Many languages are different from English regarding semantics, syntax, and grammar. Although there are a variety of differences, this paper researches article use, misuse, and acquisition. I predict that speakers of languages other than English that lack an article system (Korean, Russian, Polish, and Japanese) will demonstrate language transfer errors within the English article system, a/an, the, or zero when learning to speak English. Research suggests that non-native speakers of English will make errors when speaking English if their native language lacks articles.
, Ko and Korean English language learners were studied regarding their English article use. Participants in this study were 50 Russian learners of English ranging in age from 17–57, with a mean age of 38 who had been residing in the United States for an average of about 3 years (3 years, 2 months). There were also 38 Korean learners of English ranging in age from 17–to 38, with a mean age of 28 who had been living in the U.S. for an average of just under 2 years (1 year, 10 months). All of these participants had been exposed to English in their home country at an early age or during adolescence but were not completely exposed to it until they came to the U.S. during late adolescence or adulthood. There was also a control group that participated in this study. It was made up of seven adult native speakers of English. They performed as expected on all tasks.
Using Articles
What is an article? An article is an adjective. Like adjectives, articles modify nouns.
English has two articles: the and a/an. The is used to refer to specific nouns; a/an is used to modify non-specific or non-particular nouns. We call the definite article and a/an the indefinite article.
the = definite article
a/an = indefinite article
For example, if I say, “Let’s read the book,” I mean a specific book. If I say, “Let’s read a book,” I mean any book rather than a specific book.
Here’s another way to explain it: The is used to refer to a specific member of a group. For example, “I just saw the most popular movie of the year.” There are many movies, but only one particular movie is the most popular. Therefore, we use the.
“A/an” is used to refer to a non-specific or non-particular member of the group. For example, “I would like to go see a movie.” Here, we’re not talking about a specific movie. We’re talking about any movie. There are many movies, and I want to see any movie. I don’t have a specific one in mind.
Let’s look at each kind of article a little more closely.
INDEFINITE ARTICLES: A AND AN
“A” and “an” signal that the noun modified is indefinite, referring to any member of a group. For example:
- “My daughter wants a dog for Christmas.” This refers to any dog. We don’t know which dog because we haven’t found the dog yet.
- “Somebody call a policeman!” This refers to any policeman. We don’t need a specific policeman; we need any available policeman.
- “When I was at the zoo, I saw an elephant!” Here, we’re talking about a single, non-specific thing, in this case, an elephant. There are probably several elephants at the zoo, but there’s the only one we’re talking about here.
REMEMBER, USING A OR AN DEPENDS ON THE SOUND THAT
BEGINS THE NEXT WORD. SO…
- a + singular noun beginning with a consonant: a boy; a car; a bike; a zoo; a dog
- an + singular noun beginning with a vowel: an elephant; an egg; an apple; an idiot; an orphan
- a + singular noun beginning with a consonant sound: a user (sounds like ‘,’ i.e. begins with a consonant ‘y’ sound, so ‘a’ is used); a university; a unicycle
- an + nouns starting with silent “h”: an hour
- a + nouns starting with a pronounced “h”: a horse
- In some cases where “h” is pronounced, such as “historical,” you can use an. However, a is more commonly used and preferred.
- A historical event is worth recording.
- Examples of the Use of Articles.
- I do not want a gun in my house (any gun).
The gun is in his closet (which implies there is a specific gun).
I am afraid of guns (all guns in general). - She sent me a postcard from Italy (an unspecific postcard — not a letter, not an e-mail).
It’s the postcard that I have in my office (one specific postcard).
Getting postcards makes me want to travel (any postcard in general). - I have a dog (one dog).
The dog is very friendly (the dog that I have already mentioned).
Dogs make great pets (dogs in general). - Greta needs furniture in her apartment (furniture is a noncount noun).
She is going to select the furniture that she needs (the specific furniture that she needs).
She hopes to find some furniture this weekend (an unspecified, limited amount of furniture). - We are going to see the Statue of Liberty this weekend (the only Statue of Liberty).
