rich, sick, unemployed, homeless, young, elderly, deaf, blind, poor, etc

The rich should help those in need.

when we refer to a group of people, animals or things, we use:

- a/an or the with countable nouns. A/The chimpanzee is an intelligent animal.

plural countable nouns without a/an or the. Chimpanzees are intelligent animals.

INDEFINITE ARTICLE (A/AN)

Let's play a video game.

Super Mario Brothers is a good game.

It's an adventure.

A noun is indefinite (not specific) when either you or your listener do not have a particular person, place, or thing in mind. Use the indefinite article a/an with singular count nouns that are not specific.

A: Let's buy a video game. B: Good idea.

(A and В are not talking about a specific game.)

Use a before consonant sounds and an before vowel sounds.

a magician an evil magician

It is the sound, not the letter, that determines whether to use a or an.

an honest Space Defender honest = /'anast/

a universe beyond ours universe = /yu^wn3v3rs/

5. Use some or no article with plural count nouns and with non-count nouns that are not specific.

plural count noun, not specific

New games are coming out all the time. (The speaker doesn't mention which games.) non-count noun, not specific

A: Sorry I took so long. I had to buy (some) medicine.

B: Oh. Are you sick?

(B doesn't know what kind of medicine A bought.)

6. A noun is often indefinite the first time a speaker mentions it. It is usually definite aftei the first mention.

An evil magician is trying to conquer the Earth. The magician is very powerful, but so дгг yoi You have some gold. Use the gold to buy medicine. The medicine makes you stronger.

7. Use a/an for singular count nouns when you classify (say what something or someone is).

A: What do you do for a living? B: I'm a pilot. And you? A: I'm a doctor.

8. Use no article for plural count nouns and for non-count nouns when you classify.

A: What are those?

B: They're magic tools. We can buy them and get stronger.

A: What's that?

B: It's gold. I just won it.

Be careful! Do not use some when you classify.

A:Look atthose sharks!

B:Those aren't sharks. They're dolphins, not They're some dolphins.

The indefinite article a/an is used:

• with singular countable nouns when we talk about them in general. / need a new handbag.

• with the verbs to be and have (got). Jane has (got) a cat. It's a Siamese.

• before Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms when we refer to an unknown person. A Mr Wells is waiting for you.

• to show price in relation to weight.

The tomatoes cost one pound twenty a kilo.

• to show distance in relation to time. My car can go 250km an hour.

• to show frequency.

/ work at the library three days a week.

We do not use a/an:

• with uncountable nouns or plural countable nouns. We use some instead of a/an.

We bought some chocolate and some walnuts.

This dress is well-made. But: This is a well-made dress.