Indefinite articles are used when we are referring to an unspecified thing or quantity.

We use them when we don’t know (or

don’t care) which thing we’re talking about.

There once was a sheep.

Since I don’t know which sheep it was—that is, I don’t know its name, where it’s from, or anything about it—I can’t

say the sheep.

How to use the indefinite articles a vs. an

The two indefinite articles in English are a and an. The indefinite article an is used to make pronunciation easier when

reading a text aloud. The general rule is to use a when the indefinite article precedes a word beginning with a consonant

sound and an when it precedes a word starting with a vowel sound.

Use a when the indefinite article comes before a word beginning with a consonant sound:

a toy

a book

a house

2 Use an when the indefinite article comes before a word beginning with a vowel sound:

an operation

an idea

an apple
Indefinite articles a and an exceptions

It’s important to note that not all nouns that begin with a consonant begin with the consonant sound. Always trust the sound,

not the letter when applying the a vs. an rule. Remember, it’s about pronunciation. Consider the examples below:

a hourglass

an hourglass

a honor

an honor

Likewise, there are some nouns beginning with a vowel that make a consonant sound. In these cases, the indefinite

article a should be used:

an university

a university

an one-eyed pirate

a one-eyed pirate

Using a vs. an with acronyms

These same rules apply to acronyms:

A Society of Writers member was quoted in the article.

A S.O.W. member was quoted in the article.

An S.O.W. member was quoted in the article.

Because S sounds like it begins with a vowel (ess), an should be used in front of it.

OWL EXERCISES
Using Articles

What is an article? Basically, an article is an adjective. Like adjectives, articles modify nouns.

English has two articles: the and a/an. The is used to refer to specific or particular nouns; a/an is used to modify non-specific or non-

particular nouns. We call the the definite article and a/an the indefinite article.

the = definite article

a/an = indefinite article

For example, if I say, "Let's read the book," I mean a specific book. If I say, "Let's read a book," I mean any book rather than a specific

book.

Here's another way to explain it: The is used to refer to a specific or particular member of a group. For example, "I just saw the most

popular movie of the year." There are many movies, but only one particular movie is the most popular. Therefore, we use the.

"A/an" is used to refer to a non-specific or non-particular member of the group. For example, "I would like to go see a movie." Here,

we're not talking about a specific movie. We're talking about any movie. There are many movies, and I want to see any movie. I don't

have a specific one in mind.

Let's look at each kind of article a little more closely.

INDEFINITE ARTICLES: A AND AN

"A" and "an" signal that the noun modified is indefinite, referring to any member of a group. For example:

 "My daughter really wants a dog for Christmas." This refers to any dog. We don't know which dog because we haven't found

the dog yet.

 "Somebody call a policeman!" This refers to any policeman. We don't need a specific policeman; we need any policeman who

is available.

 "When I was at the zoo, I saw an elephant!" Here, we're talking about a single, non-specific thing, in this case an elephant.

There are probably several elephants at the zoo, but there's only one we're talking about here.
REMEMBER, USING A OR AN DEPENDS ON THE SOUND THAT BEGINS THE NEXT WORD. SO...

 a + singular noun beginning with a consonant: a boy; a car; a bike; a zoo; a dog

 an + singular noun beginning with a vowel: an elephant; an egg; an apple; an idiot; an orphan
  a + singular noun beginning with a consonant sound: a user (sounds like 'yoo-zer,' i.e. begins with a consonant 'y' sound, so 'a'

is used); a university; a unicycle

 an + nouns starting with silent "h": an hour

 a + nouns starting with a pronounced "h": a horse

o In some cases where "h" is pronounced, such as "historical," you can use an. However, a is more commonly used and

preferred.

A historical event is worth recording.

Remember that these rules also apply when you use acronyms:

Introductory Composition at Purdue (ICaP) handles first-year writing at the University. Therefore, an ICaP memo generally
discusses issues concerning English 106 instructors.

Another case where this rule applies is when acronyms or initialisms start with consonant letters but have vowel sounds:

An MSDS (material safety data sheet) was used to record the data. An SPCC plan (Spill Prevention Control and
Countermeasures plan) will help us prepare for the worst.

