DEFINITE AND

INDEFINITE
ARTICLES
INDEFINITE
ARTICLES
 INDEFINITE ARTICLES
▪ The choice of a/an and the pronunciation of the
depend on the next sound.

A + CONSONANT SOUND : a cup, a poster, a TV

AN + VOWEL SOUND: an egg, an aspirin, an orange

INDEFINITE ARTICLES
▪ A/an goes only with a singular noun.
He left a case, (singular) He left some cases, (plural) He left some luggage,
(uncountable).

▪ When the story FIRST mentions something, the noun has a or an.
A man booked into a hotel in Cheltenham.

▪ We use a/an + noun (someone/something) when we aren't saying which one

(UNSPECIFIC).
A man (someone) booked into a hotel.
He left a case (something) behind.
INDEFINITE ARTICLES
▪ A phrase which describes something has a/an (A/AN +
ADJECTIVE + NOUN).
It was a lovely day. Cheltenham is a nice old town.

▪ We also use a/an to classify something (movie, book, music),

to say what kind of thing it is.
The play was a comedy. The disco is a country one.

▪ We use a/an to say what someone's job is.

My sister is a secretary. Nick is a car salesman.
INDEFINITE ARTICLES
▪ Sentences with a/an express the same general meaning.
A dog makes a wonderful pet.

But we can also use plural noun on its own to express the
same way (general meaning)
Dogs make wonderful pets.
INDEFINITE ARTICLES
▪ We use a/ an (=one) with fractions, numbers and
measurements.
An hour
A hundred, a thousand, a million
A mile
A half
DEFINITE
ARTICLES
 DEFINITE ARTICLES
▪ The goes with both singular/plural nouns and uncountable nouns.
He needed the case. (singular)
He needed the cases. (plural)
He needed the luggage. (uncountable)

▪ When the same thing was mentioned before in the context.

The man didn't return to the hotel.
 DEFINITE ARTICLES
▪ We use the when it is clear which one we mean.
Would you like to see the show? (= the show we already mentioned)

▪ When the thing is UNIQUE we are talking about, we use the.

The sun was going down.
The government is unpopular.

We normally say: the country(side), the earth, the environment, the

government, the moon, the ozone layer, the Minister, the sea(side), the sky,
the sun, the weather.
DEFINITE ARTICLES
▪ We also use the with cinema, theatre and (news)paper.
Do you often go to the cinema?
I read about the accident in the paper.

▪ We use the with a superlative.

It's the biggest hotel in town.

▪ The + plural noun or uncountable noun has a specific meaning.

The computers crashed at work today.
The milk I drank was spoiled.
 DEFINITE ARTICLES
▪ We use the + singular noun to make general statements about
ANIMALS, INVENTIONS AND DISCOVERIES.
The tiger can swim.
Who invented the camera?
The electron is a part of every atom.
 DEFINITE ARTICLES
▪ We use THE before parts of the day.
In the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening. EXECEPT
night.

▪ We use THE before MEDIAS.

The radio, the TV, the internet, the cellphone.
DEFINITE ARTICLES
▪ We also use the with musical instruments.
Natasha can play the piano, the violin and the
clarinet.

▪ We do not use THE with sports.

Shall we play tennis?
 EXCEPTIONS
▪ We do not use THE with a possessive ( ‘s ).
at Matilda's Restaurant

▪ Continents, countries, islands, states and counties do not use

THE.
Words like REPUBLIC, UNITED, KINGDOM use the.
the Irish Republic, the United Kingdom (the UK)

Plural names also use THE.

 EXCEPTIONS
▪ We do not use THE names and titles.
Jesus, Rafaela, Caio, President Obama

▪ We do not use THE before liquids, gases and materials.

Water, Air, Flour

▪ We do not use THE before meals.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
 EXCEPTIONS
▪ We do not use THE with illness.
Cancer, ashma, measles

▪ We do not use THE with language and school subjects..

Portuguese, English, Biology, Chemistry.

▪ We do not use THE with magazines.

Vogue, People, Época, Veja.
 EXCEPTIONS
▪ Regions use THE
the West , the Riviera

▪ Regions ending with the name of a continent or country are

without the.
Central Asia, South Wales

▪ When you have OF, you use the.

the South of France
 EXCEPTIONS
▪ Hills and mountains are without THE.
She climbed (Mount) Everest.

▪ Ranges use THE.

Skiing in the Alps and the Rockies are
Amazing.
 EXCEPTIONS
▪ Lakes and lagoons are without THE.
near Lake Michigan, beside Coniston Water

▪ Seas, oceans, rivers and canals use THE.

the Mediterranean (Sea) , across the Atlantic (Ocean)
the (River) Thames, the Suez Canal
 EXCEPTIONS
▪ Cities, towns, suburbs and villages most are without
THE.
Harehills is a suburb of Leeds.

▪ Roads, streets, squares and parks most are without

THE.
along Morden Road

Except: Number + road (use the)

 EXCEPTIONS
▪ Bridges most are without THE.
over Tower Bridge, on Brooklyn Bridge

▪ Stations, airports and important buildings: We do not use THE before

most stations and airports; with religious, educational and official
buildings or with palaces and houses.
to Waterloo (Station) , at Orly (Airport)

Exceptions are names with OF.

at the University of York
 EXCEPTIONS

▪ Theatres, cinemas, hotels, galleries and centers with

possessive form ('s) is without THE.
St Martin's (Theatre), at Durrant's (Hotel)

But they usually use THE.

at the Globe (Theatre), the Plaza (Cinema)
 EXCEPTIONS

▪ Most shops and restaurants are without THE.

Filly Restaurant, Burger King (Fast Food)

▪ Names with a noun (body, studio) often have THE.

at the Body Shop
The end