When and when to not use Articles: ‘the’, ‘a’ and ‘an’

by | 20 Jul 2019 | Grammar

We use the before a specific noun.

 

 

A specific noun can be a noun we know.

We could know this noun because it belongs to us or we have recently talked about it.

 

I will take the car to the supermarket

They saw the crack in the wall, it will need to be filled.

 

We use ‘a’ or ‘an’ before a noun when we are talking about one from a group of things. When we use a or an from a group of things, it is not important which one we are talking about:

 

 

It is Friday, work has been hard this week; I need a beer!

If things are going to improve, we need to make a change.

Could you give me a bowl of soup and a bread roll please?

 

We cannot use ‘a’ or ‘an’ with plural or uncountable nouns

 

 

They need people to visit the site. (plural)

The police received information about the heist last week. (uncountable)

Buy orange juice! (uncountable)

 

We don’t use articles with real nouns

 

 

Real nouns are names of people or places . It is not possible to say the Stefano, the Luciano or the Cristina. Similarly we can’t use articles with place names for example, the England.

 

Exceptions  

 

the UK

the US

the Bahamas

the Czech Republic

the Falkland Islands

the Dominican Republic

the Euphrates

 

do you know anymore?

 

We use the definite article for people in specific positions

 

the boss

the Prime Minister

the President

the head of police

the CEO

 

____

 

Do you know what is missing in the following sentences? Some sentences don’t need an article!

 

Where is ___ bread I bought earlier?

I am thinking that I will take __ day off.

Please give me __ pen.

I had __ water after lunch today, it helps with digestion.

 

____

 

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