The 3 articles in English are a, an and the. The
learner has to decide noun-by-noun which one of the articles to use (Instead of an article, the noun can also be preceded by a determiner such as this, that, some, many or my, his, our, etc).
In fact, there are 4 choices to make, because sometimes no article is
necessary. Native-speakers, of course, use the articles correctly
without thinking in everyday spoken langauge.
English learners, on the
other hand, need to have some guidelines for making the right choice -
particularly those learners whose own language does not have articles,
such as Japanese or Korean. The guidelines that follow here should help
ESL students to a basic understanding of English article use.
The most important first step in choosing the correct article is to categorize the noun as count or uncountin its context. (To repeat: It is very important to know that many nouns can be count in one context and uncount in another. A common example is hair: She has red hair (uncount) - There are two hairs in my soup! (count). So before deciding which article, if any, to use in front of any given noun, you need to know if the noun is countable or not in that context).
- A count noun is a noun that can have a number in front of it: 1 teacher, 3 books, 76 trombones, 1,000,000 people.
- An uncount noun is a noun that cannot have a number put in front of it: 1 water, 2 lucks, 10 airs, 21 oils, 39 informations. Once you have correctly categorized the noun (using your dictionary if necessary), the following "rules" apply:
Uncount nouns
You cannot say a/an with an uncount noun.
You cannot put a number in front of an uncount noun. (You cannot make an uncount noun plural.)
You use an uncount noun with no article if you mean that thing in general.
You use the with an uncount noun when you are talking about a particular example of that thing.
Count nouns
You can put a number in front of a count noun. (You can make a count noun plural.)
You can put both a/an and the in front of a count noun.
You must put an article in front of a singular count noun.
You use a plural count noun with no article if you mean all or any of that thing.
You usually use a/an with a count noun the first time you say or write that noun.
You use the with count nouns:
the second and subsequent times you use the noun in a piece of speech or writing
when the listener knows what you are referring to (maybe because there is only one of that thing)
You use an (not a) when the next word (adverb, adjective, noun) starts with a vowel sound.
Note:
The above rules apply whether there is or there is not an adjective in front of the noun.
Some nouns can be either count or uncount, depending on the context and meaning:
Do you have paper? I want to draw a picture. (uncount = a sheet of paper)
Can you get me a paper when you’re at the shop? (count = a newspaper)
Uncount nouns are often preceded by phrases such as: a lot of .. (luck), a piece of .. (cake), a bottle of .. (milk), a grain of .. (rice).
Following are some of the most important guidelines listed above, with example sentences:
1. You use an uncount noun with no article if you mean all or any of that thing.
I need help!
I don't eat cheese.
Do you like music?
2. You use the with an uncount noun when you are talking about a particular example of that thing.
Thanks for the help you gave me yesterday.
I didn't eat the cheese. It was green!
Did you like the music they played at the dance?
3. You usually use a/an with a count noun the first time you say or write that noun.
Can I borrow a pencil, please?
There's a cat in the garden!
Do you have an mp3 player?
4. You use the with count nouns the
second and subsequent times you use the noun, or when the listener
already knows what you are referring to (maybe because there is only one
of that thing).
Where's the pencil I lent you yesterday?
I think the cat belongs to the new neighbours.
I dropped the mp3 player and it broke.
Please shut the door!
5. You use a plural count noun with no article if you mean all or any of that thing.
I don't like dogs.
Do they have children?
I don't need questions. Give me answers!
6. The above rules apply whether there is or there is not an adjective in front of the noun.
I don't eat German cheese.
Can I borrow a red pencil, please?
There's an extremely large cat in the garden!
I don't like small, noisy children.
The definite article
The word "the" is one of the most common words in English. It is our
only definite article. Nouns in English are preceded by the definite
article when the speaker believes that the listener already knows what
he is referring to. The speaker may believe this for many different
reasons, some of which are listed below.
When to use "the"
General rules
Use the to refer to something which has already been mentioned.
