ARTICLES

1. Read the following rules for when we use the definite article (the), the indefi-
nite article (a /an) and for when we do not use an article (the zero article).
Then fill in the gaps and match each of the examples to one of the rules.

The definite article (the) is used:

a) with inventions and species of animals. When was the radio invented? / I
think the whale may soon be extinct.
b) with rivers / seas / oceans.
c) when there is only one of something
d) with national groups
e) with superlatives.
a) with particular nouns when it is clear what you are referring to
b) with previously mentioned nouns

The indefinite article (a / an) is used:

c) with jobs.
d) with singular countable nouns (mentioned for the first time or when it
doesn’t matter which one)

No article (the zero article) is used:

e) with most streets / villages / towns / cities / countries / lakes / mountains
f) For countries / groups of islands in the plural we use The
g) with uncountable, plural and abstract nouns used in their general sense.

Examples
• The sky is full of stars tonight.
• When was the radio invented? / I think the whale may soon be extinct.
• Could you pass the salt please?
• The Amazon flows into the Atlantic Ocean.
• He is the kindest person I know.
• e.g. I live in a small house. / You will need a ruler in the exam.
• There is an apple and an orange. I want the orange.
• The British drink a lot of tea.
• She is a doctor.
• He was born in the United States not in the Maldives.
• I like tomato juice. / I hate cities. / Travel broadens the mind.
• I’m going to Oxford Street today. / I love living in Rome. / He comes from
Greece. / Where is Mount Everest?

2. Fill in the gaps in the following sentences with a, an, the or (- ) when
no article is needed. Try to work out other reasons for this.
1. Could you please turn on ______ television?

2. Watch out! There’s ______ policeman coming.

3. It’s ______ best film I’ve seen in ages.

4. Could I borrow ______ piece of paper to make notes on?

5. Is that ______ new carpet you were telling me about?

6. I think that ______ young people are much more mature these days.

7. We’re going to ______ Kenya for Christmas.

8. Would you like to see ______ photos I took on holiday?

9. They tell me that ______ honesty is the best policy.

10. She said that ______ carrots were her favorite vegetable.

11. Sometimes I wish ______ telephone had never been

invented.

12. Look at ______ sea. Isn’t it beautiful?

13. Why do you think ______ Japanese work so hard?

14. We went sailing on ______ Lake Victoria at the weekend.