ARTICLES
I. GENERAL RULES
1. The indicates a specific noun.
2. A or an indicates a nonspecific, general noun.
II. SINGULAR COUNT NOUNS
Definite
1. The is used with a noun which is identified by the context of the sentence or paragraph.
2. The is used with known nouns in the environment. They are either known from experience or are seen at the moment of speaking.
Indefinite
A/an is used with a noun which is unspecified. A is used before words beginning with a consonant, while an is used before words beginning with a vowel.
III. PLURAL COUNT NOUNS
Definite (The rules are the same as those given above for the.)
Indefinite
1. A/an cannot be used with plural nouns. Indefinite adjectives such as some, any, many, several, few can be used to indicate an indefinite number.
2. The articles can be omitted entirely to refer to nouns in general.
IV. NONCOUNT NOUNS
Definite (The rules are the same as those above for the with count nouns.)
Indefinite (The rules are the same as those for plural count nouns.)
NOTE: Sports, hobbies, and subjects are considered to be in this group. We do not use articles when we speak of them in a general way.
V. THE WITH RANKING ADJECTIVES
Certain words such as "ranking adjectives" make a noun definite. This is true for singular and plural nouns. Since the noun is definite when used with these adjectives, the must be used with them. These "ranking adjectives" can be divided into three groups:
1. Ordinal numbers used before nouns
2. Adjectives indicating a sequence
Space: A student in the middle row answered the question.
Please put your name on the top line.
Time: Labor Day is the first Monday in September; schools often open the following day.
We will have finals during the last week of the semester.
* The is not used with next and last if they do not indicate a-point in a time series. When they are used to mean "the time immediately preceding (last) or following (next) the present moment", the is not used.
3. Superlative Adjectives
VI. THE WITH NAMES
Although names make nouns definite, not all names are used with the. The following rules will help you know which names require the.
In General:
1. The is used with all names composed of: common noun + of + proper noun:
2. The is used with all plural names:
3. The is used with names of countries which include at least one common noun (state, kingdom, union)
In General:
Do NOT Use The: |
DO Use The |
People's Names: |
Pluralized People’s Names: |
John Mary Smith |
the Smiths |
Queen Elizabeth |
|
President Kennedy |
|
Planets (as names): |
Planets (as common nouns): |
Mars |
(the sun, the moon) |
Earth |
the earth = the world |
VII. THE IN Fixed Expressions Related to Time
There are certain expressions related to time and activities that do not follow the article rules we have studied so far. In other words, the may be used when the noun is not specific. A/an may not be used when the noun is singular, countable and indefinite. The only way to learn these expressions is to memorize them and practice them. The following should help you.
Use the: |
Do not use the: |
the past |
at present |
the present |
|
the future |
|
in (the) winter |
days of the week and holidays |
in (the) spring |
|
in (the) summer |
|
in (the) fall |
|
in the morning |
at noon |
in the afternoon |
at night |
in the evening |
at midnight |
at the moment |
|
for the time being |
|
during the year |
all year (long) |
during the week |
all week (long) |
during the day |
all day (long) |
during the night |
all night (long) |
VII. THE IN Fixed Expressions Related to Activities
Certain nouns that generally represent places, meals or sports are often used to indicate the activities related to them. When are used in this way, the is omitted, even when the noun may be considered specific.
Places
be in / go to bed
be in / go to work
be in / go to school
be in / go to church
be in / go to jail or prison
be (at)/ go home
Meals
eat / have breakfast (etc.)
prepare / make lunch (etc.)
Sports
play tennis (etc.)
However, when we use nouns which represent musical instruments to indicate an activity, the is used with that noun even when it is considered indefinite or general.
Musical Instruments
practice / play the piano
the guitar
etc.