USE 1

The article A/AN is used before singular, countable nouns which begin with consonant sounds.

Example: He is a teacher. She didn’t get an invitation.

USE 2

Remember that A(AN) means «one» or «a single». You cannot use A(AN) with plural nouns.

Example: I saw bears in Yellowstone National Park.

USE 3

In English, some nouns are considered uncountable such as: information, air, advice, salt and fun. We do not use A(AN) with these uncountable nouns

Example: She gives good advice.

USE 4

A  and AN  are called indefinite articles. «Indefinite» means «not specific». Use A(AN) when you are talking about a thing in general, NOT a specific thing.

Examples:I need a phone. Not a specific phone, any phone

Use A(AN) when talking about a thing which is new, unknown, or introduced to a listener for the first time. Also use A(AN) when you are asking about the existence of something.

Examples: Tom is a teacher. This is new information to the listener.

Similarly, use A(AN) to introduce what type of thing we are talking about.

Examples: Do you live in a big house? Asking about the kind of house

REMEMBER: You cannot use A(AN) with plural nouns because A(AN) means «one» or «a single».

Examples: I saw bears in Yellowstone National Park.

USE 5

THE  is called a definite article. «Definite» means «specific». Use THE when talking about something which is already known to the listener or which has been previously mentioned, introduced, or discussed.

Example: I have a cat. The cat is black.

IMPORTANT: You can use THE  with both singular nouns and plural nouns.

Example: I saw the bears in Yellowstone National Park.

USE 6

Many clauses and phrases make the noun known to the listener by telling the listener which person or thing we are talking about.

Can you give me the book on the table?

We use THE in this sentence because the phrase «on the table» tells the listener which book we are referring to

Example: He didn’t like the movie that you suggested.

USE 7

A(AN) can be used like the word «per».

Examples: Apples currently cost $1.30 a pound./Cheetahs can run 60 miles an hour.

USE 8

Use THE with nouns modified by ranking or ordering expressions such as «the first», «the second», «the third», «the next», «the last», «the previous», «the following», «the penultimate», etc.

Example: This is the fifth day of our conference.

USE 9

Use THE with superlatives such as «the best», «the biggest», «the most important», etc.

Example: That is the most expensive hotel room I’ve ever heard of in my life.

Comparative forms, such as «bigger», «better», «more» can be used with both A(AN) and THE.

Examples: I like the bigger roller coaster., He has a more expensive car than I do..

USE 10

Do not use articles when generalizing about uncountable nouns and plural countable nouns.

Examples: Curiosity is a great trait. Water is an important resource. Vegetables are good.

USE 11

English speakers often use THE plus a singular noun when they talk about or make generalizations about certain topics, including:

  • musical instruments (the piano, the guitar, the flute)
  • plants (the coconut palm, the saguaro, the baobab)
  • animals (the leopard, the elephant, the lowland gorilla)
  • inventions (the steam engine, the plane, the light bulb)
  • currencies (the dollar, the euro, the yen)
  • body parts (the head, the eye, the ear)

USE 12

The expressions «a few» and «a little» mean «some» and express the idea that you have more than expected.

Examples: He always carries a few dollars for emergencies. He had a little difficulty with his homework. She has a few friends who can help her move.

HOWEVER: The expressions «few» and «little» (without an article) mean «not much» and express the idea that you have less than expected.

Example: Unfortunately, I had little time to enjoy New York because I had to work so much.

BUT REMEMBER: When the words «only» or «just» are used, «a few» and «a little» also emphasize the meaning «not much».

Example: Unfortunately, I only had a little time to enjoy New York because I had to work so much.

USE 13

Generally, articles are not used with the names of illnesses or diseases.

Example: There are several medications that can be used to treat malaria.

HOWEVER: There are some illnesses which require THE.

  • the measles
  • the flu
  • the mumps
  • the bubonic plague

MOREOVER: There are a few health conditions or illnesses which can be used with both A(AN) as well as THE and follow general article use. This category includes most aches, pains, growths, and attacks.

  • a cold
  • a heart attack
  • a stroke
  • a wart / tumor / growth / etc.
  • a sore throat / sore back/ sore foot / etc.
  • a headache / toothache / backache / etc.

USE 14

If a direction (north, west, southeast, left, right) directly follows a verb, do not use an article with the direction.

Example: At the stop sign, turn left and walk three blocks.

HOWEVER: If a direction follows a preposition, you must use THE.

Examples: We need to walk to the south. Our house is in the north. The grocery store is on the right.

MOREOVER: Use THE with compass directions when referring to them as special geographic or cultural regions.

Examples: We love the South. Have you ever visited the East?. The West has better national parks.

USE 15

THE can be used with plural family names to refer to the family as a group.

Example: The Robinsons love to vacation in Florida.

USE 16

THE can be combined with certain adjectives to refer to a group of people such as «the blind», «the elderly», «the rich», «the French», «the Sioux», etc.

Example: The organization helps the elderly. Elderly people

REMEMBER: This is especially important in situations where nationalities or ethnic groups and their languages might be confused. In such situations, THE is used to specify that we are talking about the nationality or ethnic group rather than the language.

Examples: I like French. Language. I like the French. The French people

HOWEVER: When generalizing about nationalities or ethnic groups that end in «-ans», such as «Americans», «Mexicans», and «Hawaiians», THE is not usually used.

Examples: Americans watch a lot of TV. Germans drink a lot of beer.

USE 17

Do not use THE with the names of most countries unless the name contains a word such as «States», «Kingdom», «Republic», «Emirates», «Union», «Coast», etc.

Example: John used to live in Japan. He lives in the United States.

SIMILARLY: Don’t use THE with states, provinces, and cities unless THE is specifically part of the name or contains a word such as «Territory» or «Coast».

Example: Ladakh is in India. The Northwest Territories is a province in Canada.

EXCEPTIONS: THE is used with «the Netherlands» as well as with many nations which are island chains, such as «the Philippines», «the Maldives», «the Bahamas», etc.

USE 18 Use THE with the names of:

  • oceans
  • seas
  • coasts
  • rivers
  • swamps
  • archipelagos
  • collections of lakes (the Great Lakes)
  • mountain chains
  • deserts
  • references on the globe (the Equator, the North Pole)
  • geographic regions (the Northwest, the Middle East)
  • bridges (except Tower Bridge)
  • pagodas
  • hotels
  • theaters
  • museums
  • institutes
  • skyscrapers
  • the Sun, the Moon
  • extraordinary works of art or architecture (the Mona Lisa, the Colosseum, the Great Wall of China, and the Taj Mahal)

USE 19 Do not use an article with:

  • individual lakes
  • individual islands
  • beaches
  • waterfalls
  • individual mountains (except the Matterhorn)
  • canyons (except the Grand Canyon)
  • people’s first names
  • streets (except the High Street)
  • public squares
  • hospitals
  • stadiums
  • malls
  • parks
  • churches
  • temples
  • universities
  • colleges
  • languages
  • religions
  • days
  • months
  • holidays

USE 20

Time expressions can be especially confusing. THE is used in some time expressions such as:

  • in the morning
  • in the afternoon
  • in the evening
  • during the night
  • during the day
  • the day before yesterday
  • the day after tomorrow
  • the fall
  • the summer

HOWEVER: In other time expressions, no article is used:

  • at night
  • at noon
  • at midnight
  • all day
  • all night
  • all month
  • every month
  • every year
  • last night
  • last Friday
  • yesterday
  • tomorrow

MOREOVER: There are some expressions which can take both A(AN) and THE such as:

  • a/The whole day
  • a/the whole month
  • an/the entire year
  • an/the entire decade