Types, Uses and Examples of Articles

          Articles  in English are divided into two, namely definite articles (indefinite article) and indefinite articles (indefinite article.

1. DEFINITE ARTICLES
         Namely certain clothing in the form of the article "the". This article is used only in certain forms or combination of words. In general, these words are used to mark words that have been known before so that it shows a certain reference to that word. In addition, the word "the" is used for several other variations, namely:

a. Nouns that have been mentioned in the previous sentence.
Example:
- She has a doll. The doll is very big.
- They buy a story book. The story book is written by famous writer.

b. Phrases about a certain thing
Example:
- The girl in blue.
- The woman with scarf.

c. Nouns that only represent one certain thing.
Example:
- Rida in the class (in her class)
- The mails come on time (the mails we need.)

d. Superlative and ordinal numbers.
Example:
- the largest
- the biggest
- the first
- the second
- the third

e. The family name in the plural meaning family.
Example:
- The Jacks = Mr. and Mrs. Jack (and children)
- The Andrews = Mr. and Mrs. Andrew (and children)

f. Names of objects that are considered unique and second to none.
Example:
- the moon
- the sun
- the earth
- the sea
- the stars

g. A word that indicates a nation or a people collectively
- the Dutch
- the Balinese
- the Indonesian
- the Sundanese
- the French

h. Certain arrangement, namely:
- which represent a certain group:
The Singular + noun
 Example: The plane make life easier.

- which represent a certain group:
The + Adjective
  Example: The rich

- for names that have the following structure:
Noun + of + noun
 Example: The United States of America
- For names that have the following structure:
Adjective + noun
 Example: The National Gallery

- For names that use the following arrangement:
East / West etc. + noun
 Example: The East Indies.

i. Names of scriptures, places, seas, rivers, island groups, mountain ranges, regions and deserts.
Example:
- the Qur'an
- the Fatahilah Museum
- the Pangrango Hotel
- the sea cruiser
- the Yellow River
- the Atlantic Ocean
- the Karimata Strait
- the Philippine Islands

2. INDEFINITE ARTICLES
           The clothing articles grouped in the indefinite article are "a" and "an". This article means a. The word "a" is used for singular nouns that start with the sound of consonants (b, c, d, f, g, h, j, k, l, m, n, p, q, r, s, t, v, w, x, y, z) while "an" is used for nouns that start with vowels (a, i, u, e, o)

a. Examples of using the clothing "a":
- a pen
- a bag
- a book
- a chair
- a table

b. Examples of using the article "an":
- an eraser
- an elephant
- an hour
- an answer
- an eagle

In general, indefinite articles are used in the following specific forms:
a. In front of the rank / position name
Example:
- a teacher
- a doctor

b. In front of the nationality name
Example:
- an Indonesian
- an American

c. In front of the name of religion
- a Moslem
- a Christian

d. A single noun that can be counted and mentioned for the first time, and does not represent a particular person or thing.
- I stay in a hotel.
- I need a pen to write.

5. Before a single noun used as an example of a group of nouns.
Example:
- A teacher must be able to teach.

6. In writing a certain amount
Example:
- a lot of
- a couple of

7. To state certain unit prices
Example:
- Rp 1,000 a meter.
- $ 20 a kilo

8. In exciting sentences
Example:
-What a big school!

Sources