Definite Article: the

The definite article is used before singular and plural 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. Compare the indefinite and definite articles in the following examples:

Indefinite (a or an) Definite (the)

a dog (any dog) the dog (that specific dog)
Singular
an apple (any apple) the apple (that specific apple)
some dogs (any dogs) the dogs (those specific dogs)
Plural
some apples (any apples) the apples (those specific apples)

The is not used with uncountable nouns referring to something in a general sense:

[no article] Coffee is a popular drink.

[no article] Japanese was his native language.
[no article] Intelligence is difficult to quantify.

The is used with uncountable nouns that are made more specific by a limiting
modifying phrase or clause:

The coffee in my cup is too hot to drink.

The Japanese he speaks is often heard in the countryside.
The intelligence of animals is variable but undeniable.

The is also used when a noun refers to something unique:

the White House

the theory of relativity
the 1999 federal budget

Note: Geographical uses of the

Do not use the before: Do use the before:

• names of countries (Italy, Mexico, • names of rivers, oceans and seas

Bolivia) except the Netherlands and the (the Nile, the Pacific)
US • points on the globe (the Equator,
• names of cities, towns, or states the North Pole)
(Seoul, Manitoba, Miami) • geographical areas (the Middle
• names of streets (Washington East, the West)
Blvd., Main St.) • deserts, forests, gulfs, and
• names of lakes and bays (Lake peninsulas (the Sahara, the
Titicaca, Lake Erie) except with a group Persian Gulf, the Black Forest, the
of lakes like the Great Lakes Iberian Peninsula)
• names of mountains (Mount • name with of-phrase (the Statue of
Everest, Mount Fuji) except with ranges Liberty)
of mountains like the Andes or the Rockies
or unusual names like the Matterhorn
• names of continents (Asia, Europe)
• names of islands (Easter Island,
Maui, Key West) except with island chains
like the Aleutians, the Hebrides, or the
Canary Islands
 Use of A and AN

We only use a or an with singular countable nouns.

We do not use "a" or "an" with plural or singular uncountable nouns.

We use a or an:
a) to talk about a person or thing for the first time. Would you like a drink?

b) to talk about your job or profession. John is an engineer or He wants to be a dancer.

c) to talk about nationalities or religions, musical instruments or names of days. He is a

Catholic or Peter is an Englishman, Sherlock Holmes was playing a violin when the
visitor arrived, I was born on a Monday.

d) after the exclamation what or such. What a shame! Or She’s such a beautiful girl!

e) with proper nouns when you don’t know the person. There’s a Dr. Perch on the
phone.

f) to refer to a kind of, or example of something. The mouse had a tiny nose, it was a
very strange car, She’ll never be a Nadal, I’ve bought a Mercedes or It could be Van
Gogh..

We use "a" in front of a word that begins with consonant, with one exception: when the
h is mute. An hour, an honour.

We use "an" in front of a word that begins with vowel, with two exceptions: u, eu
when they sound like you [ju] and /w/. A European, a unit, a one-parent family.

A/an vs. One

1. We can use either a/an or one before a singular countable noun both to refer to
one thing. We’ll be in Australia for one/ a year. Wait for a/one minute. You use
one when you want to emphasize the length of time, quantity or amount: He
weighs one hundred and twenty kilos! Can you believe it? (One emphasizes the
weight more than a)

We don’t use one: We use one rather than a/an:

1. when we mean any one of a 1. when you want to emphasize that

particular type of thing. I really we are talking about only one thing or
 need a cup of coffee. You’ll never person rather than two or more: Do you
find a clip in this office. want one or two sandwiches?, Are you
2. in number and quantity staying just one night?, I just took one
expressions such as three times a look at her and she began to cry.
year, half an hour, a quarter of an
2. in the pattern one …other/another:
hour, a day or so, 50 pence a litre,
Close one eye and then the other,
a week or two, a few, a little.
Bees carry pollen from one plant
3. in the pattern a… of with
to another.
possessives: She’s a colleague of
3. in phrases such as one day, one
mine, That’s a friend of Bill’s.
evening, one spring to mean a
particular but unspecified day,
evening, spring, etc.: Hope to see
you one day, One evening, while
he was working late at the office.
 Zero article

Several kinds of nouns never use articles:

1) We do not use articles with the names of languages ("He was learning Chinese."
[But when the word Chinese refers to the people, the definite article might come
into play: "The Chinese are hoping to get the next Olympics."]), the names of
sports ("She plays badminton and basketball."), and academic subjects ("She's
taking economics and math. Her major is Religious Studies.")
2) When they are generic, uncount nouns and sometimes plural count-nouns are
used without articles. "We like wine with our dinner. We adore Baroque music.
We use roses for many purposes." But if an "of phrase" comes after the noun,
we use an article: "We adore the music of the Baroque." Also, when a generic
noun is used without an article and then referred to in a subsequent reference, it
will have become specific and will require a definite article: "The Data Center
installed computers in the Learning Center this summer. The computers,
unfortunately, don't work."

