The Usage of Articles

Two Types of Articles in Engish

 Definite articles >> a, an
 Indefinite articles >> the

a + consonant sound, Examples - a book, a cat, a dog, a fan

an + vowel sound, Examples - an umbrella, an orange, an apple, an airplane

Note -

Example words that start with vowel letters but use the article “ a ”
 University
 Union
 Unity

Example words that start with consonant letters but use the article “ an ”
 Hour
 Honor
 Honest

 ‌ happy hour
a
 a wet umbrella

4 Usages of indefinite Articles

Usage 1 - Use a/an with singular countable nouns

 - - - - - book
 - - - - - apple
 - - - - - child
 - - - - - pan
 - - - - - friend

Usage 2 - Use a/an to introduce a noun for the first time

I saw a girl yesterday. The girl was sitting under a tree. The tree was very tall. And, the girl saw
a cat beside a wall and a bird on the wall. The cat jumped on the wall to try and catch a bird.
But, the bird flew off the wall.
Usage 3 - Use a/an with non-specific nouns

 Non-specific noun: I bought an apple from the grocery store.

Specific noun: The apple I bought from the grocery store was perfectly ripe.

 Non-specific noun: Can you hand me an umbrella from the closet?

Specific noun: I left my umbrella in the car yesterday.

 Non-specific noun: I'm going to borrow a book from the library.

Specific noun: The book I borrowed from the library was really interesting.

 Non-specific noun: I walked by a tree on my way to work today.

Specific noun: The tree in my backyard is starting to bloom.

 Non-specific noun: I'm going to read a book before bed tonight.

Specific noun: The book I'm reading for my book club is due next week.

 Non-specific noun: I always carry an umbrella in my backpack.

Specific noun: The umbrella I brought on our camping trip kept us dry during the
rainstorm.

Usage 4 - Use a/an with job title

 May is a scientist.
 Moe Pyae is an engineer.
 Ingyin is an author.
 Myo Thandar is a doctor.
 Khaing Thazin is a singer.

*** Exception - Use “ the ” + the unique job title

 Elizabeth is the Queen of England.
 Joe Biden is the president of America.

** Neil Armstrong was the first scientist who walked on the moon.
Sayar Peter is the only teacher who can teach Grade 12 science.

Usage 5 - Use a/an to talk about how many times a certain thing happens in a
day/week/month.
  I go to the gym twice a week.
 I have a cup of coffee three times a week.
 I like to take a hot bath once a week to relax.
 My friend practices yoga three times a week.

The - Definite article

Types of Nouns that can be used with “ the ”

Singular Countable Nouns - Example: The woman is sitting over there.

Plural Countable Nouns - Example: The people are waiting in line to get into the cinema.
Uncountable Nouns - Example: The information she gave me was false.

Usages of definite articles

Usage 1 - Use THE to talk about a noun that has already been discussed and is
now known.

Yesterday, a girl asked me how to go to the airport on the bus. The girl was carrying a suitcase
and the red Gucci-brand bag.

Usage 2 - Use THE with specific nouns, often with a qualifier

 The boss is giving me a hard time.

 The city market near my house is always crowded.
 The book I read yesterday night is good.
 Don’t put your phone on the broken table.
 I want to buy the latest Apple watch.
 The Sedona hotel

Usage 3 - Use THE to talk about things that are the only ones in
certain situations

 the sun
 the moon
 the sky
 the earth
 the world
  the universe
 the ground
 the internet
 the longest river
 the capital of France
 the president of the United States
** space =

 The sky is full of stars.

 The Americans landed on the moon in 1969.
 I love you to the moon and back.
 The earth revolves on its axis.
 The sun is a star.
 You are the sweetest boy in the world.
 The world is full of diverse cultures and traditions.
 The world is a beautiful place to live in.
 Naypyitaw is the capital of Myanmar.
 The Mona Lisa is one of the most famous paintings in the world.
 The dollar is the currency of the United States


***How far is it from Earth to the moon?

She piled loose earth around the new plants.

Usage 4 - Use THE with superlative adjectives

Rose is the prettiest member of Blackpink.
Taylor Swift is the most talented singer in the United States.
My mother is the most wonderful woman in the world.
Lucy is the luckiest girl in the class.
Kalaw is the most be autiful town in Myanmar.

Usage 5 - Use THE to talk about a group of people in general ( the

meaning is always plural) - THE + adj

 the old
 the young
 the rich
 the poor
 the disabled
 the homeless
 the blind
 the dead
 the unemployed
 the injured
  the sick
 the deaf

 The old are often wise because of their life experience.

 The young are the future of our society.
 The rich have many opportunities that the poor do not.
 The poor struggle to make ends meet on a daily basis.
 The sick need access to quality healthcare.
 The hungry line up at the food bank for a meal.
 The homeless seek shelter and safety on the streets.
 The brave are those who face their fears and take risks.
 The strong persevere through difficult times.
 The weak need protection and support.

Usage - Use THE with clauses and noun phrases introduced by only

 My aunt is the only person I trust.

 The beach is the only place I want to be on a hot summer day.
 The store is the only one that sells organic products in this area.
 The computer is the only device I use to work from home.
 The movie theater is the only entertainment option in this small town.

