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The uses of article “a/an”
Abstract
In studying a foreign language, learners could not pay attention to only its
pronunciation, vocabulary but also its grammar. The learners, in fact, have to
meet grammatical problem very much such as: tense, verb, adj…Particularly
articles. The correct use of articles a/an is complex and difficult problem in
English grammar. It requires learners to have a very good knowledge of articles
and how to use them. Therefore, in my study, I describe research to ward article
a/an in English. We present definition and types of articles, some basic use of
a/an, and classification in terms of meaning.
Outline
I. Introduction
II. Findings
1. Definition and types of articles.
2. Basic use of a/an.
3. Classification in terms of meaning.
III. Recommendations
IV. Conclusion
References
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I. Introduction
Nowadays, English has become more and more popular in Viet Nam in
general and in many universities in particular. For many students learning
English is vital need.
To learn English well, grammar plays a very important role of which
articles are a rather small but crucial grammatical unit in defining nouns and
showing how the noun is being used. Although article a/an is a small
elements, they have caused a lot of trouble and confusion for learners when
using them. As a Vietnamese learner of English for a long time, I sometimes
have difficulties in using article a/an. That is reason I choose this topic for
may study. The study concentrates on finding of out English learners
difficulties in learning articles and basing on this to give learners some
necessary ones which I have learned from teacher, friend ,books…to help
them overcome the difficulties and use of article a/an more effectively. And
in my study, I focus on definition basic use of article a/an and classification
in terms of meaning.
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II. Finding
1. Definition and types of articles
Many grammarians such as A.J. Thomson, Alexander, Cobuild…have
many different definition.
According to Cobuild (1990) articles are a small member of determiners
that are used with noun or noun phrases and have function of identifying on
classifying the nouns or noun phrases (p.43)
Another definition of English articles is that articles are, in fact, limiting
adjectives, but they are generally treated as a separate part of speech
An indefinite article is used before singular nouns that refer to any
member of group (Raimes,1988, P. 45)
There are three main articles:
The indefinite articles a/an
The definite articles the
The zero article (o)
2. Basic use of a/an
a/.∂./in front of consonant sound: p, t, k, m, n, …and with alphabet B, C,
D, G, K, Q, T,U, V, W, Y,Z, (H)
Eg: a hat, a pen, a K
An/∂n/ in front of vowel sound o. e, i, a, u and with alphabet A, E, F, H,
I, L, M, N, O, R, S, X…
Eg: an umbrella, an orange, an F
A/an has an indefinite meaning (person, animals or thing referred to
may be not know to the listener or readers, so A/an has the sense of any or I
can’t tell you which, or it doesn’t matter which)
A/an can combine only with singular noun
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3. Classification in terms of meaning
3.1 A/an +a noun: referring to something /person in general
Eg:
A cat is a domestic animal
An architect is a person who designs buildings
3.2 By means of label: a/an +noun after the verb be.
In order to give more information about someone, something or talk
about the profession (Alexander, 1988, P 36)
Eg:
His father is an engineer
She is a doctor
3.3 A/an +adjective = noun to describe the people ( Que, Phan Van and
Minh, Hoang Tuyet,2006, P.18)
Eg:
