1. …the first 9me you are
Use a/an
men9oning it?
…describing a person
(including their job) or Use a/an
thing?
No: use a/an
…clear which one you
mean?
Yes: use the
…a superla9ve? Use the
…the only one that
Singular: is it… Use the
exists?
…a musical
Use the
instrument?
…a sport or game? Use no ar*cle
With some nouns
(home, school, work)
Countable: is it singular use no ar*cle
or plural?
…aEer at, to or from?
With all other nouns,
follow the normal
singular/plural rules
…aEer there is/ there
Use a/an
are?
…countable or
uncountable?
General: use no ar*cle
Plural: is it general or
specific?
Specific: use the
General: use no ar*cle
Uncountable: is it
general or specific?
Specific: use the
…a person’s name? Use no ar*cle
…breakfast, lunch,
Find a noun: is it… Use no ar*cle
dinner?
…a day, a month, a
season, a holiday (like Use no ar*cle
Christmas)?
…a 9me?
…morning, aEernoon,
Use the
night?
AEer ‘in’: use the
…night?
AEer ‘at’: use no
ar*cle
Look at the other
…a place?
chart!
2. Arc9c, Antarc9c Use the
Con9nents
Others Use no ar*cle
One word names Use no ar*cle
UK, USA Use the
With poli9cal
Countries descrip9ons (i.e. full Use the
names)
With plurals Use the
With north, south, east,
Use no ar*cle
west
Ci9es, towns, villages Use no ar*cle
Most roads Use no ar*cle
Roads
Roads with numbers and
Places and their names Use the
leWers (e.g. M6, A12)
Single islands Use no ar*cle
Islands
Groups of islands Use the
Single mountains Use no ar*cle
Mountains
Mountain ranges Use the
Lakes (Usually) Use no ar*cle
Water
Other water Use the
Deserts Use the
Talk about what the
place is used for (e.g. He Use no ar*cle
went to bed. [to sleep])
Other places
Talk about the place
Use the
itself