Use of indefinite articles

The indefinite articles in English are “a” and “an.” We use “a” before a word with a consonant sound.

I borrowed a book from the library.

Do you wish to wear a coat when you go abroad?

We’re going to build a house.

She received a letter by post.

It’s not a good idea to drive for hours without a rest.

He bought a ticket to see the film.

Do you have a bicycle?

We went to a shop to buy clothes.

Tomorrow is a holiday for mercantile employees.

They spent a day at Kataragama.

Are you a student still?

A friend phoned me this morning.

The teacher saw a child crying in the classroom.

Is there a train to Kandy now?

He is looking for a job after his graduation.

What do you open with a tin opener?

We use “an” before a word with a vowel sound. The vowels are “a,e,i,o,” and “u.”

I am looking for an address in the directory.

Is there an airport in this part of the country?

I have an uncle working in Dubai.

He always carries an umbrella.

There was a call for you an hour ago.

Do you want an orange?

We are going to see an opera.

He works in an office in Kandy.

She is wearing an expensive necklace.

I met an old friend yesterday.

An apple a day keeps the doctor away. (Proverb)

Exceptions

a university
a unicorn
a union
a useful book
a uniform
a European
a one-rupee coin

We use “a” or “an” only before singular countable nouns.

When are you going to put up a new house?

Father bought a new car.

I need a new motorcycle.

Marcus is an old friend of mine.

Her room has got a really big window.

Maya was wearing a red skirt.

You’re wearing a nice shirt.

Can I have a glass of water?

I have got a problem.

Lalani has a beautiful daughter.

A woman selling sweep tickets came to my house.

I saw a child begging for food.

We are living in a house built 50 years ago,

We must put an end to terrorism.

An old man sat under a big tree.

The building belongs to a Russian.

There is a university in Peradeniya.

The man was wearing a uniform.

We often use an uncountable noun without “a” or “an” to say what something is made of.

The vase is made of glass.

The sweater is made of silk.

The door is made of wood.

The shoes are made of leather.

We use “one” instead of “a” or “an” when the exact number is important.

The boy asked for one pen, not two.

I’ve got only one dictionary.

Usually a woman carries only one umbrella.

She has got one daughter and two sons.

One friend is enough, I don’t need many.

Match words and meanings

Here’s an interesting way to enrich your word power. Match the words in column “A” with their meanings in column “B” and check your answers with the key. The first one has been done for you.

Column A

A 1. conspiracy

... 2. constable

... 3. constant

... 4. constellation

... 5. consternation

... 6. constitute

... 7. constrain

... 8. constrict

... 9. construct

... 10. construe

... 11. consult

... 12. consume

... 13. consumer

... 14. consummate

... 15. contact

... 16. contaminate

... 17. contemporane ous

... 18. contempt

... 19. contend

... 20. content

... 21. contented

... 22. contentious

... 23. contest

... 24. contestant

... 25. Contiguous

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Column B

A. a secret plan to do something bad

B. to be considered as something

C. to make something less pure

D. happening all the time

E. communicate with someone

F. perfect

G. to use fuel, energy or time

H. to get advice from someone

I. a group of stars

J. a police officer of the lowest rank

K. to become tighter or narrower

L. next to

M. someone who competes

N. a competition

O. likely to cause disagreement

P. happy and satisfied

Q. to compete

R. pleased with your situation

S. a strong feeling of dislike

T. happening at the same time

U. a person who buys goods or services

V. to understand the meaning

W. to control something

X. to build something

Y. a feeling of worry or confusion

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Key

2. J 3. D 4. I 5. Y 6. B 7. W 8. K 9. X 10. V 11. H 12. G 13. U 14. F 15 E 16. C 17. T 18. S 19. Q 20. R 21. P 22. O 23. N 24. M 25. L

A unique feature of countable and uncountable nouns

Some nouns can be countable or uncountable according to the context. Let's have a look at some of them.
A potato or potato?

Countable
Mother is peeling a potato.
Manel baked a cake for the party.
I saw my sister eating an apple.
Someone threw a stone at the mango.
Waiter, there is a hair in my soup!

Uncountable
Would you like some potato?
Let me have a piece of cake.
Did you put apple into the fruit-salad?
The Mayor lived in a house made of stone.
Amanda has short hair.
A sport or sport?

Countable
Cricket is a popular sport.
A beautiful painting is hanging on the wall.
I heard a sudden noise in the kitchen.
The actor led an eventful life.

Uncountable
Some children don't like sport.
Are you good at painting?
Too much noise is bad for our health.
Life is a constant struggle.
A paper or paper?

Countable
Father reads a paper every morning. (=newspaper)
Drink a glass of water early in the morning.
She bought an iron to press her clothes.
Switch off the light when you leave the room.
How many times have you been to India?
Climbing Sigiriya was a great experience.
My uncle runs a small business.
I am looking for a space to park my car.

Uncountable
The student wanted some paper to write an essay.
A piece of glass fell off the bus.
In the past most of the bridges were made of iron.
I need more light to read this book.
I have no time to waste.
Do you have enough experience to do this job?
I don't want to be a clerk. I want to do business.
The crowded train did not have even elbow space.
Do you find gravity in space?
A coffee or coffee?

Countable
I want a cup of tea.
She ordered a cup of coffee.

Uncountable
I prefer tea to coffee.

Quiz on idioms

An idiom is a special kind of phrase. It is a group of words which have a different meaning when used together from the one it would have if the meaning of each word were taken individually. Tick the meaning of the following idioms printed in bold type and check your answers with the key.

1. If you shoot the breeze ...
(a) you talk with people in an informal way
(b) you talk with people in an arrogant way
(c) you talk with people in a serious way

2. If you drop a brick ...
(a) you say something irrelevant
(b) you say something serious
(c) you say something tactless

3. If you are making bricks without straw ...
(a) you are trying to do a job without the proper resources
(b) you are making a novel type of brick
(c) you are evading the main issue

4. I'll cross the bridge when I come to it ...
(a) I'll do only what is necessary
(b) I'll cross the bridge when it is ready
(c) I'll deal with the problem when it happens

5. If you build bridges between opposing groups of people ...
(a) you are trying to separate them
(b) you are helping them to understand each other
(c) you are trying to build bridges between two cities

6. If you hold no brief for a cause ...
(a) you do not support it
(b) you support it
(c) you do not take legal action

7. If you are bright as a button ...
(a) you are foolish
(b) you are intelligent
(c) you are proud

8. If you are bright-eyed and bushy-tailed ...
(a) you are arrogant
(b) you are crazy
(c) you are full of energy

9. If someone is on the bubble ...
(a) they are in a difficult situation
(b) they are in a happy situation
(c) they do not know what to do

10. If you say the buck stops here ...
(a) you accept payment to render some service
(b) you avoid taking the responsibility
(c) you do not expect anyone else to deal with a problem

*****

1. (a) 2. (c) 3. (a) 4. (c) 5. (b) 6. (a) 7. (b) 8. (c) 9. (a) 10. (c)

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