English Verbs & Essentials of Grammar for ESL Learners by Ed Swick

Author:Ed Swick
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Publisher: McGraw-Hill Education
Published: 2010-04-15T04:00:00+00:00

Using Indefinite Articles

Indefinite articles are used when the noun they modify is not specific. No particular person or thing is being identified. If the noun is plural, no article is used with it. Although any or some often accompany a plural noun, the meaning is still not specific:

Singular: A map is required if you plan to hike in these mountains.

Plural: Maps don’t always help if you get lost in these mountains.

Singular: Do you have an orange?

Plural: Do you have any oranges?

Singular: A soldier was wounded in the battle.

Plural: Some soldiers were wounded in the battle.

A negative answer to a question that inquires about an unspecified person or thing will use the indefinite article in the answer. Compare these answers to the positive answers provided in the preceding section, “Using Definite Articles:”

Did you get a gift from her? No, I still haven’t received a gift from her.

Was a child involved in the accident? No, the report didn’t mention a child.

Did you get your medicine at a drugstore? No, I couldn’t find a drug-store that was open.

Indefinite articles should be used with the following:

1. Professions (a teacher, a lawyer, an astronaut)

2. Nationalities (a Russian, a Mexican, an Iranian)

3. Religions (a Jew, a Christian, a Buddhist)

4. Following there is or there are (There is a reason for it. There are some problems with it.)

5. Unspecified nouns that can be counted (a book, an orange, some trees)

6. Names of days (on a Monday; it was a Friday; on a Saturday)

7. With certain numbers (a hundred, a thousand, a billion)

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