The document discusses the use of articles (a/an, the, zero article) in English. It explains that "a/an" is used with singular countable nouns, "the" is used with things already mentioned or that are unique, and no article is used with plural/uncountable nouns or when speaking generally. It provides examples of article usage with institutions, geographical names, and exercises to practice the rules.

1. ARTICLES IN ENGLISH: A/AN, THE, ZERO ARTICLE
A) A/AN + singular countable nouns
- The first time you mention a thing/person.
- When you say what/who something/somebody is.
- When you say what somebody does (profession).
- In exclamations with What…!
- In expressions like three times a week.
B) THE
- When we talk about something we’ve already mentioned.
- When there’s only one of something (it is unique).
- When it’s clear what you’re referring to.
- With superlatives.
C) ZERO ARTICLE
- When you are speaking in general (with plural and uncountable nouns).
- With some nouns like home, work, school, church… after at/to/from.
- Before meals, days and months.
- Before next/last + days, week…
INSTITUTIONS: prison, church, hospital, school, university…
ZERO ARTICLE
When you think about the institution or its
normal purpose (what it is used for).
A / THE
When you think about the building.
GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES:
ZERO ARTICLE
- most countries and continents
- regions ending with the name of a country /
continent
- individual islands
- states and provinces
- towns and cities
- roads and streets
- parks, shops and restaurants
- individual mountains and lakes
THE
- some countries (the USA, the UK, the
Netherlands, the Czech Republic)
- motorways and numbered roads (the M6,
the A4)
- mountain ranges, rivers, seas, canals
deserts and groups of islands
- names of theatres, cinemas, hotels, galleries
and museums
EXERCISE 1: Complete the sentences with a / an, the, or “Ø” (= no article).
1 ___ President made an important speech about education.
2 I’m frightened of ___ dogs.
3 You should eat five portions of ___ fruit or vegetables every day.
4 I saw ___ interesting programme on TV last night.
5 They finish ___ work at ___ six o’clock.
6 My son plays ___ saxophone really well.
7 My daughter wants to be ___ lawyer when she grows up.
8 I love reading in ___ bed.
9 What ___ lovely meal! Thanks very much for inviting us.

2. EXERCISE 2: Complete the sentences with a / an, the, or “Ø” (= no article).
a) You should never look directly at __________ sun.
b) My brother's girlfriend is __________ architect.
c) My grandmother is __________ oldest person in my family.
d) I usually play volleyball twice __________ week.
e) My cousins live in __________ really nice house.
Is John giving you __________ lift home from the party?
g) I'm going on holiday __________ next Saturday.
h) Could you turn off __________ computer when you finish, please?
i) Do you know how to send __________ email?
j) Is love more important than __________ money?
k) That's __________ nicest thing anyone has ever said to me
l) What time do your children usually go to __________ bed?
m) They're building __________ new hospital in my town.
n) My sister's at __________ university. She's studying maths.
o) __________ computer we bought yesterday won't play DVDs.
p) Turn right after __________ museum and go up the hill.
q) Paris is on __________ River Seine.
r) I'd love to go to __________ China.
s) Big Ben is probably __________ most famous monument in London.
t) What __________ interesting place!