The Article

I. The Definite Article - THE - Before a noun which has been used previously My house is not far from a river. But the river is very polluted. - Before nouns known both by the speaker and the interlocutor The garden looks very nice today. The boss has asked about you. - Before unique nouns , such as the sun , the moon , the !arth , the sky , the !quator The !quator is an imaginary line in the middle of the !arth. - Before a noun which represents a category of animals,plants or things The rose is a symbol of beauty and love. The nightingale is a singing bird. !ven children can use the computer nowadays. - Before proper nouns used in the plural The Tudors reigned in !ngland for more than a century. - Before names of days , months, years and seasons, when we mention one in particular The year "##$ was the beginning of a new millenium. The whole country was covered with snow until the month of May. - Before names of countries , when they are in the plural the %etherlands , the &'A (he &'A is a military force in the world. - Before names of rivers , seas and oceans ,islands , mountains , deserts the )anube , the Thames , the Black 'ea ,the %orth 'ea , the *acific +cean, the British ,sles, the -arpathians , the Alps , the 'ahara )esert The *acific +cean is the largest +cean. - Before nouns which name historical periods and events the 'tone Age , the Middle Age , the -ivil .ar ,the /rench 0evolution, the )eclaration of ,ndependence - Before names of buildings which represents official institutions the 1ouses of *arliament, the Tower of 2ondon, the British Museum, the .hite 1ouse - Before names of newspapers and maga3ines The Times was first published in $456. - Before ordinal numerals the first , the second, the third ... The first book , read in !nglish was 7 Tom 'awyer 7. - Before musical instruments 'he plays the violin three hours every day. - Before ad8ectives in the superlative 'he is the tallest in her class.

II. The Indefinite Article - A, AN - Before a countable noun in the singular which is mentioned for the first time There is a church near my house. - Before a noun in the singular which represents a whole class of people or things A friend will always help you. An actor should have good pronunciation. - Before nouns that indicate professions My son will be an engineer ne9t year , and my daughter is a doctor. - ,n e9pressions which refer to prices , speed and time frequency These grapes are 6# cents a kilo. The speed limit is :# km an hour. (ou should take these pills three times a day. III. The Zero Article - Before proper names 1ave you met ;ames Brown today < - Before nouns that refer to family members or to close persons Mother, Mum, /ather , )ad, Aunt ,&ncle , %urse , Teacher Mother will be back soon and )ad will come later. - Before names of countries ,cities and continents !ngland ,.ales , 0omania 2ondon,Bucharest, %ew (ork ,!urope, %orth America 1ave you ever been to !ngland < 0omania is situated in !urope. - Before abstract nouns love , knowledge , wisdom, freedom , 8ustice , life, death =nowledge is power. Time is money. - Before uncountable nouns used in general bread , butter , cheese , ham, meat, coffee , sugar , gold , silver , wood , grass , o9ygen , never drink coffee. -hocolate is not very healthy. - Before other uncountable nouns advice , furniture , information, luggage , news , need advice to solve this problem. This book has useful information. - Before names of sciences 0obert got first pri3e in Mathematics. 'he has 8ust got her degree in *hysics. - Before nouns used in the plural with a general meaning Men and women should have equal rights. )rivers must slow down at crossroads.