a an the zero article

• With something we refer to for the first time. where it is clear which person or thing we are talking about (as it was previously mentioned or is defined in the uncountable nouns, e.g. water, fruit, love, traffic,
{a/an) I've just had a great idea. sentence) General plurals, e.g. people love music
I'll give you a call next week. Can you pass the marmalade? meals: breakfast, dinner, supper, dessert
My life changed completely after the war. illnesses: flu,
• With one of a group of things.
Shall we choose a book from this catalogue? This is the man I told you about. - with a defining phrase BUT WHEN WE REFER TO A PARTICULAR THING,
Sit on the chair which is near the window. WE USE ‘THE’, e.g:
• Where we use an adjective to describe a noun.
There is a bedroom and a living room. – previously mentioned Carrot juice is delicious, but the juice you bought is too sweet.
Cairo is a very big city. It's a beautiful day.
The bedroom is quite large.

• With someone's job.

Where there is only one of something. It is clear which one we are talking about.
Peter is a truck driver. BUT: These flowers need sun
The moon is full tonight. / Don’t look at the sun
Switch on the light, please.
• With singular fractions, group numbers and large numbers.
The Olympics, The World Final, The Eurovision. – regular events, one of a kind
one and a half kilos
a dozen eggs With national groups, class of animals, people (the+ singular)
a hundred envelopes The British drink far too much tea.
The elephant is in danger of extinction
The rich will never understand the poor.
• Meaning ‘per’.
He was doing ninety miles an hour.
Julie earns £500 a week. the … of … the name of my father, the music of 1980s

With names of musical instruments that we can play.

BUT: I bought her a violin I can't play the piano but I can play the guitar.

with inventions:
BUT: I have a computer The computer has improved the work of many people

• With superlatives, ordinals, THE SAME, THE ONLY / THE NEXT… / THE LAST… BUT:
This is the best. NEXT + time expression next time, next Friday
He got the first prize, she got the second. LAST + time expression last weekend, last year
This is the only solution. AFTER PERSONAL PRONOUN NO ‘THE’
The next thing we are going to discuss is… This is my the only book. She’s my the best friend
The last person to leave the room should turn off the light. It was his the last job.

a new … - a new object the new… - in the meaning ‘the latest (invention)’ of this type
‘Chicago’ is not a new film the new film with Sean Connery
I need a new bike. the new Windows is excellent. (windows 8)
I’m bored with my mobile, I need a new model. The new Nokia model is ugly.
He got a new car – it is used Mercedes The new Mercedes is very fancy. (the new model)

But: BUT: With prepositions of place with certain buildings, where the
she works in a hospital. The prison where he stayed was very strict. (this specific prison) purpose of the building is more important
I met her at a hospital /a cinema / a dentist’s I just came from the hospital, dad is OK. (the listener knows which hospital)
Sally is in prison. (she's a prisoner)
physical world She’s in hospital (she’s a patient)
the countryside, the seaside, the beach, the forest, the mountains, the weather, the wind She’s in class (she’s having a lesson now)
With media, places of public use, service in bed, in church, in court, at school, at university
What's on (the) TV? I went to the cinema, the doctor, the dentist, the hairdresser, the theatre, the disco, I
listen to the news,
in a car, on a bus, in a bath – generally
Where’s Sue? She’s in a bath I love reading on the bus, in the bath - with a purpose, or every time I’m there
Easter, [the] New Year’s Day, Christmas
[the] summer, winter, spring, autumn
GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES

THE ZERO ARTICLE

CONTINENTS -- continents

COUNTRIES the USA, the Netherlands, The Czech Republic, the Vatican [city], The People’s Republic of China, The United most countries, states, counties
Kingdom,

CITIES, TOWNS, STREETS the Hague [in the Netherlands] towns, streets

MOUNTAINS the Alps, the Himalayas, Tatra Mountains, Bieszczady Mountains,

most single mountains:

Everest, Kilimanjaro, Table Mountain, Mont Blanc

SEAS, OCEANS, RIVERS, LAKES The Baltic Sea, The Mediterranean, The Athlantic, The Pacific Ocean, The Thames, The Vistula [River] ---

LAKES -- Salt Lake

ISLAND GROUPS the West Indies, the Bermudas, The British Isles, Seychelles

PROPER NAMES:
museums, theatres, hotels,
universities, airports
the Ritz, the Globe, The National Art Gallery, the British Museum Bagatela theatre
most names of hotels, theatres, especially which don’t have a word ‘hotel’ or ‘theatre’ in it. Jagiellonian University
when a city / town name belongs in the name of the proper noun:
Oxford University
Heathrow Airport

DESERTS The Sahara Desert --

NEWSPAPERS newspapers usually ‘the’ magazines often have zero article

MAGAZINES The Times, The Sun, New Scientist, Focus

other the far east,

1. Is this a person/the person you told me about?
2. This is the only cinema/an only cinema in the area.
3. Philip has just bought a new / the new computer. It’s a used model.
4. I'm going to the cinema / a cinema tonight.
5. Do you go to church/the church?
6. Can you help me move a TV/ the TV? I bought a new / new TV.
7. I love watching old movies on a TV / on TV or at a cinema / at the cinema.
8. Do you have a free / free time?
9. We’re going to seaside / to the seaside for holidays.
10. The sun / Sun is shining so nicely today.
11. The computer/Computer has changed our lives dramatically.
12. I haven't been to an open-air theatre/open-air theatre before.
13. Here is a hundred pounds/the hundred pounds I owe you.
14. I’m tired of a winter / winter. I need the sun / sun.
15. She plays a violin/ the violin. She’s just bought a new / the new one.
16. She goes to school by a bus / by bus. She always reads on bus / on the bus
17. Bob’s had an accident. He’s in a hospital / in hospital.
18. Did you read a book / the book I lent you the last week / last week?
19. Finally! This is last exam / the last exam
20. The judge / A judge sent me to prison / to a prison.
3 Complete each sentence with the most suitable word or phrase.
21. Columbus was one of the first / first people to cross the Atlantic.
22. She lives in a countryside / in the countryside.
23. As a captain / the captain of a ship / the ship,
I have a complete / complete authority.
24. David learned to play the basketball / basketball
when he was at a university / at university.
25. Is that a present / the present Bill gave you for the Christmas / Christmas?
26. We'll finish painting a wall / the wall
and then go to cafe / a café for a dinner / dinner
27. I just came from the hospital / hospital. Dad is OK.
28. I need the new / a new bike. My old / My the old bike is rusty.
29. The new / a new BMW is pretty impressive. I’ve seen on a TV / on TV today.
30. See you next Thursday / the next Thursday
31. I love the coffee / coffee, but the coffee / coffee served by MacDonald’s is
disgusting.
32. I need to pray, I’ll go to a church / to church.
33. I want to go sightseeing. I’ll go to a church / to church.
34. I like listening to a radio / to the radio but a radio / the radio I have is broken.
35. Can you pass a marmalade / the marmalade?
a) The butler was .C I suspected.
A) last person B) a last person C) the last person D) some last person
b) Where ………..you borrowed last week?
A) is scissors B) are the scissors C) is some scissors D) are scissors
c) Why don't we go to the park …….. dad lent us?
A) in the car B) with a car C) with car D) by the car
d) Too much rubbish is being dumped in ……
A) sea B) the sea C) a sea D) some sea
e) This is exactly…….I was looking for.
A) job B) a job C) some job D) the job
f) Of all these cars, I think I prefer ……….
A) a Japanese B) some Japanese C) the Japanese one D) a Japanese one
g) I try to go jogging at least four times …………
A) the week B) of the week C) a week D) of a week
h) Sally spent six months out of …………..
A) work B) a work C) the work D) some work