She is American = She is an American
He is conservative = He is a conservative
3.4 Indicating
Occupation: He wants to be a teacher
Religion and nationalities: He is an English man
Politics: My grandmother is a Republican
Origins: I am a Vietnamese
3.5 Representative/ example/ typical or group of class.
“To refer to a thing or a person of individual type to makes a general
statement about all people or things of that type” ( J, Maurer, 1997, P.25)
Eg:
A child needs love ( all Children need love)
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3.6 Referring to a “certain person”
A/an +tiles (Ms, Mr, Mrs):a certain person who you don’t known ( Que,
Phan Van and Tuyet, Hoang Minh, 2006, P.19)
Eg:
A Mr Hung phone you
A Mss Lan wants to see you in the hall
3.7 Quantity: a/an = only one
Not specifying any particular person or thing
Eg:
I’d like a cake
When expressing this in the plural person, we use some or any
Eg:
I’d like some cakes/ I don’t like any cakes
Referring to “only one”
Eg:
I have a new car
3.8 A/an when it is mentioned for the first time and represents no
particular person or thing (Chalker, S, 1984, P.28)
Eg:
He has just bough a book
There were a man and a woman in the garden
3.9 A/an with reference to measurement: referring to one unit of
measure in terms of another. To emphasize each, We used per instead of
a/an ( Que, Phan Van and Minh, Hoang Tuyet,2006, P18)
Price in relation to weight : 5p a/per kilo
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Distance in relation to speed: 60km an/per hour
Distance/ fuel consumption: 30miles a/per gallon
Frequency/time: Four times a day
3.10 A/an after What and such (Alexander, L.G, 1988, P 37)
A/an used with countable nouns after What in exclamations
Eg:
What a shame!
What a lot...! used for exclamation
Eg:
What a lot of lucky
A/an after such when we wish to emphasize degree
Eg:
She is such an intelligent!
3.11 A/an with pairs of nouns
Eg:
a cup and saucer
3.12 A/an with references to illnesses/ condition ( Thu, N.T, 2003, P.20)
The indefinite article is compulsory: to have a cold. A headache
The indefinite article is optional: to catch a cold, to have a stomach
With illnesses which are plural in form (measles, mumps..) no articles is
used: My sister are bed with mumps
With illnesses which are defined as uncountable (flu, hepatitis…) no
articles used: I was bed in flu for ten days.
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IV. Recommendations
In order to used articles a/an in English effectively, the first things is that
learners have to understand concept of countability of nouns which articles
modify.
According to Jack, C.R (1985) The learners understand the used of
indefinite avoid mistakes when using an indefinite articles with uncountable
nouns and avoid using indefinite articles before nouns when they can count (
P. 47)
We can not use the indefinite articles before a plural.
Eg:
He found a holy place in the forest near his school (incorrect)
→ He found holy places in the forest near his school (correct)
A countable noun always takes an article before it
Eg:
She is student (incorrect)
→ She is a student (correct)
We can not use the indefinite article before an un countable noun like
money.
Eg:
She has a money in her bag (incorrect)
→She has money in her bag (correct)
The confusion in the use of articles:
An is used instead of A: Before a singular countable noun with
consonant or a vowel with a consonant sound
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Eg:
She is studying at an University in Hanoi (incorrect)
→She is studying at a University in Hanoi (correct)
A is used instead of an: Before a singular countable noun with a
vowel or consonant with a vowel sound
Eg:
He is a honest person (incorrect)
→He is an honest person (correct)
A/an is used instead of one in emphatic case
Eg:
It was a book we borrowed, not two (incorrect)
→It was one book we borrowed, not two (correct)
According to Jack (1985) A/an can be interchangeably each other when
we refer to whole numbers, fractions, money, weight, measure… (P.32)
Eg:
a (one) hundred, thousand…
a ( one) quarter, third…
a (one) pound, dollar …
a ( one) kilo, meter…
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IV. Conclusion
The used articles, especially article a/an are rather a challenge for learners
and for us also. Because of the complexities in using, article a/an may lead the
misunderstanding and difficulties to learners. Therefore, the study is carried out
to find out these problems and help learners understand and use them more
flexible. By pointing out the definition and types of articles, basic use of article
a/an and classification in terms meaning in English, I hope that this studying will
help the learners have overview of article a/an .
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References
1. Alexander, L.G.(1988). Longman English Grammar. NewYork: Longman
Group Limited.
2. Chalker, S. (1984). Current English Grammar. Macmillan published Ltd.
3. Cobuild, C. (1990). English Grammar. LonDon: Collins publisher.
4. Maurer, J. (1997). Focus on Grammar –An Advanced. NXB Thanh pho
Ho Chi Minh.
5. Que, Phan Van & Minh, Hoang Tuyet. (2006). Fundamentals of Practical
English Grammer. Hanoi Open University.
6. Thu, N. T. (2003). Ngu Phap Tieng Anh. NXB Thanh Pho Ho Chi Minh.
From website:
http://www.unc.du/depts/wcweb/handout/articles.html
http://www.rpi.edu/web/writingcenter/esl.html
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