Articles and quantifiers

1. ARTICLES
QUANTIFIERS

2. A / An / The
a = indefinite article (not a specific object,
one of a number of the same objects) with
consonants
She has a dog.
I work in a factory.
an = indefinite article (not a specific object,
one of a number of the same objects) with
vowels (a,e,i,o,u)
Can I have an apple?
She is an English teacher.

3. A / An / The
the = definite article (a specific object that
both the person speaking and the listener
know)
The car over there is fast.
The teacher is very good, isn't he?

4. A / An / The
The first time you speak of something use "a
or an", the next time you repeat that object
use "the".
I live in a house. The house is quite old and
has four bedrooms.
I ate in a Chinese restaurant. The restaurant
was very good.

5. A / An / The
DO NOT use an article with countries, states,
counties or provinces, lakes and mountains
except when the country is a collection of
states such as "The United States".
He lives in Washington near Mount Rainier.
They live in northern British Columbia.

6. A / An / The
Use an article with bodies of water, oceans
and seas -
My country borders on the Pacific Ocean
DO NOT use an article when you are
speaking about things in general
I like Russian tea.
She likes reading books.

7. A / An / The
DO NOT use an article when you are
speaking about activities, meals, places,
transport, days, months, etc.
I go shopping twice a month.
He has breakfast at home.
I go to university.
He comes to work by taxi.
I go to the gym on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

8. Any / Some
Use "some" in positive sentences. We use
some for both countable and uncountable
nouns.
Example: I have some friends.
Use "any" in negative sentences or
questions. We use any for both countable
and uncountable nouns.
Example: Do you have any cheese? - He
doesn't have any friends in Chicago.

9. Any / Some
Use "some" in questions when offering or
requesting something that is there.
Example: Would you like some bread?
(offer) - Could I have some water?
(request)

10. Any / Some
Use "some" words - somebody, someone,
somewhere and something - in positive
sentences.
Example: He lives somewhere near here.
Use "any" words - anybody, anyone,
anywhere and anything - in negative
sentences or questions.
Example: Do you know anything about that
boy? - She doesn't have anywhere to go.

11. Quantifiers for
Countable Nouns
Quantifiers for
Uncountable Nouns
Many
(A) few
Much
(A) little
Quantifiers for Both Countable & Uncountable Nouns
A lot of / lots of
some
plenty of
QUANTIFIERSQUANTIFIERS

12. Little / Few
Little and Few imply negative ideas. Little means not
much and it is used with uncountable nouns. Few means
not many and it is used with countable nouns.
There is little time, hurry up!
They are quite poor, they have got very little money.
There are few people in the street because everybody is
watching the football match.

13. A little / A few
A little and A few are more positive ideas. A little
means some and it is used with uncountable nouns. A
few also means some and it is used with countable
nouns.
Don't worry, we have a little time. (This means they have
some time.)
I have got a few friends in Seville to visit next weekend.
(This means I have some friends.)