O article integrates the ten grammatical classes we know, defining itself as the term that precedes the noun to determine or indeterminate it, also indicating the gender (male/female) and the number (singular plural).
The articles are subdivided into defined and undefined:
defined articles – Are those used to indicate determined beings, expressed individually, and are represented by: The the the the.
Examples:
THE employee dresses very well. At employees dress very well.
O director congratulated everyone. You directors congratulated everyone.
indefinite articles – Are those used to indicate beings in a vague, imprecise way, and are represented by one, one, some, some.
Examples:
One student stood out among the others. some students stood out among the others.
One participant presented the prizes to the winners. some participants presented the prizes to the winners.
Use of the article:
- The use of the article after the numeral "both" is considered mandatory:
Both boys decided to participate in the Olympics.
- Names indicative of place admit the use of the article, others do not:
São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Venice, Bahia...
- When indicated in the singular, the definite article may indicate a whole species:
The work dignifies the man.
- In the case of personative proper names, denoting the idea of familiarity or affection, the use of the article is optional:
Cristina is the most outgoing of the sisters.
Pedro is the darling of the family.
- In case the personative proper names are in the plural, they are determined by the use of the article:
The Mayans, the Incas, the Aztecs...
- The article is used after the indefinite pronoun todo (a) to give an idea of totality. Without its use (the article), the pronoun assumes the notion of any.
The entire class congratulated the teacher. (the whole room)
Every class has both interested and uninterested students. (any class)
- Before possessive pronouns, the use of the article is optional:
I love my long dress. I love my long dress.
- The use of the indefinite article may indicate an idea of numerical approximation:
The most he must be about twenty.
- The article is also used to substantive words from other grammatical classes:
I don't know why all this.
By Vânia Duarte
Graduated in Letters
