Learn Articles (Definite article: THE) (Indefinite article: A and AN)
The definite article The
The definite article the is the most frequent word in English.
We use the definite article in front of a noun when we believe the hearer/reader knows exactly what we are referring to.
• because there is only one:
The Prime Minister is visiting Russia.
The moon is very bright tonight.
The Shah of Iran was deposed in 1979.
This is why we use the definite article with a superlative adjective:
- He is the tallest boy in the class.
- It is the oldest building in the town.
- because there is only one in that place or in those surroundings
We also use the definite article:
- to say something about all the things referred to by a noun:
- The wolf is not really a dangerous animal
(Wolves are not really dangerous animals)
- The kangaroo is found only in Australia
(Kangaroos are found only in Australia)
- The heart pumps blood around the body.
(Hearts pump blood around bodies)
We use the definite article in this way to talk about musical instruments:
- J. plays the piano really well.(J. can play any piano)
She is learning the guitar.(She is learning to play any guitar)
to refer to a system or service:
- How long does it take on the train.
- I heard it on the radio.
- You should tell the police.
With adjectives like rich, poor, elderly, unemployed to talk about groups of people:
- Life can be very hard for the poor.
- I think the rich should pay more taxes.
- She works for a group to help the disabled.
The definite article with names:
We do not normally use the definite article with names:
- William Shakespeare wrote Hamlet.
- Paris is the capital of France.
- Iran is in Asia.
But we do use the definite article with:
countries whose names include words like kingdom, states or republic:
the United Kingdom; the Kingdom of Nepal; the United States; the People’s Republic of China.
- countries which have plural nouns as their names:
the Netherlands; the Philippines
- Geographical features, such as mountain ranges, groups of islands, rivers, seas, oceans and canals:
the Himalayas; the Atlantic; the Atlantic Ocean; the Amazon; the Panama Canal.
- Newspapers:
The Times; The Washington Post
- Well known buildings or works of art:
the Empire State Building; the Taj Mahal; the Mona Lisa; the Sunflowers
- Organizations:
the United Nations; the Seamen’s Union
- Families:
the Obamas; the Kennedys
Indefinite article: A and AN
We use the indefinite article, a/an, with count nouns when the hearer/reader does not know exactly which one we are referring to:
- They are searching for a 14 year-old girl.
We also use it to show the person or thing is one of a group:
- She is a student at L. R. School.
We do not use an indefinite article with plural nouns and un-count nouns:
- She was wearing blue shoes.
(plural noun)
- She has short blonde hair.
(un-count noun)
We use a/an to say what someone is or what job they do:
- My brother is a doctor.
- He is a student.
We use a/an with a singular noun to say something about all things of that kind:
- We all need friends. (All of us need friends)
- A cat likes to eat meat. (All cats like to eat meat)