1. Articles - A , AN or THE
• In English before a noun, you often use one of three articles.
• A is used for singular nouns in a general context.
– A /er/ cat is a /er/ good pet.
– A /er/friend of mine found a/er/ mobile phone.
• An is used for singular nouns in a general context that begin
with a vowel sound
– An average person eats 2000 calories a day.
– We had an interesting time yesterday.
• The is used for singular or plural nouns that are specific or
unique.
– The cat we saw was black.
– The earth rotates around the sun.

2. A or AN – Indefinite articles
• These are used with singular countable nouns.
– A bus, an exam, a child, an unhappy man
• An is only used when the word begins with a vowel
sound not just a vowel letter.
– An uncle but an a university /ju:…/ (not a vowel sound)
– An empty bottle but not an a eucalyptus tree
• Note that for plural and uncountable nouns use
some
– I have some people waiting.
– We need some money.

3. The definite article
• The is used for talking about specific
or unique things e.g.
– the sun, the sky, the boy next door, the man at the door.
• The is used the second time you mention something e.g.
– A man was walking down the street. The man suddenly stopped.
• The is used with certain geographical features.
– Countries with of > the United States of America, the United
Kingdom, the Republic of Congo.
– Oceans, seas and rivers > the Atlantic, the Red Sea, the River
Thames.
• The is used in superlative phrases.
– The longest river is the Nile.
– The biggest ocean is the Pacific.

4. No article or zero article
• We do not use an article for the following
contexts:
• Plural nouns in general contexts
– The Men are all the same.
– The People are different.
• Uncountable nouns in general contexts
– The Time is the money.
– The Fast food is bad for you
• Abstract nouns
– The Genius is one step from the insanity.
– Knowledge can be dangerous.