Articles - basics, details, exceptions - all in 1!
Today's lesson will clear a few things for some of you; and some of you will wish you'd never started reading :)
The printable version has an extra speaking activity (useful for some busy teachers:)) Click HERE for the printable version.
The printable version has an extra speaking activity (useful for some busy teachers:)) Click HERE for the printable version.
Here are the rules for when to use "A, An or
The":
a
= indefinite article, when you mention something for the first time or in
general sentences. Use it before consonants
She has a dog.
I work in a factory.
She has a dog.
I work in a factory.
an
= indefinite article, the same rules as with ‘a’. Use it before vowels
(a,e,i,o,u)
Can I have an apple?
She is an English teacher.
Can I have an apple?
She is an English teacher.
the
= definite article (a specific object that both the person speaking and the
listener know)
The car over there is fast.
The teacher is very good, isn't he?
The car over there is fast.
The teacher is very good, isn't he?
-
Use a/an
with fractions, group numbers, large numbers (ex: one and a half kilos/ a
dozen of eggs/ a thousand)
-
Use a/an
when it means per (ex: 90km an hour / 2 times a week)
-
Use a/an
with people’s jobs (ex: I’m a doctor)
-
The first time you speak of something use "a or an", the next time
you repeat that object use "the".
I live in a house. The house is quite old and has four bedrooms.
I ate in a Chinese restaurant. The restaurant was very good.
I live in a house. The house is quite old and has four bedrooms.
I ate in a Chinese restaurant. The restaurant was very good.
- BUT use ‘the’ when you mention something
for the first time, but it is clear which thing or person you are talking
about.
Can
you pass the salt, please?
-
Use ‘the’
with things that are unique in the world, ex. The Eiffel Tower; The pyramids
-
DO NOT use an article with countries, states, counties or
provinces, and mountains except when the country is a collection of states such
as "The United States".
He lives in Washington near Mount Rainier.
EXCEPTIONS: The Lebanon/ The Vatican/ The Hague
He lives in Washington near Mount Rainier.
EXCEPTIONS: The Lebanon/ The Vatican/ The Hague
-
Use
‘the’
with the names of mountain ranges.
The
Himalayas are the highest mountain range in the world.
-
Use
‘the’
with oceans, seas and rivers -
My country borders with the Baltic Sea.
My country borders with the Baltic Sea.
-
Use ‘the’
with names of musical instruments that we can play (ex: She can play the
piano)
-
Use ‘the’
with individual items that represent a whole class (ex: The panda is close
to be extinct)
-
DO NOT use ‘the’ with names of lakes
I
often swim in Lake Neuchatel.
-
Use
‘the’ with adjectives describing
different groups of people
The
young don’t respect the old nowadays.
The
British drink a lot of tea.
-
DO NOT use an article when you speak about things you
like / dislike in general
I like Russian tea.
She likes reading books.
I like Russian tea.
She likes reading books.
-
DO NOT use an article when you speak generally about meals, places, and transport
He has breakfast at home. BUT The breakfast at the hotel was awful.
I go to university(=I’m a student) BUT I’m surprised with the university you have chosen.
He comes to work by taxi. BUT I think that we’ve overpaid for the taxi.
He has breakfast at home. BUT The breakfast at the hotel was awful.
I go to university(=I’m a student) BUT I’m surprised with the university you have chosen.
He comes to work by taxi. BUT I think that we’ve overpaid for the taxi.
EXCEPTIONS: USE ‘THE’ WITH PLACES LIKE: HOSPITAL, SCHOOL, CHURCH, PRISON
ETC. WHEN THE PERSON WHO IS INSIDE THEM IS
NOT THERE FOR THE REASON WHY THEY EXIST.
EXAMPLES:
I’m
at school. (I’m a student) vs. My mum went to the school to talk with my teacher.
(She’s not a student)
I’m
in hospital. (I’m a patient) vs. I’m in the hospital. (I’m not a patient, I’m
visiting somebody)
He’s
in prison. (He’s a prisoner) vs. He’s in the prison. (He’s not a prisoner, he’s
visiting somebody)
-
Don’t
use any article with uncountable nouns.
I don’t like tea.
-
USE ‘a’ or ‘the’ with drinks when you
order something in a restaurant and you mean ‘a glass of.’
I’d like a tea, please. / I didn’t
like the coffee.