ARTICLES
English has two types of articles: definite (the)
and indefinite (a, an.)
The use of these articles depends mainly on
whether you are referring to any member of a
group, or to a specific member of a group
Indefinite Article: a and an
A and an signal that the noun modified is indefinite, referring to
any member of a group
Used with countable nouns in singular when the noun is general
a + singular noun beginning with a consonant: a boy
an + singular noun beginning with a vowel: an elephant
a + singular noun beginning with a consonant sound: a user
an + singular noun beginning with a vowel sound: an hour
If the noun is modified by an adjective, the choice between a and
an depends on the initial sound of the adjective that immedately
follows the article:
a broken egg
an unusual problem
a European country
Basic Uses of Indefinite Article
We use indefinite article to classify or
identify something/ someone:
By means of general statements:
e.g. An architect is someone who designs buildings.
In form of definitions:
e.g. A cat is a domestic animal.
By means of descriptive labels:
Origins: He’s a Frenchman.
Occupation: She’s a doctor.
Religion: He’s a Catholic.
Politics: She’s a Republican.
When something is mentioned for the first time:
e.g. I looked up and saw a plane. ( The plane flew low over the trees.)
With references of quantity ( in sense of “one”, “only
one”, “ any one”):
e.g. I’d like an apple. I need a screwdriver to do the job.
With reference to measurement:
e.g. twice a/ per day 80p a/ per kilo
40 km an/ per hour 30 miles a/per gallon
After “what” and “such”:
e.g. What a surprise! My boss is such an idiot!
With reference to illnesses/ conditions:
e.g. a cold, a headache, a sore throat, a weak heart, a broken leg
Note: with some conditions, a/ an is optional
( backache, stomach-ache, toothache) or is not used at all (
flu, hepatitis…)
Definite Article: The
The definite article is used before singular and
plural nouns as well as before uncountable
nouns when the noun is particular or specific.
The signals that the noun is definite, that it refers
to a particular member of a group
The is pronounced / / before consonant
sounds: the day, the key
The is pronounced / / vowel sounds:
the end, the hour
Basic Uses of Definite Article
Can be used to refer to the whole class (similar to
a/an):
e.g. The cobra is dangerous.
To refer to the group as a whole:
“The” + nationality adjective:
e.g. The British and the Americans have been allies for a long time.
“The” + plural names:
e.g. The Liberals want electorial reform. The Browns are not at home.
“The” + collective nouns to make general statements about
specified groups:
e.g. the police the public
When something that has been mentioned before is
referred to again:
e.g. Singleton is a quiet village. The village has a population of a few
hundred people.
Before phrases noun + “of” + noun:
e.g. The life of Napoleon The freedom of choice
To specify a person, thing:
e.g. The Smith you are looking for no longer lives here.
The letters on the shelf are for you.
In contexts which are limited enough for the listener or
reader to identify who or what is referred to:
e.g. Pass me the salt, please.
Who’s at the door? It’s the postman.
For locations which are “one of a kind”:
e.g. the earth, the sky, the moon, the solar system, the galaxy, the
universe
For “parts of a whole”, assuming the listener/ reader
knows what we are talking about:
a human being: the body, the brain, the head
a room: the ceiling, the walls, the floor etc.
- In time expressions:
e.g. the beginning, the end, the past, the present. The middle, the
morning, the evening, the afternoon
- In fixed phrases:
e.g. Have a good time have a rest have a shower
With superlatives:
e.g. This is the worst play I’ve ever seen.
With musical instruments:
e.g. Tom plays the flute.
With comparatives in fixed phrases:
e.g. The sooner the better.
With “same”
e.g. We are the same.
With decades, or groups of years:
e.g. She grew up in the seventies
With mountain ranges and groups of islands:
The Alps The Canary Islands
With oceans, seas and rivers:
The Pacific the River Nile the Caspian Sea
With some geographical areas:
The Balkans The Middle East The North Pole
With unions, and associations:
e.g. The UK, The USA, The ARE
With some countries:
The Netherlands The Phillipines
Basic Uses of Zero Article
To give general statements:
e.g. Money makes the world go round.
Life is short; art is long.
Watches have become very accurate.
To refer to a class as a whole
Cats do not like cold weather.
With names of people and their titles:
Elizabeth Brown Pope John
Madam Miss Jackson Major Rogers
Note: Wilson was elected President of the USA.
Wilson became ( the ) President of the USA.
For days, months, holidays:
e.g. June Christmas Mondays
For meals:
e.g. Breakfast is served. Michael’s at lunch.
For academic subjects:
Physics is the most difficult subject.
For transport:
e.g. by bus, by air, by boat, by coach, on foot
With nouns like school, hospital, prison, church,
university, college, court etc. when we refer to their
“primary purpose”:
e.g. He was sent to prison for four years.
Children went to school early in the morning.
After “what” and “such” when a plural or an
uncountable noun follow:
e.g. What fools they are!
We has such problems during the holiday!
In fixed phrases:
e.g. at night, face to face, keep in mind, go on holiday, make friends,
make fun of, arm in arm etc.
With names of lakes, towns, islands, mountains and
most countries:
e.g. Serbia Lake Geneva New York
With languages and nationalities:
e.g. She is French. I don’t speak French.
After the 's possessive case:
e.g. His brother's car.
Peter's house.
Insert the right article – a / an / the /
or zero
I am from Winchester, Hampshire. Winchester is ______ city in
_____ United Kingdom. I live in _____ town called ______
Taunton which is on ______River Tone. I live in _____ house in
_____ quiet street in the countryside._____ street is called
"Hudson Street" and _____ house is old - more than 100 years
old! I am _____English lecturer at ______college near ______
centre of _______ town. I like ______ books, music and taking
______photographs. I usually have ______lunch at college. I
usually go ______ home by ______car. We have all kinds of
food in ______England. I like _______Polish food very much.
Sometimes, I go to _______ Polish restaurant in Bath.______
restaurant is called "Magda's". ______Polish food is delicious!