If the noun is modified by an adjective, the choice between a and an depends on the initial sound of the adjective that immediately

follows the article:

 a broken egg

 an unusual problem

 a European country (sounds like 'yer-o-pi-an,' i.e. begins with consonant 'y' sound)

Remember, too, that in English, the indefinite articles are used to indicate membership in a group:

 I am a teacher. (I am a member of a large group known as teachers.)

 Brian is an Irishman. (Brian is a member of the people known as Irish.)

 Seiko is a practicing Buddhist. (Seiko is a member of the group of people known as Buddhists.)
DEFINITE ARTICLE: THE

The definite article is used before singular and plural nouns when the noun is specific or particular. The signals that the noun is definite,

that it refers to a particular member of a group. For example:

"The dog that bit me ran away." Here, we're talking about a specific dog, the dog that bit me.

"I was happy to see the policeman who saved my cat!" Here, we're talking about a particular policeman. Even if we don't know the

policeman's name, it's still a particular policeman because it is the one who saved the cat.

"I saw the elephant at the zoo." Here, we're talking about a specific noun. Probably there is only one elephant at the zoo.
COUNT AND NONCOUNT NOUNS

The can be used with noncount nouns, or the article can be omitted entirely.

 "I love to sail over the water" (some specific body of water) or "I love to sail over water" (any water).

 "He spilled the milk all over the floor" (some specific milk, perhaps the milk you bought earlier that day) or "He spilled milk all

over the floor" (any milk).

"A/an" can be used only with count nouns.

 "I need a bottle of water."

 "I need a new glass of milk."

Most of the time, you can't say, "She wants a water," unless you're implying, say, a bottle of water.

GEOGRAPHICAL USE OF THE

There are some specific rules for using the with geographical nouns.

Do not use the before:

 names of most countries/territories: Italy, Mexico, Bolivia; however, the Netherlands, the Dominican

Republic, the Philippines, the United States

 names of cities, towns, or states: Seoul, Manitoba, Miami

 names of streets: Washington Blvd., Main St.

 names of lakes and bays: Lake Titicaca, Lake Erie except with a group of lakes like the Great Lakes

 names of mountains: Mount Everest, Mount Fuji except with ranges of mountains like the Andes or the Rockies or unusual

names like the Matterhorn

 names of continents (Asia, Europe)

 names of islands (Easter Island, Maui, Key West) except with island chains like the Aleutians, the Hebrides, or the Canary

Islands

Do use the before:

  names of rivers, oceans and seas: the Nile, the Pacific

 points on the globe: the Equator, the North Pole

 geographical areas: the Middle East, the West

 deserts, forests, gulfs, and peninsulas: the Sahara, the Persian Gulf, the Black Forest, the Iberian Peninsula
OMISSION OF ARTICLES

Some common types of nouns that don't take an article are:

 Names of languages and nationalities: Chinese, English, Spanish, Russian (unless you are referring to the population of the

nation: "The Spanish are known for their warm hospitality.")

 Names of sports: volleyball, hockey, baseball

 Names of academic subjects: mathematics, biology, history, computer science

MODAL CONCEPT EXAMPLE

Can Ability: Julie can swim.

Permission: Can I come with you? ('May' is also used.)

Offers: Can I help you?

Could Possibility: That story could be true - who knows!

Past ability: Charlie could swim when he was four years old.

Permission: Could I use your phone please?

Requests: Could you tell me the way to the station please?

Must Obligation: things wee need to do Dogs must be kept on a lead.

Logical deduction: You must be tired after your long journey.

Mustn't Prohibition: You mustn't tell Alex. It's a surprise!

Should Advice: a good idea to do things You should take an umbrella in case it rains.

Logical deduction: I've revised so I should be ready for the test.

IT IS

All sentences in English must have a subject. However, sometimes no subject is immediately apparent, or it
is more convenient to use just one word. In these situations, we use the word it. It is a third person
pronoun, meaning that the verb forms that accompany it are the same as the verb forms that accompany
other third person pronouns (i.e., he and she).

We often use it to talk about the weather. For example, we can make sentences such "it is hot" "it is cold"
and "it is raining." Even though the meaning of these sentences would be clear without it, it is not possible
to leave it out. It is not possible to say "is hot" "is cold" or "is raining," because grammatically these
sentences have no subject.

