Definite and indefinite articles are article types. Remember that articles are words that come before the noun, determining its number (singular or plural) and its gender (female or male).
Definite article
The definite articles (the, the, the, the) define or individualize, in a precise way, the nouns, be it a person, object or place.
| Definite article | Gender | Number |
|---|---|---|
| O | masculine | singular |
| The | feminine | singular |
| you | masculine | plural form |
| at | feminine | plural form |
Examples:
- O boy went to dinner at his parents' house.
- we won The bike we expected.
- Luísa took the opportunity to review you friends.
- At girls went traveling.
In all the examples we can note the accuracy of such persons or objects by the correct use of the definite article. This is because it accurately determines the noun in question: the boy, the bicycle, the friends and the girls.
Thus, it is clear that the definite article indicates in a particular way the already known noun. Note that these are present in the text or in the thoughts of the speaker (sender, author) or the interlocutor (receiver, listener).
See too: nouns
Indefinite article
Indefinite articles (one, one, one, one) determine, in a vague, indeterminate or imprecise manner, a person, object or place which has not been mentioned previously in the text.
| Indefinite article | Gender | Number |
|---|---|---|
| a | masculine | singular |
| one | feminine | singular |
| some | masculine | plural form |
| some | feminine | plural form |
Examples:
- One day we will meet.
- One one afternoon we went out for a walk.
- Joan invited to the party some foreign friends.
- Bought some shirts for her birthday.
Note that in all of the above examples, you are not defining which object, person or place. In the first two examples, “which day” or “which afternoon” the event takes place is not identified.
Likewise, Joan does not specify “which friends” she will invite to the party. Finally, “some shirts” corresponds to a vague idea of “which shirts” are these.
Be careful not to confuse the indefinite article “one” with the numeral “one”, as the numeral is a word used to indicate quantity.
See too: Numeral
Use of articles
1. Articles must always agree with the noun in gender (male and female) and number (singular and plural). Examples:
- O boy - you boys.
- The girl - at girls.
- a month - some months.
- one table - some tables.
2. Articles can be combined with prepositions.
- to the/aos (a + o/os). Example: The text is dedicated to the country.
- à/at (a + a/as). Example: I will à school every morning.
- gives/of the (from + to/as). Example: We get a lot of gifts gives Agnes.
- of/From (from + o/os). Example: The furniture was From our grandparents.
- at/in the (in + a/as). Example: The necklace is in the Sonia's stuff.
- at the/US (in + o/os). Example: We found the ring at the Hall.
- on one/nus (in + one/ones). Example: Today we are on one congress.
- in/in some (in + one/ones). Example: I had lunch in cafeteria this week.
- dum/dus (from + one/ones). Example: The notebooks found are dum researcher.
- of/some (from + one/one). Example: I need some blouses to go out.
3. According to their position in the sentence, articles can transform any type of word into a noun, regardless of its grammatical class. Examples:
- The walk Elisa is very sensual. (in this case, the verb “to walk” was transformed into a noun).
- The Red of her eyes indicated her sadness. (in this case, the adjective “red” was transformed into a noun).
4. Definite articles can be used in order to indicate a set of beings or an entire species. In this way, the article is used in the singular, however, it makes reference to a plurality of beings. Examples:
- The soul it is immortal. (refers to the set of souls).
- the guava it is very rich in vitamin C. (refers to all guavas).
5. In the construction of sentences, the use of indefinite articles should be moderated, so that the excess of its use in the text causes unnecessary "bloating" or "redundancy", making it ungainly and "heavy". Examples:
- To have (one) good education is essential.
- They are holders of (a) good knowledge.
6. For adequate textual cohesion, before pronouns with an indefinite sense, words such as “such, certain (a), other (a)” are used. Examples:
- I found (one) certain medal on the dresser.
- Natalia did not find (one) other jacket.
7. The indefinite article is used as an expressive resource to reinforce exclamatory utterances. Examples:
- Was a gift find you!
- the party was one delight!
See too: word classes
Definite and Indefinite Article Exercises
1. (Fuvest) The two Lousadas sisters! Dry, dark and garrulous as cicadas, for many years in Oliveira, they were the searchers of all lives, the spreaders of all gossip, the weavers of all intrigues. And in the unfortunate city, there was no stain, blemish, cracked teapot, aching heart, crushed pocket, half-open window, dust in a corner, shape in a corner, cake ordered in Matildes, that his piercing eyes of dirty jet did not reveal and that his loose tongue, between the sparse teeth, did not comment with malice shrill.
