Articles and Indefinite Adjectives

Articles are adjectives that define a noun as specific or general (also called nonspecific).
There are three articles in English: “a,” “an,” and “the” which always combine with a noun.

Limiting adjectives limit your choices by pointing to the right one.

The following examples show how your choice of articles limits the meaning of the noun:

* In this chapter we now use real images instead of shaded images in grey for general statements.

Indefinite Adjectives

Indefinite adjectives describe nouns in a nonspecific way when an exact number or amount is not known.
They must be followed by a noun.

Some, each, any, many, several, and few are examples of indefinite adjectives.

The following examples illustrate the use of two indefinite adjectives:

 Question: How many?   Answer: Some friends     Question: How many?  Answer: Many bananas

This example contrasts the indefinite adjective “several” with a numerical adjective:

Find out in the Pronouns chapter how “some” and “many” become pronouns when they appear without a noun.