ARTICLES

Definite Indefinite

The A / an
 Known or unknown topics?
• We use a/an when the
topic is ____________
to our listener /reader,

• We use the when it is

___________
Therefore, we usually use
_________ for the first
reference to a topic in a
text,

but we use _______ for

subsequent references.
e.g. A new travel guide has
advised would-be tourists to
Morecambe that it is a place to
avoid. … The guide paints a
bleak – if not third-world
picture.
Let’s have a look at the “place to avoid”!)
Morecambe /’mɔ:kəm/ or 
/’mɔrkəm/[Wikipedia] is a town
on Morecambe Bay in 
Lancashire, England.
The is also used in the following situations:
situation example
something is unique We are in danger of permanently damaging the Earth.
superlatives Muhammad Ali is the greatest heavyweight boxer
ever.
the context makes it “Has Edward arrived yet?” “Yes, he’s in the dining-
‘known’ room.” (=the dining-room of the house we are in)
a defining phrase Oasis is the Manchester band that shot to fame in the
makes it ‘known’ early 1990s

a prepositional Meet me in the café next to the underground station

phrase makes it near my house
‘known’
 http://muhammadali.com/

THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME

• Boxing was just one of the amazing
facets of Muhammad Ali – the man. His
story, told in and outside of the ring, is
unparalleled in modern celebrity.
• Muhammad Ali is responsible for some of
the most legendary moments in the ring.
His incomparable work ethic, revolutionary
techniques, and fearlessness towards
standing up for his beliefs, all contribute to
the legend that is Muhammad Ali.
THE INFLUENCE

• “THE MAN WHO BELIEVES REAL

SUCCESS COMES WHEN WE RISE
AFTER WE FALL”
—President Barack Obama on Muhammad Ali
 Articles.
General and specific

• With plural nouns: the or no article.

NO ARTICLE THE
When we want to refer to a
group or class in general:

Tourists are often blamed for Did you notice what the
changing the character of a tourists in the cathedral were
place doing? (=specific tourists)

It is commonly accepted today Did you remember to get the

that brown bread is good for bread out of the freezer?
you.
NO ARTICLE
Before abstract nouns:
It is impossible to live in a
world without hope. (in
general)
NOUNS such as church,
hospital, school
-if we think of their purpose
Can children leave school at
fourteen in your country?
THE
(The only exception:
When we want to make the
abstract noun more specific:
The hope of finding a cure for
cancer drives a lot of medical
research.)
-if we think of the physical
place or building (a/the
according to the situation):
Is there a school in the village?
 Other common uses.

a/an
• Jobs, nationalities, beliefs:
I’m a student.
• Numbers:
a hundres thousand
• Prices, speeds, etc.
20 km an hour
 the
• Some geographical names: plurals (the US),
areas (the West), mountain ranges (the Rocky
Mountains), oceans or seas (the Pacific
Ocean), rivers (the Thames)
• Musical instruments: She plays the violin.
• The media (All our family work in the theatre.)
But we often use television, cinema without
an article to refer to the art or entertainment
form.
 the
• In some comparative phrases: the more the
merrier
• In front of superlatives and first, last, next, only,
same, right, wrong: The only one.
• In measurements: You can buy cardamom by
the gram.
• Physical environments: I prefer the town to the
country.
• Newspapers: the Times, the Daily Mirror
• Dates when spoken: the tenth of May
 No article
• Proper names: James (but a/an – for a name to
sound less specific, the – for more specific)
• Names of most countries, mountains (single, not
ranges), lakes: Mount Everest
• Substances, liquids and gases: Cooking oil is
simply liquid fat.
• Materials: This blouse is made of silk.
• Political or business roles: Barack Obama became
President of the US in 2008.
 No article
• Transport: We’re going by rail to London, then by
plane.
• Times and seasons (though sometimes the is
used with seasons and we use the with parts of
the day: in the afternoon): at night, in summer, at
dusk
• Meal(time)s: See you at lunch.
• Sports: She plays tennis very well.
• Illnesses: Smallpox is eradicated today.