Articles
A / AN vs. THE – GENERAL POINTS
ARTICLES (A, AN, and THE) are an important part of the English language, but difficult for learners because many other languages do not use them. Here are some general guidelines for using them correctly:
A and AN are used in three main situations in English:
1) Talking about non-specific, non-particular nouns. A and AN are used when we mention something, but don't indicate, or don't care, exactly which one:
Can I have a piece of cake, please?
(It doesn't matter which piece, any piece is fine).
I need to find a bank – is there one near here?
(Which exact bank is unimportant – any bank will do).
Do you have a car?
(A general question, we don't care what kind of car or which car it is).
2) Introducing general nouns. If you are talking about general nouns, such as dog, boy, tree, phone, etc., and haven't yet specified them, use A or AN the first time you mention them:
I went to a film today.
(So far, we don't know which film).
I was bitten by a dog last week.
(Some unspecified dog – no defining information has been given yet).
I am looking for a job.
(Not a particular job).
3) For talking about what kind of thing or person something / somebody is , to include them as part of a larger group of similar things or people:
My father is an architect.
(He is one of many architects in the world)
Are you a good swimmer?
(One member of the larger group "good swimmers")
What a horrible day!
(One of many horrible days)
THE is used in many cases in English. Here are the basic ideas:
1) Talking about unique or individual nouns. If there is only one of something, use THE:
What is the tallest building in the world?
(There is only one tallest building)
The earth is bigger than the moon, but smaller than the sun.
(All three are unique things – there is no confusion as to which earth, which moon, and which sun we are talking about)
Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic.
(There is only one capital in a country)
2) The second time you mention something (and after). We use THE for talking about general things that we have already mentioned before, so they are no longer unkown (compare with #2 above):
I was bitten by a dog last week. The dog was big, black, and ugly.
(In the second sentence, we know which dog is being talked about – it is the one that bit me last week)
I found a job today. The job is in advertising.
(Again, in the second sentence we know which job – it's the one I found today)
I had a burrito for lunch and a cookie for dessert. The burrito was great, but the cookie was terrible.
3) In situations where it is clear which general noun we are referring to.
Can you answer the phone, please?
(There is probably only one phone in the room, and anyway we clearly mean the one that is ringing).
I would like to speak to the manager.
(We assume that there is only one manager).
I washed the car yesterday.
(Clearly I am referring to my car).
This also applies to things like the following:
I'm going to the doctor today.
(My usual doctor, the one I normally visit).
I'm going to the post office now.
(The one close to me or the one I usually go to)
In this way, you can also say the dentist, the bank, the mechanic, the city center, the army, etc.
SPECIAL CASES WITH THE
There are a variety of special cases in which we use THE. Here are some of the most important:
1) Natural features – we normally use THE with:
the sea, the sky, the ground, the ocean, the country, the environment
exception: space, when you mean area outside the earth's atmosphere
2) Entertainment – we normally say:
the cinema, the movies (USA), the theater, the radio
I'm going to the cinema tonight.
I listened to the radio all day.
exception: television (we say "I watch a lot of television", but "please turn off the television" – the one in this room)
3) Describing a group or type of thing:
The elephant is the largest land animal on earth.
(We mean elephants in general, as a group)
The lira was the currency of Italy before the introduction of the euro.
(We mean all lira together, or the idea of the lira)
Can you play the piano?
(Here again we consider all pianos to be the same in the sense that if you can play one, you can play any of them)
4) With adjectives that describe groups. We often use THE + an adjective by itself to identify a group that shares that characteristic:
the old, the young, the elderly, the rich, the poor, the unemployed, the homeless, the sick, the dead
Our city has made every effort to help the homeless.
There is much resentment of the rich by the poor.
5) Nationalities – we use THE to talk about all the people of one nation:
the French, the English, the British, the Irish, the Dutch, the Spanish, the Welsh
The singular form of these is with -MAN / -WOMAN
He is an Englishman (Not "he is an English")
She is a Frenchwoman
Some are a little different:
the Chinese, the Lebanese, the Japanese
But
the Italians, the Mexicans, the Scots, the Turks
Unfortunately, there is no concrete rule for forming these plurals – they must be studied one by one.
6) Names with THE. We use THE with the names of:
A) Oceans, seas, rivers, and canals: The Indian Ocean, The Red Sea, The Vltava River,
The Suez Canal
B) Plural names of people and places:
People – The Smiths (the Smith family)
Countries – The United States, the Phillipines, the Netherlands
Island groups – the Bahamas, the Florida Keys, the British Isles
Mountain ranges – the Rocky Mountains, the Alps
Geographical regions – the south of France, the west
C) The following places and buildings:
Hotels / Restaurants – the Hilton Hotel, the Blue Bell Restaurant
Theaters / Cinemas – the Imperial Theater, the Stafford Cinema
Museums / Galleries – the Royal Museum, the Tate Gallery
Newspapers – The New York Times, The Herald Tribune
Organizations – The United Nations
NOUNS WITHOUT ARTICLES
There are also many situations in which we do not use THE:
1) Talking about things in general, as a type or category, and not as individuals or specific groups:
I hate vegetables.
(Not "the vegetables")
Dogs are excellent companions.
(Not "the dogs")
Life can be hard sometimes.
Now compare the examples above with examples of the same nouns with THE:
The vegetables you served for dinner were overcooked.
(We mean the specific vegetables served for dinner)
The dogs in my neighborhood are friendly.
(We are referring to a specific group of dogs)
The life of John F. Kennedy is the subject of many books and films.
(The specific life of one man)
2) Certain institutions, when we refer to them as general ideas, not particular places or buildings:
My brother is in hospital at the moment.
Do you go to church every Sunday?
Al Capone spent time in prison for tax evasion.
Going to university is a good opportunity to improve your knowledge.
But, we use THE in cases like these:
My brother is staying in the hospital on 5th Street.
I attend the church that is on the town square.
The prison Al Capone was confined to was named Alcatraz.
I'm presenting a lecture at the university at noon.
3) A few common things:
I was in bed all weekend with the flu.
I'm still at work, but I will be leaving soon.
Meet me at home at seven tonight.
But
Please sit down on the bed.
The work we did was very difficult.
This is the home of Robert Redford.
4) Some places and things:
Continents – Asia, North America, etc.
Most countries – Denmark, Germany, France
States and regions – California, Bordeaux, West Africa
Islands – Bermuda, Corsica
Cities and towns – Prague, Los Angeles, Paris
Mountains – Fuji, Everest, Rainier
Streets – First Avenue, Kennedy Street, etc.
There are other exceptions; this is only a basic list.