Means: Introduces: Use it with:

a(n) one of many a new item ofinformation

singularcountable nouns

the the only one(s)orthe particularone(s)

items we havementioned beforeorwhen the speakerand listener knowwhich items we aretalking about

countableanduncountablenouns

no article allorthat quantity isuncertain orunimportant

things in a generalsense

uncountablenounsandplural countablenouns

ARTICLES

COMPARE THE USE OF ARTICLES IN THESE SENTENCES:

There’s a supermarket in most towns nowadays.We buy most of our food from the local supermarket.

Have you got a pen?The pen is by the phone.

I don’t like the music my brother plays.Music helps me to concentrate when I’m working.

We planted the trees in our garden five years ago.Trees are easily damaged by pollution.

The cheese is in the fridge.Help yourself to cheese and biscuits.

People used to believe the moon was a goddess.

SPECIAL USES OF ARTICLES

we use a(n) with:

we use the with: we use no article with:

jobsdefinitionsexclamations

oceans, seas and rivers regions groups of islands (the Philippines) names of countries that include a word such as Republic, Kingdom, States or Emirates we say the sea, the coast, the seaside, the country, the mountains, the hills deserts and mountain ranges superlatives and ordinals classes of people (with adjectives)

lakes continents, most countries, states, cities, towns and villages! but we say: the Netherlands,The Hague buildings and locations that use the name of their town in the name (Manchester Airport)

FIXED EXPRESSIONS

Some fixed expressions use the and some use no article:

We travel by train / bus.

We have lunch / dinner at one.

We listen to the radio. BUT We watch television.

We play the guitar (a musical instrument) BUT We play tennis (a sport)

We go to the cinema, the theatre etc.

SUPPLY a(n), the OR X (for no article)1. ___Thames flows into ___ North Sea.2. They have been to ___ Europe and ___ Far East.3. I was in ___ France last year, I visited ___ Paris. But I have never been to ___ United Kingdom. 4. My parents spend their holidays by ___ coast, but I prefer walking in ___ mountains.5. The plane landed at ___ Manchester Airport.6. I have always wanted to climb ___ Alps and cross ___ Sahara.7. I had a room overlooking ___ Lake Geneva.8. I am ___ doctor.9. ___ department store is a shop which sells a wide range of goods.10. What ___ exciting film!11. ___ rich get richer and ___ poor get poorer.12. You are ___ first.13. I usually travel by ___ train.14. We have ___ lunch at one.15. She is listening to ___ radio, and he is watching ___ television.16. Mary plays ___ piano. She can also play ___ tennis.17. Let’s go to ___ cinema!