ARTICLES

A, AN, THE
JEANNETH ARROYO
 A/AN:ONE
The first time you refer to something use “A
or AN”, the next time you repeat that object
use “THE”.

Example:
Ilive in a house. The house is quite old and
has four bedrooms.
A + CONSONANT SOUND.
Lucy has a dog.
Let’s sing a song.
AN + VOWEL SOUND. /A/ ,/E/,/I/,/O/,/U/

Ben has an old bike.

Peter has an aunt in Berlin.
USE THE WITH SINGULAR, PLURAL, AND NONCOUNT NOUNS TO
TALK ABOUT THINGS PREVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED OR MENTIONED.

I live in a house. The house is quite old and

has four bedrooms.

WHEN THERE IS ONLY ONE OR IS CONSIDERED UNIQUE.

The sun, the moon, the end, the sky, the sea.

WITH ISLAND CHAINS.

The Pacific Islands, the Galápagos islands, the Bahamas.
 WITH MOUNTAIN RANGES.

The Smoky Mountains, the Andes, the

Himalayas.

WITH RIVERS,SEAS,AND OCEANS.

The Atlantic Ocean, the Nile River, the Amazon River.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.
The guitar, the violin, the flute.
THE= IN FIXED PHRASES
Go to the cinema, all the way, the radio, the
internet, the time, the news.
DON’T USE THE:
Before breakfast, lunch, dinner, bed, work,
prison, home.
Holidays Christmas, Mother´s Day etc.
Countries Argentina, Colombia, London, etc.
Exceptions: The USA, the Uk, the
philippines, the Nerherlands, the Republic
of..
DON’T USE THE:
Lakes ( Lake Erie, Lake Kissimmee, Lake
Rabun etc.)

Streets ( Broad Street, Wilson Avenue, Main

Street)