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a and an with singular nouns

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We use a or an with singular nouns only.
Example: singular nouns: a girl, an orange
We use a with singular nouns which begin with
consonant sounds.
Example: a computer, a town, a unit (sounds like
yu-nit)
We use an with singular nouns which begin with
vowel sounds.
Example: an orchid, an examination, an heiress
(sounds like -eiress)

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We also use a before adjectives with consonant sounds
and an before adjectives with vowel sounds.
a / an + adjective + singular noun
Examples: an honest shopkeeper
a wonderful artist
REMEMBER! Words beginning with consonant letters do
not begin with consonant sounds. In the same way,
words starting with vowel letters may not begin with
vowel sounds.
Examples: honorary (sounds like -onorary)
European (sounds like yu-ropean)

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EXERCISE
Unique
Doctor
Entrance
Cheerful
Audience

Disease
Honourable
Bad cold
Success
University

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a, an, the with singular nouns

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We use a or an when we speak of someone or something for the first

time. We use the when we mention that person or thing a second time.
Example: I found a purse just now. I believe that the purse belongs to
Emily.
We use the when it is clear to the listener or reader which person or
thing we are referring to.
Example: My car is at the workshop in Jalan Petaling.
We use the when there is only one such thing.
Example: Theres a rainbow in the sky.
We usually use the before ordinal numbers.
Examples: I won the first prize in the competition.
Today is the 30th of January.
REMEMBER! An ordinal number is number like first, second, third or fourth
which shows the position of something in a list of items.

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EXERCISE
1. I can see ___ aeroplane on the runway. ___ aeroplane
is going to take off.
2. Mr Paulson has ___ new house. ___ house is in the
Green Street.
3. Our ship crossed ___ equator at 3 p.m. today.
4. I have to go to ___ post office in Jalan Orkid to post
___ parcel.
5. Salim is going to Sri Lanka on ___ 22nd of February.
He will attend ___ art conference there.
6. Mr Gibson plans to travel around ___ world in his hotair balloon.

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the with proper nouns

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We use the before some proper nouns such as:
the names of oceans, rivers, seas and straits
Examples: the Atlantic Ocean
the Sulu Sea
the names of the most buildings, landmarks, monuments and
natural wonders
Examples: the National Museum
the GSC Cinema
The names of places ending in plural s
Examples: the United States
the United Nations

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REMEMBER! The following are some proper nouns which
do not use the:
a) The names of continents
Examples: Australia, Europe
b) The names of most countries
Examples: Egypt, Switzerland
c) The names of most towns and cities
Examples: Colombo, London
d) The names of streets
Examples: Jalan Penang, Jalan Haji Rahman
e) The names of people
Examples: Shila, Rahman

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EXERCISE
1. I visited ___ Eiffel Tower when I was in ___ France
for a tour last month.
2. ___ Republic of Singapore lies south of ___
Peninsular Malaysia.
3. There are longhouses along ___ Skrang River in
___ Sarawak.
4. ___ Petaling Street is parallel to ___ Jaya Street.
5. ___ Vice-Chancellor of ___ University of New South
Wales is here.

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with countable and uncountable nouns

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We use a or an only before countable nouns.
Examples: We use flour to make pancakes.
Mum added salt to the fish curry.
There is water on the table.
REMEMBER! An uncountable noun does not have a plural form.
Examples: mud, not muds
rice, not rices
We use a or an with uncountable nouns in this way:
Examples: I used a cup of flour to make pancakes.
Mum added a teaspoon of salt to the fish curry.
There is a jug of water on the table.

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We use the with uncountable nouns when it is clear to the listener or
reader which things we are referring to. We do not use the with
uncountable nouns when we are talking in general.
Examples:
The water in this container tastes funny. (we are referring to the water in the
container specifically.)
Plants need water to grow. (general)
REMEMBER! The word some can be used with both countable and
uncountable nouns in these ways:
Some + plural countable noun
Examples: I want some apples.
He needs some pencils.
Some + uncountable noun
Examples: I want some flour.
He needs some paper.

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EXERCISE
1. There is ___ sand in my shoe.
2. I would like ___ bottle of soda.
3. ___ milk in this jug is sour.
4. There is ___ paint on the floor.
5. He has ___ work to do. Hell play ___
badminton with you later.
6. I like ___ soup, but only if ___ soup is hot.