The Use of the Indefinite Article

The indefinite article a/an is used with countable nouns: 1) if the person or a thing is mentioned for the first time;	I can see a carthere.
2) after the constructions there is, there was, there will be;	There is a book on the table.
3) if the noun is a part of complex predicative;	Her brother is an artist.
4) if a noun with a/an has a meaning «будь-який»;	Give me a pencil, please.
5) if a/an means one and is used before noun which means time, weight, measure;   in the expressions: price in relation to weight: two pounds a kilo distance/to speed: 40 km an/perhour frequency: twice a/perday	Wait a minute, please.   Will you be back in an hour? How many times a week do you attend your sport club? A kilogram of butter is about ten hryvnas.
6) in exclamations after the word what;	What a clever parrot!
7) after the words such (такий), quite (зовсім, повністю), rather (достатньо);	This is such a difficult sentence to translate. He is quite a young man.   It is rather astrange car.
8) to classify people in terms of the work they do, where they come from: - origin: - occupation: - religion: - politics:	He is an American. My brother is a doctor. He is a Catholic. He is a Republican.
9) with an object after the verb have.	I have a brother.
10) in descriptions	He’s got a long nose.
11) The indefinite article is used in the expressions: a little (трохи, мало), a few (декілька).	If I have a little time today, I’ll drop in.   I’d like to say a few words.
12) The indefinite article is used with abstract nouns that are used with attribute.	They lived a quiet life. He has a deep knowledge of the subject.
13) The indefinite article is used with numerals that are used as nouns, as well as with the words dozen (дюжина), score (рахунок у грі).	A scoreof the game is always shown on the scoreboard. A thousandof students were present at the concert.

The indefinite article is used in set expressions:

Have a look – подивитися

Go for a walk – ходити на прогулянку

Be in a hurry – поспішати

For a long time – довго

In a low voice – тихо

It’s a pleasure. – Приємно.

It’s a pity. – Шкода.

It’s a shame. – Соромно.

As a result – в результаті

Be at a loss – розгубитися

At a glance – з першого погляду

Have a good time – добре проводити час

8. The use of definite article with common nouns.

The Use of the Definite Article

The Use of the	Examples
The definite article is used with common nouns: 1) when the noun is mentioned for the second time or is already known	There was a door opposite me. I went in and locked the door.
2) when we are talking about something specific	The milkin the glass has turned sour. The lightis on in the kitchen. - Have you seen her new flat? - Yes, I have. The flatis large and comfortable.
3) when the listener or reader can already identify what we are referring to, therefore the shows that the noun has been specified by the context/situation	This is the housewhere I live. He is the student you wanted to speak to. Paris is the capital of France.
4) before noun in singular that denotes a certain class as distinct from other classes	The roseis my favourite flower. The telephonewas invented in the 19^th century. The dogis a friend of man.
5) before the noun used with the adjective in the superlative form or ordinal numeral	Our planet is the most beautiful planetin the space. The first spacemanwas Yuri Gagarin.
6) with the nouns that are unique (the sun, the sky, the moon, the world, the universe)	I like to look up at the stars inthe sky. The earthgoes round the sun. When we went out, the moonwas shining.
7) with nouns that are used after the words most of, one of, some of, many of, each of, none of	Most of the storiesare very interesting. Each of the boystook part in the competition. None of the childrenwanted to leave the party.
8) before the nouns with attributes that are expressed by the words same, wrong, right, following, next, last NB! next week (month, summer, year, Sunday), last week (year, Sunday)	They belong to the same family. You are the very personI need. The right manin the right place.
9) with nouns that are used as adverbial modifiers	It was very dark in the forest. They came into the restaurantand sat down at the table near the window.
10) before the noun used as apposition that underlines the meaning of the personality it refers to	Jack London, the famous American writer,travelled much.
11) we use the + adjectives to refer the a group of people usually with the adjectives poor, rich, sick, injured, old, young, blind, unemployed	The olddon’t always understand the young. Why doesn’t the government do more to help the unemployed?
12) before the noun peoplein the meaning " народ”	TheUkrainianpeopleare very tolerant..
13) before the noun that denotes the nationality (the English, the Irish, the Chinese) NB! I am English. He is French..	The Frenchare famous for their food. The Ukrainiansare very tolerant. The Japaneseare famous for their scientific inventions.
14) in the expressions in the afternoon, in the evening, in the morning, on the left, on the right, the other day	I come home in the evening.
15) in the expressions like the more … the better; the more … the more	The morewe learn, the morewe know.
16) before the nouns doctor, dentist, garageand others in the meaning “ свій”	He’s gone to see the doctor. The garageis near the house.
17) before nouns denoting ranks, titles, if they are used without proper names	The Prime Ministerwill speak on TV. The Presidentproposed to reduce taxes.
18) before the names of musical instruments (the piano, the guitar)	Do you play the piano? Have you bought the guitar?
19) before the names of political parties (the Democrats, the Conservatives)	The Democratsnominated their candidates to the Parliament. The Conservativeslost the last elections.
20) with public bodies (the police, the army)	The policeshould pay more attention to the peoplewho break the rules while crossing the street.

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