A/an, the, no article: The use of articles in English

A/an, the, no article: The use of articles in English

Exercise 2

Choose a/an, the or no article to complete the sentences below.

A/an, the, no article: Grammar chart

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Use a/an

First mention

We use a/an when we mention something for the first time.

• I saw an old woman with a dog in the park.

Jobs and descriptions

We use a/an to talk about people’s jobs or to say what kind of person or thing something/somebody is.

• Paula is a teacher.
• Paris is an interesting city.
• When I was a teenager, I enjoyed sleeping.

❗ Note that you cannot use singular countable nouns alone (without a, the, my, etc.)

• I don’t have driving license.
• I don’t have a driving license.
• This hotel doesn’t have spa.
• This hotel doesn’t have a spa. 

Use the

Second mention

We use the when we mention something for the second time.

• A man and a woman sat in front of me. The man was British, but I think the woman wasn’t.

Specific things

We use the to talk about specific things or people –when it’s clear which things or people we are talking about.

• ‘Where are the kids?’ ‘They’re in the garden.’ (=We know which kids and which garden.)
• Can you open the door? (=We know which door.)

There is only one

We use the when there’s only one of something.

• This company is very profitable. The manager must be really good.
• I’d like to live in this country, but not in the capital.
• The moon looks beautiful today.

Common places in town

With places in a town where we commonly go (the park, the cinema, the doctor, etc.)

• I’m going to the bank.
• I found Peter at the station.
• I’m at the library.

Superlatives

We use the before superlative adjectives.

• This is the best restaurant in town.

Musical instruments

We use the before names of musical instruments.

• Margaret plays the guitar and I play the flute. 

Use no article

General meaning

We do not use an article before plural or uncountable nouns to talk about something in general.

• I don’t drink milk.
• Women drive more cautiously than men.

Compare:

• I love music. (=Music in general.)
• I loved the music at the party. (=Specific music.)
• Children are often difficult. (=Children in general.)
• They are a nice family. The children are very funny. (=The children in that family.)

For common mistakes with the when speaking generally, see our dictionary entry on the.

Meals

We do not use an article before the names of meals: breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

• Dinner is served at 8.
• I always have breakfast with my children.

For examples of using lunch without an article, see our dictionary entry on lunch.

Years, months and days

We do not use an article before names of years, months and days of the week.

• Friday is my favourite day of the week.
• I think 2020 will be an excellent year.

TV

We do not use an article with TV (when used as a broadcasting service, NOT as an appliance)

• I saw it on TV.
• I don’t watch TV.

❗ But: Turn off the TV. I’ve bought a new TV.

For the difference between TV and the TV, see our dictionary entry on TV.

Names of languages and school subjects

We do not use an article before the names of languages and school subjects.

• He doesn’t speak English.
• I study biology. 

Next, last

We do not use an article before next and last + time expression (when they mean before or after now).

• The meeting is next Thursday.
• I saw him last week.

❗ Compare:

• Last year we spent one week in London (Last year= the year before now).
• We really loved London. The last day we were really sad. (The last day= the last day of that trip. NOT the day before now)