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.