a/an indefinite article, see also <> the definite article, see also <> articles 1) Before singular [b]countable nouns[/b] you can use [b]a/an[/b]: [i]- That's a good suggestion.[/i] 2) We often use [b]a/an[/b] + noun when we say what something/someone is, or something/someone [b]is like[/b]: [i]- Tom's father is a doctor ([u]not[/u] 'Tom's father is doctor')[/i] 3) We use [b]a/an[/b] when the listener [b]doesn't know[/b] which thing we mean. [i]- Tom sat down on a chair, (we don't know which chair)[/i] 4)We use [b]'the'[/b] when it is [b]clear[/b] which thing we mean: [i]- Tom sat down on the chair nearest the door. (we know which chair) - Did Ann get the job she applied for? (a particular job)[/i] 5) We use [b]'the'[/b] when it is [b]clear[/b] in the situation which thing or person we mean. [i]- Can you turn off the light, please? (= the light in this room)[/i] Also: [b]the police/the fire-brigade/the army[/b]. We also say [b]the bank, the post office[/b]: [i]- I must go to the bank to change some money and then I'm going to the post office to buy some stamps. [/i](The speaker is usually thinking of a particular bank or post office.) We also say [b]the doctor, the dentist[/b]: [i]- John isn't very well. He has gone to the doctor. (= his doctor)[/i] 6) We say [b]'the' ... [/b] when there is only one of something: [i]- Paris is the capital of France.[/i] 7) We say: [b]the sea the sky the ground/the countryside/the country[/b] [i]- Would you rather live in a town or in the country?[/i] 8) We say [b]go to sea/be at sea[/b] (without [b]'the'[/b]) when the meaning is [b]go/be on a voyage[/b]: [i]- Ken is a seaman. He spends most of his life at sea. [/i] [u]but[/u]: [i]I would love to live near the sea. (not 'near sea') [/i] We say [b]space[/b] ([u]not[/u] 'the space') when we mean space in the universe: [i]- There are millions of stars in space, (not 'in the space') [/i] [u]but[/u]: [i]He tried to park his car but the space wasn't big enough.[/i] 9) Cinema/theatre/radio/television We say [b]the cinema/the theatre[/b]: [i]- We went to the cinema last night.[/i] Note that when we say [b]'the cinema/the theatre'[/b], we do not necessarily mean one particular cinema or theatre. We usually say [b]the radio[/b]: [i]- We often listen to the radio.[/i] But we usually say [b]television[/b] (without [b]'the'[/b]): [i]- We often watch television.[/i] [u]but[/u]: [i]Can you turn off the television, please? (= the television set)[/i] 10) Meals: We [u]do not[/u] normally use [b]'the'[/b] with the names of meals: [i]- What time is lunch?[/i] But we say [b]a meal[/b]: [i]- We had a meal in a restaurant. [/i] We also say [b]a[/b] when there is an adjective before [b]lunch/breakfast[/b] etc. [i]- Thank you. That was a very nice lunch, ([u]not [/u]'that was very nice lunch')[/i] 11) Study this sentence: [i]- The rose is my favourite flower.[/i] In this example [b]'the'[/b] doesn't mean one particular thing. [b]The rose[/b] = roses in general. We use [b]'the' + a singular countable noun[/b] in this way to talk about a type of plant, animal etc. Note that you can also use a plural noun without [b]'the'[/b]: [b]- Roses are my favourite flowers.[/b] We also use [b]'the' + a singular countable noun[/b] when we talk about a type of machine, an invention etc. For example: [i]- When was the telephone invented?[/i] We also use [b]'the'[/b] for musical instruments: - Can you play the guitar? ([u]not[/u] 'Can you play guitar?') 