Articles: a, an, the and zero article
Indefinite a/an by sound, definite the, the zero article, and fixed expressions.
English has three article choices: the indefinite article a/an, the definite article the, and the zero article (no article at all). We use a/an only with singular countable nouns that are not specific, and we choose between them by the first SOUND of the next word, not its spelling: a before a consonant sound (a house, a university /juː/, a one-pound coin /w/) and an before a vowel sound (an apple, an hour /aʊə/ with silent h, an MP /em/). We use the when the noun is specific or already known, for unique things (the sun, the moon, the sky), with superlatives and ordinals (the best, the first), and in many fixed phrases. We use the zero article for general plurals and uncountables (Books are useful; Water is essential), for most names of people, countries, languages, meals, sports and means of transport (I had breakfast; I speak English; I go by bus). Many everyday expressions take a set article that must be learned as a whole, such as in the morning, go to bed and play the piano. For example: 'She is the best student in the class' uses the (superlative), while 'Students need books' uses the zero article (a general plural).
Rules
- 1Use a/an only with singular countable, non-specific nouns; choose by the next SOUND — a before a consonant sound (a university, a one-way street), an before a vowel sound (an hour, an honest man, an MP).
- 2Use the for something specific or already mentioned, for unique things (the sun, the moon), and with superlatives and ordinals (the tallest, the second).
- 3Use the zero article (no article) for general plurals and uncountables (Cats are clever; Milk is white), and with names of people, most countries, languages, meals, sports and academic subjects.
- 4Use the with seas, rivers, oceans, deserts and groups of islands (the Pacific, the Nile, the Sahara), but no article with single mountains, lakes and most countries (Everest, Lake Geneva, Azerbaijan).
- 5Learn fixed expressions as whole phrases: in the morning, at the weekend, go to bed, go to school, play the piano, listen to the radio, by car, on foot.
Practice
10 easy · 10 medium · 10 hard