Grammar for Everyone - Barbara Dykes 2007
6 Articles - The indefinite article
Introduction
Part II The parts of speech
Any old one?
Definition: The word ’article’ comes from the Latin articulus meaning ’a little joint’, or a bit joined on. Articles are sometimes referred to as determinants.
In English we have only three articles, a, an, the - so they should really present no problem and for most, even very young children, they come naturally in speech. But even native English speakers sometimes confuse them when reading. This is partly as a result of ’whole word’ reading practices and lack of correction, by which students acquire habits of inaccuracy and guessing.
It is also due to the fact that words such as ’a’, ’an’ and ’the’ have no substance; they do not have a concrete meaning and therefore make no appeal to the senses. I call them ’nothing words’ as they present no image to the imagination.
But they are important and they do have a function. A good way to illustrate the meaning of ’nothing words’ is by gesture. For example:
Say to the students:
’Look at the clock’.
Point at the clock as you say it, to show that you are speaking of a specific clock. Then ask:
’Can anyone lend me a pencil?’
and as you say it throw both arms out, palms upwards in an enquiring gesture, indicating that any pen will do; you do not have a specific one in mind.
The indefinite article
This refers to the words ’a’, or ’an’ when followed by a word beginning with a vowel such as apple: an apple, an orchestra. It is called indefinite as it refers to any one of the thing, not a particular one.