12) [b]'the' + adjective[/b] We use [b]'the'[/b] with some adjectives (without a noun). The meaning is always plural. For example, [b]the rich[/b] = rich people in general: [i]- Do you think the rich should pay more taxes? [/i] We use [b]the [/b]especially with these adjectives: [b]the rich/ the old/ the poor/ the young/ the blind/ the sick/ the disabled/ the injured/ the deaf/ the dead/ the unemployed[/b] 13) [b]'the' + nationality words[/b] You can use [b]'the'[/b] with some nationality adjectives when you mean 'the people of that country'. For example: [i]The French are famous for their food. (= the French people)[/i] You can use [b]'the'[/b] in this way with these nationality words: [b]the British/ the Welsh/ the Spanish/ the Dutch/ the English/ the Irish/ the French/ the Swiss[/b]. Also with nationality words ending in -ese ([b]the Japanese/the Chinese [/b] etc.) With other nationalities you have to use a plural noun ending in -s:[b](the) Russians/ (the) Italians/ (the) Arabs/ (the) Scots/ (the) Turks[/b] 14) Plural and uncountable nouns with and without [b]the[/b] ([b]flowers/the flowers, music/the music[/b]) We [u]don't use[/u] [b]'the'[/b] before a noun when we mean something in general: [i]- I love flowers, (not 'the flowers')[/i] (flowers = flowers in general, not a particular group of flowers) We say most people/most dogs etc. (not 'the most ...'): - Most people like George, (not 'the most people' - see also Unit 82) 15) We say [b]'the'[/b] when we mean something in particular: [i]- I like your garden. The flowers are beautiful.[/i] ([u]not [/u]'Flowers are ...') (the flowers = the flowers in your garden, not flowers in general) [i]- Children learn a lot from playing.[/i] (= children in general) [u]But[/u]:[i] We took the children to the zoo.[/i] (= a particular group of children, perhaps the speaker's own children) [i]- Salt is used to flavour food.[/i] [u]but[/u]:[i] Can you pass the salt, please? [/i] (= the salt on the table) [i]- I often listen to music. [/i] [u]but[/u]: [i]The film wasn't very good but I liked the music.[/i] (= the music in the film) [i]- Are English people friendly?[/i] (= English people in general) [u]but[/u]:[i] Are the English people you know friendly?[/i] (= only the English people you know, not English people in general) 16) The difference between [b]'something in general'[/b] and [b]'something in particular'[/b] is not always very clear. Study these sentences: [i]- I like working with people. [/i] (= people in general) [i]- I like working with people who are lively.[/i] (not all people, but people who are lively is still a general idea) [u]But[/u]: [i]I like the people I work with. [/i] (= a particular group of people) [i]- Do you like coffee? [/i] (= coffee in general) [i]- Do you like strong black coffee? [/i] (not all coffee, but strong black coffee is still a general idea) [u]But[/u]: Did you like the coffee we had with our meal last night? (= particular coffee) 17) [b]Hospital/the hospital, school/the school[/b] etc. Study this example situation with hospital: [i]- Jack had an accident a few days ago. - He had to go to hospital. - He is still in hospital now. - Jill went to the hospital to visit him. - She is at the hospital now.[/i] Someone goes [b]to hospital[/b] or is [b]in hospital[/b] if he is ill or injured. We are not necessarily thinking of a particular hospital; we are thinking of the idea of hospital. But Jill is not ill or injured. She is not [b]'in hospital'[/b]. She went there as a visitor. We say 'Jill went to [b]the[/b] hospital/Jill is at [b]the [/b] hospital' because we mean a particular hospital, the one where Jack is. 18) [b]Prison/ school/ university/ college/ church[/b] We say a criminal goes [b]to prison[/b] ([u]not[/u] 'to the prison'); a child goes [b]to school[/b]; a student goes [b]to university/college[/b]. We do not use [b]'the'[/b] when we are thinking of the idea of these places and what they are used for: [i]- After I leave school, I want to go to university,[/i] (as a pupil/student) [i]- Mrs Kelly goes to church every Sunday, [/i] (for a religious service) [i]- Ken's brother is in prison for robbery,[/i] (he is a prisoner) We say [b]'be in prison'[/b], but usually [b]'be at school/university/college'[/b]. [b]'In church'[/b] and [b]'at church'[/b] are both possible. Now study these sentences with [b]'the'[/b]: [i]- Mr Kelly went to the school to meet his daughter's teacher.[/i] (He didn't go there as a pupil.) [i]-The workmen went to the church to repair the roof.[/i] (They didn't go to a religious service.) 