(Eça de Queirós, The illustrious House of Ramires)
In the text, the use of definite articles and the omission of indefinite articles have the effect, respectively:
a) attribute negative character traits to characters; to point out Oliveira as the city where everything happens.
b) emphasize the uniqueness of the characters' typical behavior; mark the generality of the situations that are the object of your comments.
c) define the conduct of the two sisters as objectionable; put them responsible for most events in the city.
d) particularize the way of being of the Lousadas sisters; place them in a city where they are famous for backbiting.
e) associate the actions of the two sisters; emphasize your free access to any environment in the city.
Correct alternative: d) particularize the way of being of the Lousadas manas; place them in a city where they are famous for backbiting.
a) WRONG. In fact, the use of definite articles indicates negative traits in the sisters' character, but they are not the articles that attribute these traits — assigning characteristics to nouns is a function of adjectives; the articles only indicate who has the negative traits ("the two sisters", "the searchers", "the scatterers", "the weavers"). Furthermore, the city is mentioned only once in the text, without accompanying any article.
b) WRONG. More than accentuating the behavior of the characters, as well as marking the generality of situations, the definite article indicates precisely the way of being of the manas, who are known by the backbiting. This alternative would be correct if alternative d) were not so precise.
c) WRONG. The text does not indicate that the sisters are responsible for the events in the city, but that no event escapes their malicious comments.
d) CORRECT. The definite article has the function of defining nouns precisely. In the text, not only are people accurately indicated, but also their attitudes. With this, the text indicates who is responsible for the bad things that happen in the city ("the two sisters", "the scavengers", "the scatterers", "the weavers").
e) WRONG. The definite article does not associate the actions of the sisters, but rather indicates that they are responsible for the backbiting. At no point does the text indicate access to any environment in the city by the two sisters.
See too: Adjectives
2. (UFMG) The terms highlighted below are classified as defined articles, EXCEPT in:
a) Saturday's scavengers would have to work harder to compensate for the reduction in the Comlurb team.
b) Everyone blamed the Municipal Urban Cleaning Company of Rio de Janeiro.
c) From February, the buckets will double in volume, from 120 liters to 240 liters.
d) The sand on the beaches of Rio de Janeiro is covered with sticks, plastics and coconuts.
Correct alternative: c) From February, the buckets will double in volume, from 120 liters to 240 liters.
a) WRONG. "The" is a definite article, because it defines exactly who the street cleaners to which the prayer refers are (the street cleaners on the Sabbath, that is, the street cleaners who work on the Sabbath).
b) WRONG. "A" is a definite article, because it defines exactly who people found guilty (the Municipal Urban Cleaning Company of Rio de Janeiro).
c) CORRECT. In this sentence, "a" is a preposition of distance. "From" is a prepositional phrase.
d) WRONG. "A" is a definite article, because it accurately indicates the plurality of something ("the sand on the beaches of Rio de Janeiro", that is, it is not the sand of any other place, but that one specifically).
See too: Preposition
3. (ITA) Determine the case in which the article has qualifying value:
a) These are the candidates I told you about.
b) Look for him, he is the doctor! Nobody beats it.
c) Certainty and accuracy, these qualities I don't have.
d) The problems that afflict you do not make me careless.
e) There is a lot of demand; little is the offer.
Correct alternative: b) Look for him, he is the doctor! Nobody beats it.
a) WRONG. The definite article "the" defines exactly which candidates are spoken of.
b) CORRECT. The definite article "o" has a qualifying value because it carries the sense of importance, that is, the article is not just defining the doctor, it is reinforcing his importance, because he is good. For example: We don't have a solution, we have the solution.
c) WRONG. The definite article "as" indicates which qualities it refers to (certainty and accuracy).
d) WRONG. The definite article "the" indicates that something ails someone (the problems).
e) WRONG. The definite article "a" indicates that the supply is low, although there is a lot of demand for something.
See too: Word Class Exercises
Do you also want to know about the articles in English and Spanish? See the articles:
- Definite and Indefinite Articles in English
- Definite and Indefinite Articles in Spanish