The Indefinite Article

1 We use a before a consonant and an before a vowel (but it depends on the pronunciation
of the following word, NOT the spelling.

2 We use one not a/an:

* in contrast with another or other
eg. One girl wanted to go out, but the other wanted to stay at home.
* in the expression one day
* with hundred and thousand when we want to sound precise
* in expressions like only one and just one
eg. We’ve got plenty of sausages but only one egg.

MAIN USES

1 We use a/an to say what kind of thing somebody or something is, what job a person does,
or what something is used as.

Eg. She’s a farmer. Don’t use the plate as an ashtray!

2 A/an can mean an example of something. In the plural we use no article or some.

Eg. A spider has eight legs. Spiders have eight legs.

I’d like a cup of coffee. I’d like some chips.

3 A can mean a particular one, if you don’t say exactly who or which.

Eg. A man called while you were out.

***NB***
We don’t use a/an with uncountable nouns.
We don’t use a/an with possessives.
After kind of & sort of, a/an is usually omitted eg. a kind of tree
In exclamations with what, a/an is NOT dropped eg. What a pity!
A/an usually comes after quite, rather and such eg. quite a nice day

4 We use a/an in descriptions of people

eg. He’s got a long nose.
BUT hair is singular and has no article eg. She’s got dark hair.
 THE DEFINITE ARTICLE

The means ‘you know which one I mean’.

Eg. I bought a CD player and a radio, but the CD player doesn’t work.

We often use the with only and with superlatives.

Eg. She’s the only woman for me. It’s the best restaurant in town.

GENERALISATIONS WITHOUT ‘THE’

The does not mean ‘all’.

We DO NOT use the in generalisations with plural and uncountable nouns.
Eg. I like music. Can you turn off the music?
Books are expensive. Put the books on the table.

We DO NOT normally use the in generalisations with plural and uncountable nouns, even if
there is an adjective before the noun.
Eg. She’s studying Chinese history.

But we use the when a description with of follows the noun.

Eg. She’s studying the history of China.

We can use the in generalisations with singular countable nouns. This is common in
scientific and technical language.
Eg. Who invented the telescope? The tiger is in danger of dying out.

SPECIAL CASES

Common expressions with no article after a preposition:

to/at/from school, university, church, etc.
at/from home
to/in(to)/out of hospital, prison, bed
to/in(to) town
on holiday
by car/bus/plane, etc.
to/at/after breakfast, etc.
at night BUT in the morning, afternoon, evening.
on Monday, etc.
in spring, summer, etc. OR in the spring, etc.
at Easter, Christmas, etc.
eg. You should be in bed. I found chewing gum in the bed again!

Place names with no article:

continents, most countries Italy, England
states, counties, etc. Lazio, Texas
towns Rome
most streets Oxford Street
lakes, most mountains Lake Como, Everest
town + buildings Oxford University, Rome Airport

Place names with the

name includes common noun the United States
seas, rivers, deserts the Mediterranean
mountain and island groups the Apennines
most geographical regions the Far East, the South of Italy
hotels, cinemas and theatres the Playhouse, the Ritz

Other expressions with no article:

He was elected President.

They made her Manager.
What’s on TV? BUT What’s on the radio?
This is Alice’s house NOT This is the Alice’s house. ×