19) [b]bed/ work/ home[/b] We say: [b]'go to bed/be in bed'[/b] etc. ([u]not[/u] 'the bed'): [i]- It's time to go to bed now.[/i] [b]'Go to work/be at work/start work/finish work'[/b] etc. ([u]not[/u] 'the work'): [i]- Why isn't Ann at work today? [/i] [b]'Go home/come home/be at home/stay at home'[/b] etc. ([u]not[/u] 'the home'): [i]- Come on! Let's go home. [/i] There is [u]no[/u] preposition with [b]go/come/get/arrive home[/b]. ([u]not[/u] 'to home') 20) [b]Geographical names with and without 'the'[/b] 20-a) [b]Continents[/b]: We [u]do not[/u] say [b]'the'[/b] with the names of continents: [i]Africa ([u]not[/u] 'the Africa')/ Asia/ Europe/ South America[/i] 20-b) [b]Countries and states[/b]: We [b]do not[/b] usually say 'the' with the names of countries and states: [i]France ([u]not[/u] 'the France')/ Japan/ West Germany [/i] But we say [b]'the'[/b] with names which include words like [b]'republic','union','kingdom','states'[/b]: [b]the German Federal Republic/ the United Arab Emirates[/b] We also use [b]'the'[/b] with plural names: [i]the Netherlands/ the Philippines[/i] 20-c) [b]Cities[/b]: We [u]do not[/u] use [b]'the'[/b] with the names of [b]cities/towns/villages[/b]: [i]Cairo ([u]not[/u] 'the Cairo')/ New York Glasgow/ Madrid [/i] [u]Exception[/u]: [i]The Hague (in the Netherlands)[/i] 20-d) [b]Islands[/b]: Island groups usually have plural names [b]with 'the'[/b]: [i]the Bahamas/ the Canaries/the Canary Islands[/i] Individual islands usually have singular names [b]without 'the'[/b]: [i]Corfu/ Sicily/ Bermuda/ Easter Island[/i] 20-e) [b]Regions[/b]: We say: [i]the Middle East/ the Far East[/i] [u]but[/u]:[i] northern England/southern Spain/western Canada [/i] - [b]without 'the'[/b] 20-f) [b]Mountains[/b]: Mountain ranges usually have plural names [b]with 'the'[/b]: [i]the Rocky Mountains/the Rockies/ the Andes/ the Alps [/i] But individual mountains usually have names [b]without the[/b]: [i](Mount) Everest/ Ben Nevis (in Scotland)/ (Mount) Etna[/i] 20-g) [b]Lakes[/b]: Lakes usually have names [b]without the[/b]: [i]Lake Superior/ Lake Constance[/i] 20-h) Names of [b]oceans/seas/river/canals[/b] have [b]the[/b]: [i]the Atlantic (Ocean)/ the Mediterranean (Sea)/ the (English) Channel/ the Nile[/i] Note: On maps 'the' is not usually included in the name. 21) Names of [b]streets, buildings[/b] etc. with and without [b]'the'[/b] We [u]do not[/u] normally use [b]'the'[/b] with names of [b]streets/roads/squares[/b] etc.: [i]Regent Street ([u]not[/u] 'the ...')/ Fifth Avenue/ Piccadilly Circus [/i] There are some [u]exceptions[/u] (for example: 'The Mail' in London). 22) Many names (for example, of airports or universities) are two words: [i]Kennedy Airport/ Cambridge University[/i] The first word is usually the name of a person ('Kennedy') or a place ('Cambridge'). We [u]do not[/u] usually say [b]the[/b] with names like these: [i]Victoria Station ([u]not[/u] 'the ...')/ Edinburgh Castle/ Hyde Park Westminster Abbey[/i] But we say [b]'the' White House', 'the Royal Palace'[/b] because 'white' and 'royal' are not names. 23) We usually say [b]'the'[/b] before the names of these places: [b]hotels[/b]: [i]the Hilton[/i] [b]restaurants/pubs[/b]: [i]the Bombay Restaurant, the Red Lion (pub) [/i] [b]theatres[/b]: [i]the Palace Theatre[/i] [b]cinemas[/b]: [i]the ABC, the Odeon[/i] [b]museums/galleries[/b]: [i]the British Museum[/i] 24) Many shops, restaurants, hotels, banks etc. are named after the people who started them. These names end in s or 's. We [u]do not[/u] use [b]'the'[/b] with these names: [b]shops[/b]: [i]Selfridges ([u]not[/u] 'the Selfridges'), Harrods [/i] [b]restaurants[/b]: [i]Maxim's, Macdonalds[/i] [b]banks[/b]: [i]Barclays Bank, Lloyds Bank[/i] Churches are usually named after saints (St = saint): [i]St John's Church[/i] 25) We say [b]'the'[/b] before the [b]names of places, buildings[/b] etc. with [b]of[/b]: [i]the Bank of England (not 'Bank of England')/ the Great Wall of China/ the Museum of Modern Art [/i] 26) We say [b]'the'[/b] with the names of newspapers: [i]the Times[/i] [i]the Washington Post[/i]