Articles are words used to express the characteristics of nouns, indicating whether nouns are countable or uncountable, singular or plural, arbitrary or specific, and so on. In other words, articles and nouns are closely linked. If you use a /an /the, no matter what words follow, they become nouns. Therefore, the article is the word before the noun.

There are three basic situations in using articles:

1, with /an

A/an is used before singular countable nouns, indicating that this person or thing is generally indefinite, which is equivalent to "one" in Chinese. Note: /an or the must be used before countable singular nouns. We can't say boy, desk, dog, but a boy/that boy.

Nouns pronounced with consonants are preceded by a and nouns pronounced with vowels by an. Note: this refers to "pronunciation", not just letters. For example:

A university a university (although u is a vowel, it doesn't read vowels. )

One hour (although H is not a vowel, the pronunciation of words begins with a vowel)

In addition, a/an can also be used before uncountable nouns. At this time, this uncountable noun became a countable singular noun, and its meaning also changed. For example:

Glass-glass, glass/wood, wood forest

Power, power/beauty, beauty, beauty, beautiful things.

Step 2 use

The is equivalent to this/that or that/this, and its general usage refers to a specific person or thing. The usage is the most extensive, whether it is countable or uncountable, whether it is singular or plural, you can use the. See the following explanation for specific usage.

3. No articles

Sometimes, there is no article before a noun, and there is no a/an/the. Some books are called zero articles. Articles can be omitted before uncountable nouns, and countable plural nouns can also be omitted. Some idioms are unnecessary.

Next, talk about the usage of an article in detail.

Second, the use of indefinite articles:

1 means any one of a certain kind of people or things, and usually a/an is used when someone or something is mentioned for the first time to show the difference from other things.

I gave him a book yesterday. I gave him a book yesterday.

I am reading an interesting story. I am reading an interesting story book.

I have a ticket. I have a ticket.

There is a tree in front of my house. There is a tree in front of my house.

Use any one of them to represent the characteristics of their species.

Horses are useful to humans. Horses are useful to humans.

A bird can fly. Birds can fly.

Steelworkers make steel. Steelmakers make steel.

3. Used before the unit of measurement of things, such as time, speed, price, etc. , to mean "every".

We often go to school twice a day.

I go to the library at least once a week. I go to the library at least once a week.

Potatoes are sold for about 30 cents A Jin. Potatoes are 30 cents a catty.

Used to refer to someone, something or a place.

A boy came to see you just now. A child came to see you just now.

I bought this tool in the shop. I bought this tool in the shop.

We need a car now. We need a car now.

She is ill. She must see a doctor. She is ill. She must see a doctor.

5. Used in some phrases. For example: a few, a little, and so on.

She has several friends in this city. She has several friends in this city.

There is a little milk in the bottle. There is some milk in the bottle.

Only a few students are in the classroom. There are only a few students in the classroom.

Third, the usage of definite articles.

1. The definite article refers to a person or a thing.

The bag in the desk is mine. The bag in the desk is mine.

Is this the book you are looking for? Is this the book you are looking for?

Do you know the man in the back? Do you know who the man in black is?

This is not the car we are looking for. This is not the car we are looking for.

The man found his child. The man found his child.

If you use a/an when you mention someone or something for the first time, it will become a specific person or thing when you mention it later.

I bought a book from Xinhua Bookstore. This book cost 15 yuan.

I bought a book from Xinhua Bookstore. This book is worth fifteen yuan.

I saw a movie yesterday. The film ends at eight o'clock.

I saw a movie yesterday. The film ends at eight o'clock.

Lucy bought a radio yesterday, but she found something wrong with it.

Lucy bought a radio yesterday, but she found something wrong with it.

3. The definite article is used to indicate something unique in the world, or placed before natural phenomena or locative nouns. Of course, these things are concrete things, and there can't be more than two.

Sun, Moon and Earth

The winter sky, the world

The sun is bigger than the moon. The sun is bigger than the moon.

I can see a bird in the sky. I can see a bird in the sky.

I like walking in the bright moonlight in the evening. I like walking in the bright moonlight at night.

When the definite article is used with singular nouns, it can also indicate such people or things.

This dog is not very dangerous. Dogs are not very dangerous.

A cat is an animal. A cat is an animal.

In this season, umbrellas in shops are very cheap.

The definite article can be used with adjectives to indicate a certain person or thing. This can be regarded as omitting the usage of nouns.

The wounded bravely went to the hospital. The injured were taken to hospital.

He always helps the poor. He often helps the poor.

Deaf people can go to this special school. Deaf people can go to this special school.

Note: plural names are preceded by a family.

The greens are very friendly to us. The greens are very friendly to us.

The Whites like classical music. The Whites like classical music.

Mainly definite articles and indefinite articles.

Zero articles

1) country name, usually without definite article before the name: England, Mary; ;

2) General plural nouns, when expressing a class of people or things, do not need definite articles;

They are teachers. They are teachers.

3) When abstract nouns represent general concepts, generally no articles are added;

Failure is the mother of success. Failure is the mother of success.

4) When material nouns express general concepts, generally no articles are added; When they express a specific meaning, they need to add definite articles;

Without water, human beings can't live. Without water, people can't live.

5) No articles are added before nouns indicating time, such as season, month, festival, holiday, day and week;

We go to school from Monday to Friday. We have classes from Monday to Friday.

6) Don't put articles before nouns that address or represent official titles and positions;

The guards brought the American to General Lee.

The soldiers sent the American to General Lee.

7) Don't add articles before the names of three meals, ball games and recreational sports, such as eating breakfast and playing chess.

8) When two or more nouns are used together, articles are often omitted;

I can't write without a pen or pencil. I can't write without a pen and pencil.

9) When 9)by is used with trains and other means of transportation, there is no article in the middle; Take the bus and train;

10) Individual nouns do not use articles; For example:

Individual nouns such as school, college, prison, market, hospital, bed, desk, class, town, church, court, etc. Directly after prepositions to express the deep meaning of nouns;

Go to the hospital.

Go to the hospital (not to see a doctor, but for other purposes)

1 1) ordinal number without article;

A. possessive pronouns before ordinal numbers

B.he won the first place in the race.

C. In fixed phrases, first, first, from the first to the last.

Please adopt it.