Definite and indefinite articles
The indefinite article a
The indefinite article a is the same for all genders.
a tree
a boy
a dog
The indefinite article has no plural form.
a dog dogs
We use an if the following word starts with a spoken vowel.
the following word starts with a
the following word starts with a spoken vowel
spoken consonant
a girl an Italian girl
a school an old school
a beach an aunt
Mind the pronunciation of the following word.
The first sound we speak is [j], so we The first sound we speak is [], so we
use a a unit use an an uncle
Use of the indefinite article a/an
2.1. before phrases of time and measurements (per week/weekly)
I have French classes 4 times a week.
He goes on holiday twice a year.
Our car can do 220 kilometres an hour.
Shrimps are $5 a kilo.
2.2. before phrases of jobs
My aunt is a music player.
2.3. with a noun complement
She is a nasty girl.
2.4. before phrases of nationality
Jack Johnson is an American.
2.5. half/quite
You need half a pound of hazelnuts.
This is quite a sad story.
The definite article the
The definite article the is the same for all genders in singular and in plural.
the wall
the soldier
the english
the computers
If the following word begins with a consonant, we speak [], if the following word begins with
a vowel, we speak [i:].
[] [i:]
the following word starts with a the following word starts with a
spoken vowel
spoken consonant
the English girl
the girl
the Alpine mountains
the book
the odd couple
the school
Compare the following words:
Here [j] is pronounced at the beginning of Here [] is pronounced at the beginning of
the word the unit the word the uncle
We have listed some examples in the following table. There you can see when we use the definite
article and when we don't.
without the definite article with the definite article the
general words (indefinite) general words (definite)
I've read a book on the life of Bill Clinton.
Life is too short.
I like the flowers in your garden.
I like flowers.
names of persons on the singular,
relatives family names in the plural
Peter and John live in London. The Smiths live in Chicago.
Aunt Mary lives in Los Angeles.
without the definite article with the definite article the
public buildings, institutions,
means of transport (indefinite) public buildings, institutions, means of transport
(definite)
Mandy doesn't like school.
The school that Mandy goes to is old.
We go to school by bus.
The bus to Dresden leaves at 7.40.
Some people go to church on
The round church in Klingenthal is famous.
Sundays.
names of countries in the
singular, summits of mountains, names of countries in the plural, mountain ranges,
continents, towns regions
Germany the United States of America
France the Netherlands
Mount Whitney the Highlands
Mount McKinley the Rocky Mountains
Africa the Alps
Europe the Middle East
Cairo the west of Australia
New York
single islands groups of islands
Corfu the Bahamas
Bermuda the British Isles
Sicily the Canaries
without the definite article with the definite article the
names with of-phrase, names in plural, well-known
buildings, oceans, seas, rivers, musical instruments,
newspapers
the Statue of Liberty
parks, lakes, streets the Tower (of London)
the Great Lakes
Central Park
the Empire State Building
Hyde Park
the Isle of Wight
Lake Michigan
the Atlantic (Ocean)
Loch Ness
the Mediterranean (Sea)
42nd Street
the Nile
Oxford Street
the Rhine
the Suez Canal
the piano
the Times
months, days of the week
(indefinite) months, days of the week (definite)
The weekend is over on Monday I always remember the Monday when I had an
morning. accident.
July and August are the most The August of 2001 was hot and dry.
popular months for holidays.
We use the seasons of the year (spring, summer, autumn, winter) with or without the definite
article.
in summer
in the summer
The American English word fall is always used with the definite article the.
Sometimes we use the article and sometimes we do not. It often depends on the context. Watch
the following example:
1. The student goes to school.
2. The mother goes to the school.
In the first sentence we do not use the definite article, in the second we do. The student goes to
school for its primary purpose, so we do not use the article.
The mother might talk to a teacher, for example. She visits the school for a different reason. That's
why we use the definite article the in the second sentence.
Resume:
1. Use a before a singular noun.
I've got a brother and a sister.
2. Use an if the noun begins with a vowel.
I've got an aunt in Texas.
3. Use plural nouns or uncountable nouns to talk about things in general. Don't use an article
here.
I like cats.
Dolphins are very intelligent.
Crime is increasing.
4. Use the to talk about one particular thing, or a particular group of things.
Books are interesting. The book on the table is interesting.
Children are noisy. The children in this class are noisy.
5. Use a to introduce a new thing or person. Use the when you already know this person or
thing.
There is a restaurant near my house. The restaurant serves good food.
6. Use the when there is only one of these things.
The moon is very big tonight.
My dad is the only doctor in our village.
Joe is the best student in the class.
7. Use the when there are many things, but it is clear which one you mean.
Let's go to the pub! We need to go to the supermarket.
8. Most 'general' nouns do not use an article.
Life is not the same as it used to be NOT: The life
Health is important to everyone. NOT: The health
We're worried about pollution. NOT: The pollution
9. But some general nouns use the:
The environment: People are increasingly worried about the environment.
The weather: What's the weather like today?
The countryside I love walking in the countryside.
The sea / ocean I'd love to live near the sea.
The radio: There's an interesting programme on the radio.
The theatre / cinema: We went to the theatre last night.
The economy: The economy is affecting everyone.
Common mistakes:
1) Some people use the when they talk about things in general.
I love the romantic films! => I love romantic films!
2) People tend to use singular nouns without a or the.
I want book about the weather. => I want a book about the weather.
3) Sometimes its a common mistake to use the when they talk about things in general.
I want the book about the weather. => I want a book about the weather.
