Definite and Indefinite Articles
What is an article?
Basically, an article is an adjective. Like adjectives, articles modify nouns.
English has two articles: the and a/an. The is used to refer to specific or particular nouns; a/an is
used to modify non-specific or non-particular nouns. We call the the definite article and a/an the
indefinite article.
the = definite article a/an = indefinite article
For example, if I say, "Let's read the book," I mean a specific book. If I say, "Let's read a book," I
mean any book rather than a specific book.
Here's another way to explain it: The is used to refer to a specific or particular member of a group.
For example, "I just saw the most popular movie of the year." There are many movies, but only
one particular movie is the most popular. Therefore, we use the.
"A/an" is used to refer to a non-specific or non-particular member of the group. For example, "I
would like to go see a movie." Here, we're not talking about a specific movie. We're talking about
any movie. There are many movies, and I want to see any movie. I don't have a specific one in
mind.
Let's look at each kind of article a little more closely.
Indefinite Articles: a and an
"A" and "an" signal that the noun modified is indefinite, referring to any member of a group. For
example:
• "My daughter really wants a dog for Christmas." This refers to any dog. We don't know which
dog because we haven't found the dog yet.
• "Somebody call a policeman!" This refers to any policeman. We don't need a specific policeman;
we need any policeman who is available.
• “When I was at the zoo, I saw an elephant!" Here, we're talking about a single, non-specific
thing, in this case an elephant. There are probably several elephants at the zoo, but
• a + singular noun beginning with a consonant: a boy; a car; a bike; a zoo; a dog
• an + singular noun beginning with a vowel: an elephant; an egg; an apple; an idiot; an orphan
• a + singular noun beginning with a consonant sound: a user (sounds like 'yoo-zer,' i.e. begins
with a consonant 'y' sound, so 'a' is used); a university; a unicycle
• In some cases where "h" is pronounced, such as "historical," use an:
• a broken egg
• an unusual problem
• a European country (sounds like 'yer-o-
pi-an,' i.e. begins with consonant 'y' sound)
Definite Article: the
The definite article is used before singular and plural nouns when the noun is specific or particular.
The signals that the noun is definite, that it refers to a particular member of a group. For example:
"The dog that bit me ran away." Here, we're talking about a specific dog, the dog that bit me.
"I was happy to see the policeman who saved my cat!" Here, we're talking about a particular
policeman. Even if we don't know the policeman's name, it's still a particular policeman because
it is the one who saved the cat.
"I saw the elephant at the zoo." Here, we're talking about a specific noun. Probably there is only
one elephant at the zoo.
Count and Noncount Nouns
The can be used with noncount nouns, or the article can be omitted entirely.
"A/an" can be used only with count nouns.
• "I love to sail over the water" (some specific body of water) or "I love to sail over water" (any
water).
• "He spilled the milk all over the floor" (some specific milk, perhaps the milk you bought earlier
that day) or "He spilled milk all over the floor" (any milk).
• "I need a bottle of water."
• "I need a new glass of milk."
Most of the time, you can't say, "She wants a water," unless you're implying, say, a bottle of
water.
• Brian is an Irishman. (Brian is a member of the people known as Irish.)
• Seiko is a practicing Buddhist. (Seiko is a member of the group of people known as Buddhists.)
There are some specific rules for using the with geographical nouns. Do not use the before:
Do use the before:
• names of most countries/territories: Italy, Mexico, Bolivia; however, the Netherlands, the
Dominican Republic, the Philippines, the United States
• names of cities, towns, or states: Seoul, Manitoba, Miami
• names of streets: Washington Blvd., Main St.
• names of lakes and bays: Lake Titicaca, Lake Erie except with a group of lakes like the Great
Lakes
• names of mountains: Mount Everest, Mount Fuji except with ranges of mountains like the Andes
or the Rockies or unusual names like the Matterhorn
• names of continents (Asia, Europe) • names of islands (Easter Island,
Maui, Key West) except with island chains like the Aleutians, the Hebrides, or the Canary Islands
• names of rivers, oceans and seas: the Nile, the Pacific
• points on the globe: the Equator, the North Pole
• geographical areas: the Middle East, the West
• deserts, forests, gulfs, and peninsulas: the Sahara, the Persian Gulf, the Black Forest, the Iberian
Peninsula
Omission of Articles
Some common types of nouns that don't take an article are:
• Names of languages and nationalities: Chinese, English, Spanish, Russian (unless you are
referring to the population of the nation: "The Spanish are known for their warm hospitality.
• Names of academic subjects: mathematics, biology, history, computer science
• Names of sports: football, hockey, baseball
Exercises
Fill in the gaps with the correct article (a, an, the, 0) when necessary.
I am from Winchester, Hampshire. Winchester is______ city in ____ United Kingdom. I live in ____
town called _____ Taunton which is on ______ River Tone. I live in ___ house in ______ quiet street
in _____ countryside. ____ street is called “Hudson Street” and _____ house is more than 100
years old! I am ___ English lecturer at _____ college near _____center of _____town. I like _____
books, music and taking _____ photographs. I usually have _____ lunch at college. I usually go --
___home____ by___ car. We have all kinds of food in _____ England. I like ______ Polish food very
much. Sometimes, I go to _____ Polish restaurant in Bath. ____ restaurant is called “Magda’s”.
_____ Polish food is delicious.
English Language Institute(ELI)
1.Robert and Jessica went to ____ party last night.
2.Can you tell me how to get to ____ cinema from here? 3.____ college is closed today.
4.Gregory is one of ____ strangest people I know.
5.I recommend you try ____ tomato soup at this restaurant. 6.____ beer is not good for you.
7.Would you like to see ____ film?
8.____ apple a day keeps ____ doctor away.
9. I can't believe I failed ____ yesterday's test!
10.Do you have ____ dictionary that I can borrow? 11.There were many dogs in the park. One dog
was ____ Dalmatian.
12.Pandas and ____ tigers are both endangered animals. 13.Magda is wearing ____ blue dress
with red shoes 14.Bornholm is ___ island in the Baltic Sea.
15.Christmas comes once ___ year.
16.___ owl is ___ bird.
17.The Severn is ____ river.
18.Jane went to the shop to buy ____ bread.
19.Hania broke ____ glass when she was washing-up.
Prepared By: Amany Ismail Abuleil
English Language Institute(ELI) ELCS 102
20.Tom took ____ umbrella as it was raining heavily. 21.This is ____ easy question.
22.Stephen could you speak ____ little louder. 23.May I have your ____ phone number?
24.I have never seen ____ UFO.
25.May I ask you ___ question?
25.Ismail is ____ best teacher in our school.
26What is ____ name of the next station?
27.My friend has ____ my car today.
28.I went to ____ sea during my summer holiday. 29.Is there ____ cash machine near here?
Prepared By: Amany Ismail Abuleil