Rule - Use THE with country names with plural country names,
typically ending with “s”
Use THE before country names that include Republic, Union,
State, Kingdom

 the United States

 the Philippines
 the Netherlands
 the Maldives
 the United Arab Emirates
 the United States
 the United Kingdom
 the Dominican Republic

Example sentences
 The United States has a diverse population with people from all over the world.
 The Philippines is famous for its delicious cuisine and beautiful beaches.
 The Netherlands is a small country, but it has a rich cultural heritage.
 The Maldives is a popular honeymoon destination because of its picturesque scenery and
luxurious resorts.
  The United Arab Emirates is home to some of the world's tallest buildings and most
luxurious hotels.

***

 Canada is the second-largest country in the world, known for its stunning natural scenery.
 China has the largest population of any country in the world and a rich cultural history.
 Korea is divided into two countries: North Korea and South Korea, with distinct political
and economic systems.
 Japan is an island nation known for its unique culture, delicious food, and advanced
technology.
 Thailand is a popular tourist destination in Southeast Asia, famous for its stunning
beaches, temples, and spicy cuisine.
 China is the world's largest exporter of goods and a major economic superpower.
 Korea is famous for its K-Pop music and entertainment industry, which has gained global
popularity.


Usage –

 The elephant is the biggest of all animales.

 The giraffe is the tallest of all animals.
 I hate the mosquito
 When was the telephone invented?
 The cat is my favorite animal.
 I like to play the guitar.
 I listen to the radio a lot.

Usage - Use the with morning/afternoon/evening

 See you in the morning.

 I usually work in the afternoon.
 I enjoy hanging out with my friends in the evenings.
*** - at night

Usage - Use THE with names of oceans, seas, rivers, canals, groups
of lakes, groups of islands, mountain ranges and deserts
The Indian Ocean
The Pacific Ocean
The Black Sea
The Mediterranean Sea
The Mississippi River
The Ayeyarwady River
The Nile River
The Suez Canal
The Andes
The Himalayas
The Sahara Desert

***

Usage - Use THE with the names of newspaper

 The Washington Post

 The Financial Times
 The Sun
 The Times

Usage - Use THE with the names of organizations

 The United Nations

 The European Union
 The National Aeronautics and Space Administration
 The North Atlantic treaty Organization
 The Association of Southeast Asian Nations
 The United Nations International Children's Emergency Funds

***

 The UN
 The EU
 NASA
 NATO
 ASEAN
 UNICEF

No Articles -

1. We don't use articles when we talk about things in general.

 Cats are great pets.

  I love reading books.
 I love listening to music.
 Houses are expensive in this town.
 I don't like vegetables.
 Religion is an important issue.

2. We don't use articles with the names of some geographical features, islands, lakes,
mountains

 Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world.

 Lake Victoria is the largest lake in Africa.
 Inya Lake is a picturesque freshwater lake located in Yangon, Myanmar.
 Bali is a beautiful island in Indonesia.
 Mount Kilimanjaro is a popular destination for hikers and climbers.
 Lake Tahoe is a popular vacation spot in the United States.
 Mount Fuji is an iconic symbol of Japan.
 Santorini is a stunning island in Greece known for its white buildings and blue
roofs.

3. We don't use any article with names of continents, countries, cities, states and towns.

 Asia is the largest continent in the world.

 Africa has a diverse range of cultures and languages.
 Australia is known for its unique wildlife.
 Europe has a rich history and many famous landmarks.
 South America is home to the Amazon rainforest.
 North America is the third largest continent in the world.
 Many species of penguins live in the continent of Antarctica.
 Spain is known for its beautiful beaches.
 New York City is one of the busiest places in the world.
 Paris is known as the City of Love.
 Yangon is the capital of Myanmar.
 Rome is famous for its historical landmarks.
 Bangkok is the capital city of Thailand.
 London is home to the famous Big Ben clock tower.
 California is a popular state for tourism.
 I grew up in a small town called Paungde.

***

4. We don't commonly use any article with names of roads, streets, avenue, and park

 Pyay Road
  Lan-Thit Street
 Sule Park
 Sule Park

 I live on Main Street.

 Let's meet at Central Park.
 She works on Park Avenue.
 The restaurant is located on 5th Avenue.
 I drive down Elm Street every day to get to work.
 They're building a new bridge over the river on Maple Avenue.
 The parade will march down Broadway tomorrow.
 The hotel is situated near Sunset Boulevard.
 He lives near the corner of Vine Street and Hollywood Boulevard.
 We walked through Central Park and enjoyed the autumn colors.

5. We don't use any article with people's names and titles before names

 Her name is Linda.

 Her father's name is Mr. Johnson.
 Queen Elizabeth
 Princess Diana
 King George
 President Joe Biden
 Doctor Kyaw Htin
 Uncle Myint Naing

***

 The Ivanovs live down the street.

 The Bakers moved to Rome last year.
 The Browns have a large house near the lake.
 The Bentons are a nice couple.
 The Millers don't have any dogs or cats.

6. We don't commonly use any article with breakfast, lunch, and dinner

 They were having breakfast when I arrived.

 It's time to eat breakfast.
 I had a piece of toast for breakfast.
 I'm hungry - let's have lunch.
 The students have lunch at school.
 I'm absolutely starving -- I missed lunch.
 She invited his friends to dinner.
 We had beef steak for dinner.
  We all washed up after dinner.

 a big lunch
 an early breakfast
 a delicious dinner

7. Don’t use any article in this usage - Noun + Number

 Our train leaves from Platform 5.
 Have you got these shoes in size 43.
 Turn your book to Page 10.
 The concert tickets are for row 9, seat 16.
 The class will be held in classroom 7B.
 The exhibit is on display in gallery room 4.
 The reservation is for table 8 in the restaurant.