Scribd
Upload
170 views

The Article The Definite Article USE

The document discusses the use of definite and indefinite articles in English. It provides examples of when to use the definite article "the", the indefinite article "a/an", and no article at all. Specifically, it explains that the definite article is used with specific or particular nouns, the indefinite article is used with non-specific or general nouns, and no article is used with plural and uncountable nouns, names, and in certain expressions involving location, transportation, or routine actions.

Uploaded by

Volkovinszki Mihai
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
170 views

The Article The Definite Article USE

The document discusses the use of definite and indefinite articles in English. It provides examples of when to use the definite article "the", the indefinite article "a/an", and no article at all. Specifically, it explains that the definite article is used with specific or particular nouns, the indefinite article is used with non-specific or general nouns, and no article is used with plural and uncountable nouns, names, and in certain expressions involving location, transportation, or routine actions.

Uploaded by

Volkovinszki Mihai
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 5

The Article

The Definite Article


USE
Omission of the definite article
Without the definite article:

a) Abstract notions: life, time, peace, nature, work, history, society etc.
b) Designation of substances: bred, coal, water.
c) Designation of species in plural: children, pupils, animals etc.
 At proper and geographical names (EX: countries, mountains, lakes etc.)
EX: Buckingham Palace is near Trafalgar Square.
 Frequent exceptions: the Tower of London
 The High Street
 The City
 The Golden Gate Bridge
 The British Museum
 The World Trade Center
 And rivers for ex: The Rhine….
 Names of months, days of the week, seasons and mealtimes. Ex
December was very cold.
 Exceptions: in the morning/evening/overnight/night…
 During the afternoon/night/….
 Throughout the day/ afternoon
 The definite article appears when the notions should closely be
explained.
EX: The dinner I had with Sue was great.
 At names of institutions EX: church, college, hospital, prison, school,
university, only when the institution is designated and not its building.
EX: Every Sunday I go to church.
 With by+ means of transport. EX I go by train.
 Before most of: Most students were on time.
 Before most: Most students were in time.
 In the following expressions: to be in office, to be in opposition, to be at
hand, to be in power, to keep in mind, to come to light, to take in hand,
to get out of hand, to lose sight of, to put to flight, to take flight, to shake
hands, at first sight, out of sight, out of mind, in practice.
Inclusion of the definite article
 At musical instruments: He plays the guitar.
 After: all, both, half double, twice etc. EX: He drove at double the speed.
 In the following expressions: in the absence of
 By the help of
 In the presence of
 To be out of the question

The Indefinite Article


Inclusion of the definite article
 Together with names of jobs, members of an ethnic group, nationalities,
religious groups or political parties, if the person in cause is the
representative of such a group: I am a mechanic.

Exception: a) a/an we make designations of titles or ranks with of EX: the rank of
captain

b) After turn we do not use a / an Ex: He turned Democrat.

-> Between as (attribute + ) noun: I got the book as a present.

 In the following expressions: - to be at end


 - to come to an end
 To be in a hurry
 To be in a good mood
 It’s a pity
 To have a good appetite
 To have a fancy for something
 To have a headache
 To make a noise
 To make it a condition
 To make it a rule
 To seek a quarrel
 To take great interest in
 As a rule
 As a whole
 At a distance
 For a change
 In a friendly manner
 In a great measure
 Without a break
 Without a ticket
 In front of quantity, time and measure indicators with the sense of per/
pe. EX Sugar costs 60 pounds a kilo.
 After such, quite, half, rather, what, so + adjective and too+ adjective
but only at countable notions with many/ few in front! EX: Such a nice
house; too difficult a question!
 With number with the sense of one: a hundred( one hundred).

The Zero Article

Sometimes it is possible to have a noun phrase with NO article—the so-called "ZERO


article".

I need a bowl of rice. ← indefinite article

I like the rice in this restaurant. ← definite article

I eat rice every day. ← ZERO article

The ZERO article usually occurs in the following cases:

ZERO Article with Plural and Uncountable Nouns

General meaning

 cars, people
 life, water

Abstract nouns

 education, happiness, music

ZERO Article with Singular Countable Nouns

Names

People: Mary, Bill, Josef

Places: Jupiter, Russia, Bangkok, Heathrow Airport, Cambridge University, Waterloo


Station

Streets: Oxford Street, Wall Street, Picadilly Circus


Languages: English, Russian

Academic subjects: History, Law, Physics

Days, months: Monday, November

Games and Sports

 football, chess

Meals

 breakfast, lunch, dinner

Noun + Number

 platform 3, room 7, page 44

Routine Places

 in bed, at home, to school, to work

Movement or Transport

 on foot, by car, by bus, by air

Newspaper Headlines, Notices, User Guides

 Plane Crashes On House, Keep Area Clean, Insert battery

Example Sentences

Here are some example sentences showing the ZERO article in context.

 Cars can be dangerous.


 We seldom see courage like that.
 I could see clouds in the sky.
 There was milk on the doorstep.
 I gave it to Mary.
 She arrived in Bangkok yesterday.
 Do you speak French?
 He is good at tennis.
 People will travel to Mars soon.
 He is in room 45.
 Please turn to page 67.
 She's in bed.
 Are you at home?
 They took her to hospital.
 I'm leaving town tomorrow by car.
 I go to school by bus.
 We usually meet on Monday.
 November is quite cold.

You might also like