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Unit 10: The indefinite article - in 90 seconds
Learn the most common sound in English to improve your pronunciation!

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  1. 1 Go beyond intermediate with our new video course
  2. 2 Reported speech in 90 seconds!
  3. 3 If or whether?
  4. 4 5 ways to use 'would'
  5. 5 Let and allow
  6. 6 Passive voice
  7. 7 Unless
  8. 8 Mixed conditionals
  9. 9 The zero article - in 90 seconds
  10. 10 The indefinite article - in 90 seconds
  11. 11 The. That's right - the! Learn all about it in 90 seconds
  12. 12 The continuous passive
  13. 13 Future perfect
  14. 14 Need + verb-ing
  15. 15 Have something done
  16. 16 Wish
  17. 17 Word stress
  18. 18 Different ways of saying 'if'
  19. 19 Passive reporting structures
  20. 20 The subjunctive
  21. 21 When and if
  22. 22 Inversion
  23. 23 Phrasal verbs
  24. 24 The future
  25. 25 Modals in the past
  26. 26 Narrative tenses
  27. 27 Phrasal verb myths
  28. 28 Conditionals review
  29. 29 Used to - review
  30. 30 Linking words of contrast

Session 1

A look at the use of the indefinite articles 'a' and 'an' with singular countable nouns. Can Dan do it in 90 seconds? Watch the video to see.

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    Activity 1
  1. Activity 1

Activity 1

BBC English Class

Indefinite articles with singular countable nouns

English has three kinds of articles. Definite articles, zero articles and the indefinite articles a and an.

Indefinite articles are used in a number of ways. Dan challenges himself to explain some of these uses in 90 seconds. Can he do it? Watch the video to find out.

Watch the video and complete the activity

Show transcript Hide transcript

Hi guys, Dan from BBC Learning English here. In this lesson I’m going to talk to you about the indefinite article.

Now I'm not going to waste your time telling you that English has two indefinite articles – a and an. And I’m also not going to waste your time telling you that the indefinite article is only used with singular countable nouns. For example, look – a cup.

That means no plural nouns, so no pens and no uncountable nouns, so no tea.

And all in 90 seconds! I hope. Are you ready? Here we go.

We use the indefinite article with singular countable nouns when we introduce something to someone for the first time. Often in the context of stories, but not always. For example:

I have a really big house and in my house is a big TV. And a big dog – so don't touch my TV! OK? Good.

We also use the indefinite article when classifying nouns into groups. And this is very common when we talk about people's jobs, for example:

I'm a teacher. Hey, don't laugh! I am. I can prove it. Oh, it doesn’t matter.

Look, OK. Oranges are a fruit. Tigers are a dangerous animal.

Finally, we use the indefinite article when making exclamations particularly with the word ‘what’. For example:

What a lovely day! What an interesting teacher! What a useful video!

If you want to include a verb, this goes at the end of the sentence and the subject and the verb change places.

So: What a lovely day it is! What an interesting teacher he is! What a useful video this is!

Have you got it? Good.

If you need more information you can check on our website at bbclearningenglish.com

I've been Dan. You've been amazing. Have a fantastic day.

Ah! So good! Bye guys.

Summary

Indefinite articles are not used with plural nouns or uncountable nouns.

They are used when a singular countable noun is talked about for the first time:

  • I took a taxi from the station.
  • I had to buy a new computer after I dropped my old one in the bath.

They can be used when classifying, describing and generalizing:

  • It's a dog.
  • It's an enormous dog.
  • A dog is a man's best friend.

They are commonly used in exclamations following words such as 'what' and 'such'.

  • What a fantastic present!
  • It was such a loud noise I had to sleep with my pillow on my head.

Indefinite articles are also found in expressions like: 'a kind of', 'a sort of' and 'a type of'.

  • It was a kind of brown colour.
  • It is a sort of bread, but not one I'd ever tried before.
  • It's made in a special type of oven.

To do

Now try the quiz to see of you have a good understanding of this subject.

 

Indefinite articles

5 Questions

In each question choose the best option to complete the sentence.

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End of Session 1

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Next

Vocabulary of the news is next in News Review

Session Grammar

  • Indefinite articles

    They are not used with plural nouns or uncountable nouns.

    They are used when a singular countable noun is talked about for the first time:

    They can be used when classifying, describing and generalising:

    They are commonly used in exclamations following words such as 'what' and 'such'.

    Indefinite articles are also found in expressions like: 'a kind of', 'a sort of' and 'a type of'.

View full grammar reference

Session Vocabulary

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