Definite and

indefinite

articles

A, an and the

Indefinite article: a/an

At the beginning of a noun phrase:

I saw a house.

Immediately before a noun or an adjective (a) or

before an adverb + adjective + noun (b):

(a) I saw an ugly house.

(b) I saw a really ugly house last night.

a/an

with singular countable nouns to introduce

something new that the listener or reader does not

know about.

I saw an accident.

I have a new bag.

I have an older sister.

a/an

when you say what something is

It’s a laptop

This is a tablet

a/an

When you speak about job or occupation

He is a doctor

I am a student

a/an

in exclamations with ‘What a ... !’

What a cute puppy!

What a wonderful day!

a/an

in expressions of time and

quantity.

Forty times an hour

Thirty pence a kilo

1.The noun refers to something that has been said or written.

2. When it is clear what you are referring to

1.This is the man I told

you about.

2. Open the window,

please!

the

When listener knows what we are talking about. The is used

with a noun to show:

The

3. With unique things

4. with places in a town, e.g. cinema and theatre

3. The Internet is so

important in our lives.

4. Let’s go to the cinema!

The

5. With superlative degree 5. This is the best show I’ve

ever seen!

The is also used with some topic

groups: Entertainment:

I went to the cinema.I went to the pub.I went to the shops.

TransportI arrived at the airport.I arrived at the bus stop.

Musical instrumentsI play the piano. I play the guitar.

Countries whose names include political

terms or plural nouns.

The United Kingdom, the Czech Republic,

the Phillipines

The is also used with names of things

in the following groups:

1. Rivers, mountain ranges, oceans and seas,

deserts, groups of islands.

The Thames, the Andes, the Atlantic, the

Sahara, the West Indies.

2. Hotels, cinemas, political bodies, newspapers.

The Hilton, the Odeon, the Labour Party, the

Sun.

no article

before a single noun if another determiner is

used:

Possessive adjective - her brother

Demonstrative adjective - that book

Quantifiers - each day/

any occasion

no article

Singular uncountable nouns

I don’t have time

But I have money!

No article

before plural nouns when talking about

something general.

I usually have sandwiches for lunch.

no article

before the name of institutions (hospital, church, school, prison, college, university+ home)

He works at the Mayday Hospital.

I’ll stay at home

I study at school

no article

with the names of meals.

She came to lunch.

I’ve already had my breakfast

with expressions of time (days, months).

on Sunday

in July

before next / last+ day, week, etc.

last year

next week

no article

in the names of people.

in the names of places such as towns,

villages, cities, parks, streets, woods and

forests.

practice

http://englishpage.com/articles/articles_4.htm

http://www.myenglishpages.com/site_php_files/

grammar-exercise-articles.php

Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=453&v=U8

kGwQjW2lM

a/an

1. with singular countable nouns to introduce

something new that the listener or reader

does not know about.

2. when you say what something is

3. When you speak about job or occupation

4. in exclamations with ‘What a ... !’

5. in expressions of frequency.

the

1 When we talk about something we've already

mentioned.

2 When it's clear what you're referring to .

3 When there's only one of something.

4 with places in a town, e.g. cinema and theatre.

5 With superlatives.

No article

1 When we are speaking in general (with plural

and uncountable nouns).

2 with some nouns, (e.g. home, work , school,

church) after at / to / from.

3 before meals, days, and months.

4 before next / last + day, week, etc.