We also use it to talk about the time. As in the previous examples, we have to say "it is 2 o'clock," not only
"is 2 o'clock." Another common use of it is to talk about people. For example, we can make sentences such
as, "Who is that talking to John?" "It's his brother, Peter."

It is often accompanied by is, which is the third person conjugation of the verb "to be." The contracted form
of it is is it's. However, it is important to remember that it can be followed by other verbs too. For example,
we can say "it rains a lot in England" or "it often snows in winter."

Let's look at some other examples.

Examples:

1. It is very hot in Mallorca in the summer.

(The weather is very hot in Mallorca, an island of Spain, in the summer.)

2. "What day is it?" asked Angela.

"It's Monday," Jenny replied.
(The day is Monday.)

3. What time is the meeting?" I asked.

"I'm not sure, but I know it's in the afternoon."
(The meeting is in the afternoon.)

4. Who is that girl in the picture?"

"It's my sister, Hannah."
(The girl in the picture is my sister.)

5. It's time to go to school!

(The time of day right now is the hour when we must go to school.)

6.

There is…
When we want to say that something exists in a particular place, we use the structure there is. In there
is sentences, we put the subject after the verb. Unlike with it is, there is sentences have a clear subject
that we want to speak about.
For example, we can say "there is snow outside," "there is a hole in my sock" and "there is a mouse in the
kitchen." We cannot say "it is snow outside," because "snow" is already the subject of the sentence. We only
use it when the sentence has no subject. Similarly, we cannot say "it is a hole in my sock" or "it is a mouse
in the kitchen."

In the above examples, it would be possible to say "snow is outside," "a hole is in my sock" and "a mouse is
in the kitchen." However, it is more typical to use the alternate structure "there is…" because this structure
emphasizes the location where the subject is located.

When we want to speak about more than one subject, we use the plural structure there are. In the past, we
use the structures there was and there were, and in the future there will be or there is/are going to be.
These forms also exist in the negative and interrogative: there isn't/there aren't, there won't be, there
isn't going to be, etc.

Examples:

1. There is an apple in the fridge.

(An apple is in the fridge.)

2. There are 8 students in my class.

(Eight students are in my class.)

3. There is a lot of cheese on the pizza.

(A lot of cheese is on the pizza.)

4. There are going to be a lot of people at the party.

(A lot of people are going to be at the party.)

5. There are a lot of candles on my birthday cake.

(A lot of candles are on the birthday cake.)

There are so many student using eectronic dictionary these days, I think it s a gud I dea to buy one,

But sure we should becarefull with them, it easy to becamoe lazy, and use the dictionary instead of thinkin for urself,

There’s noting wrong with paper dictionary either, they can be small and they can be easy to carry them with u

I think it’s a lill sad that ppl don’t use book anymore

Hey hey al ore, fii amanillah yaaa, hati2 dijalan…. See u again next time…

be gudboys and happy terus yaaaaa, jangan lupa sholat!! daaaaaahhhhhhh

When to use GOING TO
The structure BE GOING TO is normally used to indicate the future but with some type of connection to the present.
We use it in the following situations:

1. When we have already decided or we INTEND to do something in the future. (Prior Plan)

The decision has been made before the moment of speaking.

 They're going to retire to the beach - in fact they have already bought a little beach house.
 I'm going to accept the job offer.

2. When there are definite signs that something is going to happen. (Evidence)

Something is likely to happen based on the evidence or experience you have.

 I think it is going to rain - I just felt a drop.

 I don't feel well. I think I'm going to throw up. (throw up = vomit)

3. When something is about to happen:

 Get back! The bomb is going to explode.

When to use WILL

In other cases, where there is no implicit or explicit connection to the present, use WILL:

1. For things that we decide to do now. (Rapid Decisions)

This is when you make a decision at that moment, in a spontaneous way.

 I'll buy one for you too.

 I think I'll try one of those. (I just decided this right now)

2. When we think or believe something about the future. (Prediction)

 My team will not win the league this season.

 I think it will rain later so take an umbrella with you.

Note: You can use both Will and Going to for making future predictions.

3. To make an offer, a promise or a threat.

 I'll give you a discount if you buy it right now.

 I promise I will behave next time.
 I'll take you to the movies if you'd like.

4. You use WON'T when someone refuses to do something.

 I told him to take out the trash but he won't do it.
 My kids won't listen to anything I say.
 My car won't start.