a an and the when to use them what are they used for The articles in English are the definite article the and the indefinite articles a and an (and sometimes some). Use of the definite article implies that the speaker assumes the listener knows the identity of the noun's referent (because it is obvious, because it is common knowledge, or because it was mentioned in the same sentence or an earlier sentence). Use of an indefinite article implies that the speaker assumes the listener does not have to know the identity of the referent. In some noun phrases no article is used. Articles are a special case of determiners in English; for information about this class as a whole, see English determiners.

2. A & An – Indefinite article - Use
For singular countable nouns (when we are not being
specific).
Have you got a DVD player?
BE CAREFUL!
‘An’ comes before words with a vowel sound. It is the
sound that is important, not the spelling. So we say ‘an
umbrella’ but ‘a uniform’.

3. The – the Definite article - Use
With singular countable nouns (when we are being
specific)
That’s the woman who won the lottery!
With singular countable nouns (for general groups or
categories)
The calculator makes maths a lot easier.
With plural countable nouns (when we are being
specific)
The videos are in the cupboard.
With uncountable nouns (when we are being
specific)
The ice cream is in the fridge.

4. We don’t use an article with:
Plural countable nouns (when we are not being
specific)
Videos are cheaper than DVDs.
Uncountable nouns (when we are not being specific)
Ice cream is more popular in the summer.
BE CAREFUL!!
There are a lot of phrases and other rules that determine
which article we use. Pay particular attention to the
following:

5. Entertainment – a programme on TV, on the radio,
listen to music, play football, play (the)piano, go to
the cinema.
Time – in 1994, in the 1980s, in the 20th
century, in the
morning, at night, in April, in (the) winter
Geographical features – Mount Everest, the
Mediterranean, Crete, the Thames, London, the USA,
the UK, Mars, the Earth
People and work – a doctor, a teacher, the President,
become President, the Queen, go to work, be at work,
have a job
Nationalities – She’s French, the Germans
Organisations – the army, the police, the Scouts

6. Buildings – the bank, the post office, go to
prison/hospital, be in prison/hospital, go to the
prison/hospital (as a visitor)
Health – Have toothache, (the) flu, a headache, a cold
Travel – go by bus, take the bus, on foot, take a taxi,
go home
Education – go to school, go to the school (as a
visitor), be in the 5th
year, be in class 5, maths

7. Buildings – the bank, the post office, go to
prison/hospital, be in prison/hospital, go to the
prison/hospital (as a visitor)
Health – Have toothache, (the) flu, a headache, a cold
Travel – go by bus, take the bus, on foot, take a taxi,
go home
Education – go to school, go to the school (as a
visitor), be in the 5th
year, be in class 5, maths