LEVEL 2 • INSTITUTO DE IDIOMAS • UNIVERSIDAD DE SEVILLA • LEVEL 2 • INSTITUTO DE IDIOMAS • UNIVERSIDAD DE SEVILLA • LEVEL 2

ARTICLES: some important points

• The form of the indefinite article (A/AN) depends on the initial sound (not spelling) of the word that
follows:
an hour, an honest man, an honourable decision, an SOS message, an MP (a Member of Parliament)
a euro, a university student, a useful piece of advice, a one-way ticket, a UN official

• Uncountable nouns cannot (normally) be used with A/AN, or in the plural:

[Some / a piece of] advice, information, news, furniture, bread, toast, spaghetti
We had some nice weather. She has long black hair. Is there room for another piece of furniture here?

• General / particular. No article is used with uncountable and plural nouns to talk about things ‘in
general’
Coffee keeps me awake at night. Colombian coffee is very good. (but The coffee you bought yesterday is
excellent. The coffee in that restaurant is horrible. I enjoyed the meal but the coffee wasn’t too good.)
Life can be hard. (but The life of George Washington is very interesting.)
They’re interested in music. I love 1960s rock music. (but He writes good lyrics but the music isn’t very
good.)
Children usually start walking around the age of one. Children grow up very quickly. (but I don’t like my
job at the school; the children are very noisy.)
Are women better at learning languages than men? (but The girls in my class did better than the boys this
year)
People think teachers have long holidays. Most people have a TV.
(but The people in the office are all very friendly. Most of the people I know have a mobile phone).

• The following common expressions also contain no article (however, in some cases American usage
is different):
 to / at / from school:
My children go to school on their own. (but I go to the school to pick them up.)
 to / at / from university, college:
My parents didn’t go to university. (but I’m going to a concert at the university tonight.)
 to / a/ in / from church:
I go to church every Sunday. (but We went to the church to take some photos.)
 to / at / from work:
My father is very tired when he comes home from work.
 to / in / into / out of hospital, prison:
He had an accident and was taken to hospital. (but I went to the hospital to visit him.)
 to /in / into / out of bed:
I got out of bed when I heard the noise. (but The cat’s lying on the bed. / Your pyjamas are in
the bed.)

• Frequency / ratios:
We have class three days a week.
The speed limit is 70 km. an hour.
Apples are €2 a kilo.

• Jobs and positions. The article is normally used:

My father was an engineer.
I wouldn’t like to be a policeman.
I want to become a famous doctor.
My mother’s a teacher. (but in the plural: My parents are teachers.)
Also with as: He works as a hotel receptionist at weekends.

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LEVEL 2 • INSTITUTO DE IDIOMAS • UNIVERSIDAD DE SEVILLA • LEVEL 2 • INSTITUTO DE IDIOMAS • UNIVERSIDAD DE SEVILLA • LEVEL 2

• Titles:
With proper names, no article is used:
Queen Elizabeth II(“the second”). King Juan Carlos I. Pope John Paul II.
But the article is used with the title alone, without a name:
The Pope lives in the Vatican. The President was on TV last week.

• Place names:
The definite article is used with:
seas, oceans and rivers: the Mediterranean (Sea), the Pacific (Ocean), the Guadalquivir (River)
mountain groups and island groups: the Pyrenees, the Alps, the Canary Islands / the Canaries
hotels, cinemas, museums; newspapers: the Grand Hotel, the Odeon, the British Museum, The Guardian
certain countries: the USA, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic
No article is used with:
streets, lakes and (usually) single mountains: Church Road, Lake Ontario, Loch Ness, (Mt.) Everest
public buildings / institutions: Heathrow Airport, Santa Justa Station, Seville University, York Cathedral,
María Luisa Park
• Note:
the use of the indefinite article with singular nouns in questions and negatives:
Do you have a phone? Is there a shower or a bath? I never wear a tie. I don’t have a pencil.
the use of the indefinite article as a complement of ‘with(out)’:
a kitchen with a microwave oven, a balcony with a view of the sea, a room with an open fire. Don’t
come to class without a pen!
the omission of the article in numbering and labelling:
unit 8, chapter 10, section C, number 7, page 96. ‘Passengers on Iberia flight IB123, please proceed
to Gate D’
that in abbreviated style the article can be omitted:
‘Open packet at other end’. ‘Made in USA’ ‘Made in EU’

• For further information, cf. Swan, Practical English Usage (Oxford University Press): ‘articles’

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LEVEL 2 • INSTITUTO DE IDIOMAS • UNIVERSIDAD DE SEVILLA • LEVEL 2 • INSTITUTO DE IDIOMAS • UNIVERSIDAD DE SEVILLA • LEVEL 2

EXERCISES:

A. Find one mistake in each sentence.

1. My father’s postman, so he has breakfast very early.

2. Where’s the Peter’s book?
3. I come to the school by car.
4. She doesn’t speak a very good English.
5. What’s the answer to the number 2?
6. The most people like music.
7. The President lives in U.S.A.
8. Queen Elizabeth lives in the Buckingham Palace.
9. He travels to the Canary Islands three times in the month.
10. I don’t like the tea in that café in the George Street.
11. I don’t know the time because I don’t have watch.
12. We study all the day.
13. My favorite sport is the football.
14. I go to the gym for half hour.
15. She has a black hair and brown eyes.

B. Look at the note about when to use the definite and indefinite article in English before you
translate these sentences.

1. Ella lleva uniforme en el trabajo.

2. A mi madre le gusta desayunar en la cama.

3. La mujer de Juan trabaja muchas horas, así que por la noche está cansada.

4. Trabaja en una ofinina en la calle Velázquez.

5. Los sábados por la mañana juego al tenis.

6. No nos gusta nada la comida china.

7. El avión sale del aeropuerto de Barajas a las diez y media.

8. La mayoría de la gente en España tiene coche.

9. Veo a mis abuelos dos veces al año.

10. Los ejercicios son fáciles pero no entiendo el cinco.

11. Al rey Juan Carlos le encanta la vela.