Indefinite Article (A/an) Definite Article (The) No Article

Indefinite article (A/an)
Definite article (The)
Any singular countable noun needs a definite or indefinite article.

Note: Names are subject to different rules
Something general and nonWe know what is being
specific (=doesnt matter which
discussed (out of context).
one)
When is the furniture
Have you got a bicycle? (=any kind
arriving? (=the furniture that
of bicycle)
we ordered last week)
The water tastes funny (=the

water from the tap)
No article
Nouns in plural,
uncountable or abstract
nouns, when we talk about
them in general
Cats chase mice.
Pollution in the cities is a
major problem.
Oil is produced in Alaska.
Water is becoming a rare
resource. (= in the world)
A noun can be made definite

by the details which follow it:
Theres a tower over there.
I bought a new sweater yesterday.
To refer to something for the first

time
Theres a tennis club in our town.
(first reference)
Can not be used with uncountable
nouns and plural
To name one of a class of things or

a group of people
Peter is a German.
This is an electric shaver.
Yes, it is the Tower of

London.
I like the sweater my mother
made for me.
The girls in my class learn
fast (= these particular girls)
The health and lives of
millions of people may be at
risk.
Girls are better at languages

than boys.(= in general)
Health is the most important
thing in life. (= abstract
ideas)
To refer to something that has

been mentioned before
Theres a tennis club in our
town. Its the club where I
learned to play.
Is also used with uncountable
nouns and plural nouns (with
specific meaning or
mentioned before)
Used with nouns formed
from adjectives that describe
a group of people:
The rich, the poor, the dead
Used with names of
people/families:
The English, the French, the
Russians, the Germans, the
Japanese, the Browns
A singular noun which
describes a class of things:
The bicycle is becoming
increasingly popular.
Plural and uncountable

nouns which describe a class
of things or people in general
Girls are better at languages
She used to be a doctor.
The whale is in danger of

extinction.
Used to refer to collective
nouns or organizations:
The police, the audience, the
government
Theres only one of
something/someone
The sun, the earth, the Effel
Tower
than boys.
Cats chase mice.
Exception:
Nature, space
Used with superlative

adjectives
The best, the strongest, the
most beautiful
Used with first, last, only (as
adjectives)
The only person, the first
time, the last page
Note: do not confuse with last
= previous, no article
Used with rates and speeds ( = per)
50 km an hour
$500 a month
Used with large whole numbers,
fractions with singular nouns,
weights and distances:
A hundred, a million, a third, two
and a half, a kilo, a metre and a half
Used with numerals:

The second, the fifth, the
hundredth
Used with fractions with

plural nouns:
Two and seven eights
Used in certain fixed
phrases:
Be at/go to: school, sea,
university, work, home
Be in/go to: church, court,
hospital, prison
Be on: holiday, stage, duty.
Tour (performance)
Note: these phrases are used to
describe what people are
doing or where they are in
general. To refer to those as
just a building or a place, use
an article.
Articles with names

However, if we mean a person
called, referring to somebody we
dont know, we use indefinite
article:
However, if we specify a
person, we use definite
article:
Names of people are

generally used without an
article:
Is there a Tom Davis staying here?
Is he the Tom Davis you went

to school with?
Titles are used with a definite
article:
The Queen, the Headmistress,
the Chairman
Names of newspapers require
a definite article:
The Sun, The Observer, The
Times
Used with names of:
Seas
The Black Sea
Rivers
The Nile
Gulfs
The Persian Gulf
Oceans
The Pacific
Canals
The Panama Canal
Deserts
The Sahara
Groups of islands
The Dodecanese
Mountain ranges
The Alps
Groups of states
The USA
Names of countries
that have a common noun
The Czech Republic, The
United Kingdom
Tom Davis lives in Bristol.

However, if the title has a
proper name, we dont need
an article:
Queen Elisabeth
Not used with names of:

Lakes
Lake Geneva
Islands
Cyprus
Mountains
Everest
Countries
Greece
Exceptions:
The Lebannon, The
Gambia
Cities
Barcelona
Streets
Oxford Street
Parks
Hyde park
Addresses
3 McMillan St.
Continents
Europe
Ships
The Titanic
Institutions
The United Nations
When we speak about

geographical areas, a definite
article is required:
The sun sets in the west.
Days, months
in January, on Monday
School subjects do not require
an article:
Id rather study physics than
biology.
When we speak about general
direction, no article is
required:
The road runs from north to
south.
Names of musical
instruments require a definite
article:
The flute, the piano, the
guitar
Countable
Uncountable
Can be singular or plural

Used for individual things we can count
In our family we have a cat and two dogs
Are neither singular nor plural

Are not normally divided into separate items
In our apartment we use gas for cooking and
electricity for heating.
Are used only with singular verbs and can be
used with: some, no, much, any, a little,
this/that
Is there any water left?
No, but theres some apple juice.
Cannot be used with: a/an, one, each, every
In the singular form can be used with: a/an, one,

this/that, each, every, etc
A human being has two hands. Each hand has a
thumb and four fingers.
With plural can be used with: numbers and any,
many, (a) few, some, no, these/those
Last night there were no children in the audience and
only a few teenagers.
Nouns that can be both countable and uncountable

Individual item
Substance
I like a chocolate or two in the evening. (= individual Do you like chocolate? (= the substance
chocolate bars)
chocolate)
Types
Substance
France has so many different wines and cheeses. (=
French people love wine and cheese. (= these
types of wine and cheese)
substances in general)
Individual
Substance
I love lambs and chickens. (= animals)
I cant stand lamb or chicken. (= meat)
Individual item
Substance
Can I have two teas and three coffees, please? (=
Tea and coffee is expensive in Iceland. (=
cups of tea and coffee)
substance)
Type
General idea
Football is a sport. (= type)
People are crazy about sport. (= general idea)

Indefinite Article (A/an) Definite Article (The) No Article

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Indefinite Article (A/an) Definite Article (The) No Article

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Indefinite Article (A/an) Definite Article (The) No Article

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Indefinite article (A/an)

Definite article (The)

Any singular countable noun needs a definite or indefinite article.

The water tastes funny (=the

A noun can be made definite

To refer to something for the first

To name one of a class of things or

Yes, it is the Tower of

Girls are better at languages

To refer to something that has

Plural and uncountable

She used to be a doctor.

The whale is in danger of

Used with superlative

Used with numerals:

Used with fractions with

Articles with names

Names of people are

Is there a Tom Davis staying here?

Is he the Tom Davis you went

Tom Davis lives in Bristol.

Not used with names of:

When we speak about

Can be singular or plural

Are neither singular nor plural

In the singular form can be used with: a/an, one,

Nouns that can be both countable and uncountable

You might also like