English Grammar: Using Articles A, An, and The

• This unit discusses the use of articles: a/an and the.

Indefinite Articles: a/an

• A and an are used when introducing something for the first time.
• Use a before words starting with a consonant sound: "a sandwich."
• Use an before words starting with a vowel sound: "an apple."

Definite Article: the

• The is used when referring to something specific that has already been mentioned or is known to both the speaker and listener.
• The is used when referring to something both know, or have already spoken about

Examples of a/an vs. the

• "A man and a woman were sitting opposite me. The man was American, but I think the woman was British."
• "When we were on holiday, we stayed at a hotel. Sometimes we ate at the hotel and sometimes we went to a restaurant."

Specific vs. Non-Specific

• Use the when referring to a specific thing: "Tim sat down on the chair nearest the door."
• Use a/an when referring to something in general: "Tim sat down on a chair."
• We stayed at a very cheap hotel.
• The hotel where we stayed was very cheap.

Contextual Clarity with the

• The is used when the item is clear from the context.
• In a room we talk about the light, the floor, the ceiling, the door etc.
• Can you turn off the light, please?
• I took a taxi to the station.
• I'd like to speak to the manager, please.

Common Expressions

• Use the with "bank" and "post office": "I have to go to the bank and then I'm going to the post office."
• Use the with "doctor" and "dentist": "Clare isn't well. She's gone to the doctor."
• We say 'once a week / three times a day / £1.50 a kilo' etc.
• I go to the cinema about once a month.
• "How much are those potatoes?' ‘£1.50 a kilo."
• Helen works eight hours a day, six days a week.

• This unit discusses using the where there is only one.

Uniqueness with the

• Use the when there is only one of something: "Have you ever crossed the equator?"
• Use the + superlative: "What's the longest river in Europe?"

Common Phrases With the

• Common phrases using the:
  • the world
  • the sky
  • the universe
  • the sea
  • the sun
  • the moon
  • the earth
  • the ground
  • the country
• Use Earth without the article when referring to it as a planet: "Which is the planet nearest Earth?"
• Use space without the when referring to the universe: "There are millions of stars in space."

Entertainment and Media

• Use the with "cinema" and "theatre": "(go to) the cinema, the theatre."
• Do not use the with "TV/television," but use it with "radio": "I watch TV a lot, but I don't listen to the radio much."
• Use the with "internet": "the internet."

Meals

• Do not use "the" with general meal names: "breakfast/lunch/dinner."
• Example: What did you have for breakfast?
• Use "the" when using adjectives with the meal name: 'a big lunch', 'a wonderful dinner', 'an early breakfast'
• Example: We had a very nice lunch.

Numbers

• Do not the" with these phrases:
  • Size 43
  • Platform 5
  • Room 126
  • Page 29
  • Vitamin A
  • Section B

• This unit discusses using two words: school, and the.

School

• Used without the
  • When referring to the general idea of education or being a student.
    • Ellie goes to school every day as a student.
    • She's at school right now.
    • School starts at 9.
• Used with the
  • When referring to the building.
    • Ellie's mother goes to the school to meet with the daughter's teacher.

Other public institutions

• Same rules apply for prison, hospital, university, and church, as with school.
• Without the: Thinking of their general purpose or when mentioning being patients, prisoners, or students.
• With the: Refers to the specific building itself.

Common phrases

• Include go to bed, be in bed.
• Doesn't include the: do not use the before bed, work, or home, if you use go to, be at, finish, etc.
• However, in general sit down on the bed.

• This unit discusses the use of the (children / the children)

Talking Speaking in General

• When we are talking about things or people in general, we do not use the.
• I'm afraid of dogs. -(dogs = dogs in general, not a specific group of dogs) - Doctors are usually paid more than teachers.
  • Do you know anybody who collects stamps?
    • Life has changed a lot in the last thirty years.
      • Do you like classical music / Chinese food / fast cars?
    • My favourite sport is football/skiing/athletics.
      • My favourite subject at school was history/physics/English.
      • We say 'most people / most shops / most big cities' etc. (not the most . . .):
        • Most shops accept credit cards. (not The most shops)
        • Compare:
        • Children learn from playing. (= children in general)
          • I couldn't live without music.
          • All cars have wheels.
      • Sugar isn't very good for you.
    • English people drink a lot of tea. (= English people in general)

Talking Speaking Specifically

- Do you like coffee?
(= coffee in general)
- Do you like strong black coffee?
                  -(not all coffee, but 'strong black coffee' is

still a general idea) - Specific people or things (with the) - We took the children to the zoo. - (= a specific group, perhaps the speaker's children) - The film wasn't very good, but I liked

• the music. (= the music in the film) - All the cars in this car park belong to
• people who work here.
  • Can you pass the sugar, please? (= the sugar on the table)
    • The English people I know drink a lot of tea. (= only the English people I know, not English people in general)

Indefinite vs definite

• I like the people I work with.
• (= a specific group of people)
  • The coffee we had after dinner wasn't very good. (= specific coffee)

This study guide covers the usage of "the" with various nouns.

Types of nouns used with "the"

• Types of animals
• "The giraffe is the tallest.."
• Musical instruments
• "Can you play the guitar?"
• "The piano is my favourite"

Other usages

• old = old people, the rich = rich people etc.
  • The young
  • In general, the ... = members of that group
  • The Spanish

This note card covers the use of the with names and people

Use of the

Do not use “the” with names of people and most places

• Continents -Africa
• Countries -France
• States -Japan
• Islands -Sicily, Tasmania
• Cities/Towns -Cairo, Bangkok
• Mountains -Everest, Kilimanjaro

Use Republics, Kingdoms, States

• The Czech Republic
• The United Kingdom
• The United States of America

Use of Titles Before Names

• Do not use “the” when using a title before a name:
• Mr Johnson
• Doctor Johnson
• Captain Johnson President Johnson Uncle Robert
• Do not use “the” for Mount or Lake such as Mount Everest and Lake Superior

Oceans, Seas, Rivers, and Canals

• Always use “the” with the names of oceans, seas, rivers, and canals:
  • the Atlantic Ocean
  • the Red Sea
  • the Amazon
  • the Nile
  • the Suez Canal

Deserts

• Always use “the” with the names of deserts: -the Sahara Desert -the Gobi Desert