- We use the when the listener or reader knows which person or thing we are talking about. This may be because:
- we have mentioned this person or thing before and so there is some shared knowledge between speaker/writer and listener/reader.
- it is clear from the context which person or thing we are talking about.
- there is only one of a particular person or thing.
We use a / an when the listener or reader doesn't know which person or thing we are talking about.
- She took a glass of water and started to drink.
One of many glasses of water - She took the glass of water nearest to her.
It is clear which glass we are referring to - She took the glass of water and started to drink.
There is only one glass of water - Can you turn on the TV?
It's clear we are talking about the TV in this room and not some other TV - I need to see a doctor.
Not any specific doctor - I have to see the doctor tomorrow.
It's clear I am talking about my usual doctor - How many people have walked on the moon?
There is only one moon - The best film I've ever seen is Top Gun.
There can only be one best film
- We use zero article when we are talking about people or things in general.
- Carrots are good for you.
carrots in general - The carrots in my garden are almost ready to eat.
specific carrots - English people drink a lot of tea.
English people in general - The English people in this hotel are very nice.
specific English people
- We use a / an to say what kind of person or thing someone or something is (often with an adjective, or to say it belongs to a particular group).
- You have a nice house.
- That's a very expensive car!
- A cat is an animal and a bus is a vehicle.
- With school, university, prison, hospital, church, bed, work and homewe use the when we are talking about a particular one, and zero article when we are talking about the idea of school, university...
- The church on our street was built in the 17th Century.
a particular church - I go to church every Sunday.
the idea of church, not a particular building - My friend works at the prison outside the city centre.
- My husband is in prison.
- The work isn't finished yet.
- I was feeling sick yesterday so I didn't go to work.
- The new bed is bigger than the old one.
- I put my children to bed a 8pm.
- We use the with singular countable nouns to talk about a type of thing.
- The computer was invented in the 20th Century. (not a particular computer)
- The computer in my office is broken. (a particular one)
- The crocodile is very dangerous. (this type of animal)
- The crocodile in the river is very big. (a particular one)
- She plays the piano. (not a particular piano but this type of instrument)
- The piano she is playing is very old. (a particular one)
- We use the + adjective to talk about a group of people (including nationalities).
- I always give money to the homeless.
- The unemployed receive money from the government.
- The French produce good wine.
- We use a / an to talk about someone's job.
- My wife is an optician.
- She works as a mechanic.
- We use zero article with continents, countries, regions, cities, streets, mountains, lakes and parks.
- Asia, Italy, California, Bristol, Main St., Mount Everest, Lake Superior, Central Park
- We use the if the country contains Kingdom, Republic, State, Union
- The United Kingdom
- We use the with plural names of people and places.
- The Smiths, The Netherlands, The United States, TheBahamas, The Alps (also The Caribbean)
- We use the with oceans, seas, rivers and canals.
- The Atlantic Ocean, The Red Sea, The Nile, The Panama Canal
- We use the with north, south, east and west to talk about the location of a place within another place.
- Greece is in the south of Europe.
- We normally use the with buildings, except if the first word is the name of a place.
- The White House, The Sheraton Hotel.
- Oxford University, Buckingham Palace.
Click here for an exercise
http://www.learnenglishfeelgood.com/mixed-english-articles5.html
- we have mentioned this person or thing before and so there is some shared knowledge between speaker/writer and listener/reader.
- it is clear from the context which person or thing we are talking about.
- there is only one of a particular person or thing.
- She took a glass of water and started to drink.
One of many glasses of water - She took the glass of water nearest to her.
It is clear which glass we are referring to - She took the glass of water and started to drink.
There is only one glass of water - Can you turn on the TV?
It's clear we are talking about the TV in this room and not some other TV - I need to see a doctor.
Not any specific doctor - I have to see the doctor tomorrow.
It's clear I am talking about my usual doctor - How many people have walked on the moon?
There is only one moon - The best film I've ever seen is Top Gun.
There can only be one best film
- Carrots are good for you.
carrots in general - The carrots in my garden are almost ready to eat.
specific carrots - English people drink a lot of tea.
English people in general - The English people in this hotel are very nice.
specific English people
- You have a nice house.
- That's a very expensive car!
- A cat is an animal and a bus is a vehicle.
- The church on our street was built in the 17th Century.
a particular church - I go to church every Sunday.
the idea of church, not a particular building - My friend works at the prison outside the city centre.
- My husband is in prison.
- The work isn't finished yet.
- I was feeling sick yesterday so I didn't go to work.
- The new bed is bigger than the old one.
- I put my children to bed a 8pm.
- The computer was invented in the 20th Century. (not a particular computer)
- The computer in my office is broken. (a particular one)
- The crocodile is very dangerous. (this type of animal)
- The crocodile in the river is very big. (a particular one)
- She plays the piano. (not a particular piano but this type of instrument)
- The piano she is playing is very old. (a particular one)
- I always give money to the homeless.
- The unemployed receive money from the government.
- The French produce good wine.
- My wife is an optician.
- She works as a mechanic.
- Asia, Italy, California, Bristol, Main St., Mount Everest, Lake Superior, Central Park
- The United Kingdom
- The Smiths, The Netherlands, The United States, TheBahamas, The Alps (also The Caribbean)
- The Atlantic Ocean, The Red Sea, The Nile, The Panama Canal
- Greece is in the south of Europe.
- The White House, The Sheraton Hotel.
- Oxford University, Buckingham Palace.