all the things referred to by a noun:

The wolf is not really a dangerous animal. (= Wolves are not really dangerous animals.)

The kangaroo is found only in Australia. (= Kangaroos are found only in Australia.)

The heart pumps blood around the body. (= Hearts pump blood around bodies.)

When do you use a definite article?

with adjectives like rich, poor, elderly and unemployed to talk about groups of people: 

Life can be very hard for the poor.

I think the rich should pay more taxes.

She works for a group to help the disabled.

When do you use a definite article?

- countries whose names include words like kingdom, states or republic: 

the United Kingdom the Kingdom of Bhutan 

 the United States the People's 

Republic of Chinacountries 

-plural nouns in their names:

the Netherlands

the Philippines

When do you use a definite article?

geographical features, such as mountain ranges, groups of islands, rivers, seas, oceans and canals:

the Himalayas 

the Canaries 

the Atlantic (Ocean) 

the Amazon 

the Panama Canal

When do you use a definite article?

families: 

the Obamas

the Jacksons

When not to use an article

 before plural countable nouns used in a general sense.

Children usually rush about.

Computers are useful machines..

When not to use an article

Before school, college, university, church, bed, hospital, prison etc.

His dad is still in hospital.

We learned English at school.

He is at university.

Can you please go to ___ grocery store on fifth street to buy 2 cartons of milk?

1. a
2. the
3. an
4. x

Dinner's ready in ___ kitchen!

1. a
2. an
3. x
4. the

Chad kept walking fast because he was in ___ hurry.

1. a
2. an
3. x
4. the

James spoke to .....president Joe Biden.

1. a
2. an
3. x
4. the

It was ____ honest mistake.

1. a
2. an
3. x
4. the

Isn't he ____ Dutch?

1. a
2. an
3. x
4. the