2. We use the definite article
When the person or thing has been referred to
before. “She always makes a particular mistake.
The mistake is very common.”
In superlative phrases: “It’s the most common
mistake”
When we define what we are referring to: “The
mistake that she makes is very common”
3. When a person or thing is unique: “The president
made a hilarious mistake.”
With singular nouns which stand for a general type:
“The apostrophe is usually misused”
With adjectives used as plural nouns: “The illiterate
in society are at a severe disadvantage”
4. In addition we use the definite article with...
Musical instruments: “He plays the guitar”
Dates and decades: “I grew up in the eighties”
Seas and deserts, rivers and groups of mountains:
“They went trekking in the Himalayas. We went to a
hotel in the Red Sea.”
5. We DON’T use articles...
With plural or uncountable nouns when we are
talking about things in general:
“They have lots of drinks but not much food.”
Abstract nouns: “Friendship is built on trust”
With streets, towns and most continents and
countries: “I live in Arabella Drive, that’s in Cardiff,
Wales”
6. We DON’T use articles...
With meals: “I’m making lunch”
With seasons: “Winter is my favourite season”
With some institutions when it refers to a general
meaning:
“He is in hospital” (it’s not important which one, but
the fact he’s ill)
but “He works at the local school” (specific one)
7. Are the following sentences correct?
My wife comes from Perth, in Australia
I love autumn when the colours are amazing.
How long have you played the guitar?
Pam was a teenager in 1990s.
Madagascar is an island in Indian Ocean.
The moon is more than 350,000 kilometres from the
earth.
What time do you have the breakfast?
The microwave oven was invented in 1945 by Percy
Spencer.
The British drink a lot of tea.
It’s important not to give up the hope.
8. Complete the sentences with the definite article
or no article
____ Simpson Desert in Australia has some of the largest
sand dunes in the world.
I don’t like ______ winter. It’s always so cold.
One of the most useful inventions of the nineteenth century
was _____ electric light bulb.
In _____ USA _____ fourth of July is a national holiday.
Most health experts say that _____ breakfast is the most
important meal of the day.
What’s the capital city of _____ Canada?
When Rebecca was young she could play _____ violin.
Dopamine and Norepinephrine are the two chemicals in our
body that cause ______ love.
