Learn English Grammar تعلم قواعد اللغة الإنجليزية
Learn English Grammar تعلم قواعد اللغة الإنجليزية
There are only three articles in the English language: a, an and the.
Their actual use is a complex one especially when you get into the advanced use of English. Quite often you have to work by what sounds right, which can be frustrating for a learner.
We usually use no article to talk about things in general – the doesn’t mean all.
| For example: | “Books are expensive.” = (All books are expensive.)
“كتب غالية الثمن”. = (جميع الكتب غالية الثمن.) “The books are expensive.” = (Not all books are expensive, just the ones I’m talking about.) “إن الكتب غالية الثمن”. = (ليست كل الكتب غالية الثمن، فقط تلك التي أتحدث عنه. |
A and an
A and an are the indefinite articles. They refer to something not specifically known to the person you are communicating with.
You use a when the noun you are referring to begins with a consonant.
You use an when the noun you are referring to begins with a vowel.
| For example: | “I saw an elephant at the zoo.”
“رأيت الفيل في حديقة حيوان.” “I ate a banana for lunch.” “أكلت الموز لتناول طعام الغداء.” |
The
You use the when you know that the listener knows or can work out what particular person/thing you are talking about.
| For example: | “The apple you ate was rotten.”
“Did you lock the car?” |
You should also use the when you have already mentioned the thing you are talking about.
| For example: | “She’s got two children; a girl and a boy. The girl’s eight and the boy’s fourteen.” |
We also use the when we know there is only one of a particular thing.
| For example: | the sun, the wind, the world, the North Pole etc.. |
However if you want to describe a particular instance of these you should use a/an.
| For example: | “I could hear the wind.” / “There’s a cold wind blowing.” “وكنت أسمع الريح”. / وقال “هناك الرياح الباردة التي تهب.” “What are your plans for the future?” / “She has a promising future ahead of her.” |
