2. Indefinite article: a/an
At the beginning of a noun phrase:
I saw a house.
Immediately before a noun or an adjective (a) or
before an adverb + adjective + noun (b):
(a) I saw an ugly house.
(b) I saw a really ugly house last night.
3. a/an
with singular countable nouns to introduce
something new that the listener or reader does not
know about.
I saw an accident.
I have a new bag.
I have an older sister.
8. 1.The noun refers to
something that has
been said or written.
2. When it is clear what
you are referring to
1.This is the man I told
you about.
2. Open the window,
please!
the
When listener knows what we are talking about. The is used
with a noun to show:
9. The
3. With unique things
4. with places in a town, e.g.
cinema and theatre
3. The Internet is so
important in our lives.
4. Let’s go to the cinema!
11. The is also used with some topic
groups:
Entertainment:
I went to the cinema.
I went to the pub.
I went to the shops.
Transport
I arrived at the airport.
I arrived at the bus stop.
Musical instruments
I play the piano. I play the guitar.
12. Countries whose names include political
terms or plural nouns.
The United Kingdom, the Czech Republic,
the Phillipines
13. The is also used with names of things
in the following groups:
1. Rivers, mountain ranges, oceans and seas,
deserts, groups of islands.
The Thames, the Andes, the Atlantic, the
Sahara, the West Indies.
2. Hotels, cinemas, political bodies, newspapers.
The Hilton, the Odeon, the Labour Party, the
Sun.
14. no article
before a single noun if another determiner is
used:
Possessive adjective - her brother
Demonstrative adjective - that book
Quantifiers - each day/
any occasion
16. No article
before plural nouns when talking about
something general.
I usually have sandwiches for lunch.
17. no article
before the name of institutions (hospital,
church, school, prison, college, university+
home)
He works at the Mayday Hospital.
I’ll stay at home
I study at school
18. no article
with the names of meals.
She came to lunch.
I’ve already had my breakfast
with expressions of time (days, months).
on Sunday
in July
before next / last+ day, week, etc.
last year
next week
19. no article
in the names of people.
in the names of places such as towns,
villages, cities, parks, streets, woods and
forests.
22. a/an
1. with singular countable nouns to introduce
something new that the listener or reader
does not know about.
2. when you say what something is
3. When you speak about job or occupation
4. in exclamations with ‘What a ... !’
5. in expressions of frequency.
23. the
1 When we talk about something we've already
mentioned.
2 When it's clear what you're referring to .
3 When there's only one of something.
4 with places in a town, e.g. cinema and theatre.
5 With superlatives.
24. No article
1 When we are speaking in general (with plural
and uncountable nouns).
2 with some nouns, (e.g. home, work , school,
church) after at / to / from.
3 before meals, days, and months.
4 before next / last + day, week, etc.
