A book is like a garden carried in the pocket. - Chinese proverb
A city is a large community where people are lonesome together. - Herbert Prochnow
A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment. - John Wooden
A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step. - Lao Tse
A barking dog is often more useful than a sleeping lion. - Washington Irving
A man must be master of his hours and days, not their servant. - William Frederick Book
A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty. - Winston Churchill
Related topics:
The definite article with a whole class
The indefinite article in expressions of quantity
The indefinite article is used in certain expressions of quantity:
I'm having
a lot of problems
with Michael.
I think
a great many people
will agree with me on that.
The indefinite article with certain numbers and fractions
The indefinite article is used with certain numbers and fractions:
a/one hundred, a/one thousand, a/one million
one and a half kilos / a kilo and a half
a/one third
a/one quarter
a dozen
a quarter of an hour
half a minute
The indefinite article instead of PER
In expressions of measurement, the indefinite article can replace the more formal per:
He was driving at
80 miles an hour
when the car skidded.
"How much are those tomatoes?" "
Three euros a kilo
."
I go to the sauna
twice a month
.
The indefinite article to describe and classify something
The indefinite article is used before a noun which describes or classifies something:
That was
a lovely dinner
!
Mary is
a teacher
.
The koala is
a marsupial
.
Quotes:
Christmas is a time when you get homesick - even when you're home. - Carol Nelson
April is a promise that May is bound to keep. - Hal Borland
Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up. - Pablo Picasso
I am an optimist. It does not seem too much use being anything else. - Winston Churchill
The indefinite article with certain illnesses
The indefinite article is used with names of certain illnesses:
Is it
a cold
or just
an allergy
?
I have
a splitting headache
.
But:
The flu
is a virus that can make you sick for a week or longer.
(The) measles
is best known for its characteristic skin rash.
The indefinite article with proper names
The indefinite article can be used with a proper name to express uncertainty about the person's identity or that the speaker does not know the person:
A Mr Smith
was looking for you this morning.
(Someone called Mr Smith was looking for you this morning.)
The indefinite article can also be used before a proper name to refer to the characteristic features of the person:
He was
an Einstein
of his time.
A proper name with an indefinite article can refer to a work of art created by the person:
He bought
a Picasso
at Sotheby's in 1970.
(He bought a painting by Picasso.)
Related topics:
The definite article with proper names
The zero article with proper names
The definite article (THE)
The definite article is generally used before a noun which has a clear reference. This means that it is clear who or what we are talking about because:
the noun represents a unique thing or person in the context: The president has resigned. (there is only one president in the country)
The earth is growing warmer and warmer. (there is only one planet Earth)
the noun has been mentioned before: A man and a woman came in. The man was about 50 years old.
a phrase or a clause after the noun makes it clear: Do you know the boy talking to Sally?
This is the book that I told you about last week.
The photo on the left was taken by my father.
The definite article with a whole class
The definite article with ordinal numbers, superlative adjectives, ONLY, NEXT, LAST, SAME, RIGHT and WRONG
The definite article with adjectives
The definite article with geographical names
The definite article with historical references
The definite article with musical instruments and dances
The definite article with names of families
The definite article with names of places and institutions
The definite article with proper names
The definite article with titles and positions
The definite article with titles of books, newspapers etc.
The definite article with unique objects
The definite article with a whole class
The definite article is used before a noun when it represents a whole class of things:
The computer
has made text editing easier.
The polar bear
is threatened with extinction.