Examples
On Monday, an unarmed man stole $1,000 from the bank. The thiefhasn't been caught yet.
I was walking past Benny's Bakery when I decided to go into the bakery to get some bread.
There's a position available in my team. The job will involve some international travel.
Use the when you assume there is just one of something in that place, even if it has not been mentioned before.
Examples
We went on a walk in the forest yesterday.
Where is the bathroom?
Turn left and go to number 45. Our house is across from the Italian restaurant.
My father enjoyed the book you gave him.
Use the in sentences or clauses where you define or identify a particular person or object.
Examples
The man who wrote this book is famous.
I scratched the red car parked outside.
I live in the small house with a blue door.
He is the doctor I came to see.
Use the to refer to people or objects that are unique.
Examples
The sun rose at 6:17 this morning.
You can go anywhere in the world.
Clouds drifted across the sky.
The president will be speaking on TV tonight.
The CEO of Total is coming to our meeting.
Use the before superlatives and ordinal numbers.
Examples
This is the highest building in New York.
She read the last chapter of her new book first.
You are the tallest person in our class.
This is the third time I have called you today.
Use the with adjectives, to refer to a whole group of people.
Examples
The French enjoy cheese.
The elderly require special attention.
She has given a lot of money to the poor.
Use the with decades.
Examples
He was born inthe seventies.
This is a painting from the 1820's.
Use the with clauses introduced by only.
Examples
This isthe only day we've had sunshine all week.
You are the only person he will listen to.
The only tea I like is black tea.
Proper nouns
Use the with names of geographical areas, rivers, mountain ranges, groups of islands, canals, and oceans.
Examples
They are travelling in the Arctic.
Our ship crossed the Atlantic in 7 days.
I will go on a cruise down the Nile.
Hiking across the Rocky Mountains would be difficult.
Use the with countries that have plural names.
Examples
I have never been to the Netherlands.
Do you know anyone who lives in the Philippines?
Use the with countries that include the words "republic", "kingdom", or "states" in their names.
Examples
She is visiting the United States.
James is from the Republic of Ireland.
Use the with newspaper names.
Examples
I read it in the Guardian.
She works for the New York Times.
Use the with the names of famous buildings, works of art, museums, or monuments.
Examples
Have you been to the Vietnam Memorial?
We went to the Louvre and saw the Mona Lisa.
I would like to visitthe Eiffel Tower.
I saw King Lear at the Globe.
Use the with the names of hotels & restaurants, unless these are named after a person.
Examples
They are staying at the Hilton on 6th street.
We ate at the Golden Lion.
Use the with the names of families, but not with the names of individuals.
Examples
We're having dinner with the Smiths tonight.
The Browns are going to the play with us.
When not to use "the"
Do not use the with names of countries (except for the special cases above).
Examples
Germany is an important economic power.
He's just returned from Zimbabwe.
Do not use the with the names of languages.
Examples
French is spoken in Tahiti.
English uses many words of Latin origin.
Indonesian is a relatively new language.
Do not use the with the names of meals.
Examples
Lunch is my favorite meal.
I like to eat breakfast early.
Do not use the with people's names.
Examples
John is coming over later.
Mary Carpenter is my boss.
Do not use the with titles when combined with names.
Examples
Prince Charles is Queen Elizabeth's son.
President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas.
Do not use the after the 's possessive case.
Examples
His brother's car was stolen.
Peter's house is over there.
Do not use the with professions.
Examples
Engineering is a well-paid career.
He'll probably study medicine.
Do not use the with names of shops.
Examples
I'll get the card at Smith's.
Can you go to Boots for me?
Do not use the with years.
Examples
1948 was a wonderful year.
He was born in 1995.
Do not use the with uncountable nouns.
Examples
Rice is an important food in Asia.
Milk is often added to tea in England.
War is destructive.
Do not use the with the names of individual mountains, lakes and islands.
Examples
Mount McKinley is the highest mountain in Alaska.
She lives near Lake Windermere.
Have you visited Long Island?
Do not use the with most names of towns, streets, stations and airports.