Common count nouns are used without articles in certain special situations:

idiomatic
We'll go by train. (as opposed to "We'll take the train.)
expressions
He must be in school.
using be and go

with seasons In spring, we like to clean the house.

with institutions He's in church/college/jail/class.

Breakfast was delicious.

with meals
He's preparing dinner by himself.

He's dying of pneumonia.

Appendicitis nearly killed him.
with diseases She has cancer
(You will sometimes hear "the measles," "the mumps," but these,
too, can go without articles.)

We traveled mostly by night.

with time of day
We'll be there around midnight.
 ARTICLE EXERCISES
1. Correct the sentences if necessary. In which sentences are both one and a/an
possible?

1. I teach four days one week.

2. Jenny’s baby is only one week old.
3. Have you got one match, please?
4. You won’t believe this, but it cost over one thousand pounds.
5. One summer, we must visit Sweden again.
6. I’ve known him for one year or so.
7. Cross-country skiing is easy. Just put one foot in front of the other.
8. Can I have one little more rice?

2. Which is correct or more likely, a/an or one? If both a/an and one are possible,
write them both:

1. It weighs over ________hundred kilos.

2. I only asked for ________ pizza – I didn’t want three of them.
3. I wouldn’t allow ________ child of mine to be treated in that way.
4. _________ sandwich isn’t enough. I usually eat four or five.
5. Policies differ from _________ state to another.
6. Less than three quarters of _______ hour later, she was home.
7. All of the competitors completed the race, with just ________exception.
8. She left home late _________ morning and hasn’t been seen since.

3. Put a/an, the or – in the spaces. If zero article is an alternative for the, write the/ -:

ROB COLLINS: A PROFILE

Bob Collins has recently become ________ minister in the new government, being
appointed _______ Minister for Industry. Mr Collins has had a varied career. He
was ________ professional footballer in the 1960s, some people considering him to
be ________ most skilful player of his generation. After a serious injury, he became
________ manager of ________ oldest pub in Edinburgh. Five years later, he was
offered the position of _______ executive director of Arcon, one of the _______
biggest supermarket chains in the country. He became ________ Member of the
Parliament in 1990.

4. If necessary, correct these sentences:

1. We need an environment free from pollution.

2. She has worked in a fashion industry since she left school.
3. The wind is blowing dust all the way from Africa.
4. We can look forward to a warm southerly wind this weekend.
5. The USA is a country with the high level of immigration.
6. How can we combine economic growth and respect for an environment?
7. Car exhaust emissions are having a major effect on a world’s climate.
8. That’s Terry - he’s the third person on the right.
9. She has become the important figure in Norwegian politics.
10. It’s a most important issue and we need to discuss it in detail.
5. Decide if the most appropriate articles (a/an and the) are used in each of these texts:

1. Dan was playing outside in a street when he saw a red car go past driven by the
teacher from his school.
2. A University has announced proposals to build a new library, to replace an
existing one by the year 2010.
3. A: The car’s been stolen from outside a house!
B: Oh, no. I left my wallet and the camera in it.
4. A: Jane bought a fridge and a washing machine for her house, but the washing
machine wouldn’t go through a kitchen door so she had to send it back.
B: What did a shop say?
A: They offered to sell her a smaller one.
5. We went out to the excellent restaurant last night. The food was delicious and
the service was first class.
6. A: Where’s a tea pot?
B: It’s in the cupboard on the right.
A: I thought you had a blue one.
B: Yes, but it broke so I had to get the new one.
7. Dr. Pike has developed a way to teach musical theory. A method designed for
children over five.

6. All the articles have been removed from this text. Replace them where necessary:

Camera is piece of equipment used for taking photographs. Camera lets in light from
image in front of it and directs light onto photographic film. Light has effect on
chemicals which cover film and forms picture on it. When film is developed it is
washed in chemicals which make picture permanent. It is then possible to print picture
onto photographic paper.

7. Fill in the gaps with a, an, the or Ø:

1. _____ price of_______ houses has increased by at least 20% during _______ last year.

2. There was _______ hurricane last evening. _______ hurricane swept _______ East Coast
of _______ USA, so _______ hundred people lost their houses.

3. During ______ Second World War ______ women played _______ vital role in ______
economy of _______ U.K.

4. Gillian, _______ eldest daughter of my sister, was born in _______ Canada.

5. _______ old woman was found dead in _______ car. _______ identity of _______ dead
woman is unknown. ______ autopsy report reveals that ______ woman was stabbed to
death. _______ police are investigating _______ case. _______ motif for _______ murder
could be due to _____ riot between _____ gangs of _______ illegal immigrants.