The Articles

1. The definite article

The definite article is: the. It has only one form, the, which is used for both singular and plural nouns:

the book, the house, the table

the sofas, the families, the children

The is also used for uncountable nouns:

the cheese, the air, the furniture

2. Use of the definite article

• when something has been mentioned before:

‘Has he got a car?’ ‘Yes. The car he has is expensive.’

• when referring to specific things:

the economic growth, the economy

• with of:

the colour of my skirt

• when only one of something exists:

the President, the Pope, the moon, the sky

• when referring to groups of people or nationalities:

the rich, the sick, the English, the Russian

• when talking about species (in the context of biology):

The lion is a carnivorous animal.

• when talking about musical instruments:

I play the guitar. He plays the piano.

• with the media:

the press, the news, the radio, the papers, the tv

But: I watch television.

• with superlatives and ordinal numbers:

the first, the second, the best, the only, the last

• when talking about parts of the body:

He was hurt on the head.

• when talking about geographical features
  • oceans, rivers, mountains:

the Themes, the Alps, the Pacific

• regions:

the Middle East, the Sahara, the Amazon

• groups of islands:

the Solomon Islands, the Caribbean

• some countries:

the USA, the Ukraine, The UK, the United Arab Emirates, the Netherlands

• other:

the sea, the coast, the hills, the mountains, the countryside

• with the dates(only in speech):

the twentieth of July, October the fifth

• talking about entertainment:

the cinema, the theatre, the opera, the museum

• when referring to hotels and restaurants:

the Hilton, the Grand Hotel, the Oriental

• with expressions:

the traffic, in the morning, in the afternoon, the metro, the doctor, the dentist, the hospital, the supermarket, the bank

3. The indefinite article

The indefinite articles are: a and an.

We use a in front of a consonant sound

a book, a table, a hotel, a moment,

a tall father, a blue car, a nice pie, a fire

We use an in front of a vowel sound

an apple, an hour, an architect, an animal,

an important decision, an efficient worker

The plural of a/an is zero or some/any

a cat – cats, some cats

a cinema – cinemas, some cinemas

4. The use of the indefinite article

• when we mention something for the first time:

‘He’s just bought a house.’ ‘Wow. That’s fantastic.’

• when we talk about one item of a group:

I’d like to buy a car.

• with adjective + noun:

We saw a huge, black panther.

• when talking about somebody’s job:

She is a high school teacher.

• when talking about a kind/example of something:

We bottle a fine wine. (= a type of fine wine)

• when talking about amounts:

a kilo of potatoes, a thousand litre of water

• difference between a and one:

‘I’d like a slice of cake please. ‘

But: ‘I wanted only one slice, not two!’

• when talking about frequency, price, distance (meaning per)

5 miles an hour, two pound a kilo, twice a week

• When talking about illnesses:

I have a cold. I have a headache.

I have a pain in my arm.

Except: flue, blood pressure and plural diseases (measles, mumps)

• With what and such when using singular, countable nouns:

What a nice day!

Such a lovely dog.

5. The zero article

The zero article means no article.

I like Ø travelling.

He eats Ø meat every day.

We bought Ø bananas.

6. The use of the zero article

• with plural nouns when talking in general:

Katie likes exotic animals.

• with uncountable nouns when talking in general:

Cheese is made from milk. Climate change, biotechnology

• with names of people, places, companies, countries, etc.:

Jack lives in London. I am friends with both Mary and Peter.

• with names of meals: have dinner, have lunch
• with the names of some illnesses:

He has high blood pressure.

• when talking about travelling: go by car/train
• when talking about certain places where the function of the place is the most important:

in hospital / at work / in prison / in bed

at school / at university