Articles

Definite Indefinite
the a, an
 1. We use the
When we are talking about one thing in
particular.

The capital of Brazil is Brasilia.

Look! I found the same teddy bear I had when I was
a baby.
Have you seen the car keys?
The president of Brazil is a woman.
Could you open the windows when you arrive at the
house?
I saw the neighbor at the supermarket.
 2. We use a or an
When we are talking about one thing in
general.

Laila was born in a town in Japan.

I sometimes have an egg and a cup of tea
for breakfast.
Let’s watch a movie.
I need a new laptop. Mine is too old.
Do you have a car?
 3. Omission of the
articles
We do not use articles before uncountable and
abstract nouns used in a general sense.

• Honey is sweet.
(NOT The honey is sweet.)
• Sugar is bad for your teeth.
• Wisdom is better than riches.
• Virtue is its own reward.

Note that uncountable nouns take the

article the when used in a particular sense.

• Would you pass the sugar? 

(= the sugar on the table)
 We do not use articles before
plural countable nouns used in a
general sense.

Before • Children usually rush about.

• Computers are useful
plural machines.
countable
nouns Note that plural nouns take the
article the when they are used
in a particular sense.

• Where are the children?

(Which children? Our children)
 We do not use articles before
the names of countries,
people, continents, cities,
rivers and lakes.
Before
• India is a democratic
proper country.
nouns (NOT The India …)
• Paris is the capital of
France.
(NOT The Paris …)
Before school, • His dad is still
college, in hospital.
university,
• We learned English
church, bed,
at school.
hospital, prison
etc. • He is at university.
The is used before these
words when the reference is
to the building or object
rather than to the normal
activity that goes on there.

• I met her at the church. 

(Here the reference is to the
building and not to the
activity that is going on
there.)

• I went to the hospital to

see my friend.
 Let’s practice!

Fill in the gaps the, a or an:

There was ____ man and ____ woman. They were in ___ bar.
_____ woman ordered ____ drink and ____ hamburger.
______ man ordered _____ soda and _____ steak.
She asked for _____ bill.
She asked ______ man if he could pay _____ bill, since she
had no money with her.
He said: “Sure, but do you think ______ bar will accept
______check? I don't have ____credit card and any money.
 Let’s practice!

Fill in the gaps the, a or an:

There was a man and a woman. They were in a bar. The

woman ordered a drink and a hamburger. The man ordered a
soda and a steak.
She asked for the bill.
She asked the man if he could pay the bill, since she had no
money with her.
He said: “Sure, but do you think the bar will accept a check? I
don't have a credit card and any money.
 Let’s practice!
1) ______blue dress looks nicer than ______ black one.
2) I work at _____ weekends once _____ month.
3) Where's ______book I lent you last week?
4) Are you living in ____ same house?
5) Sara is _____ teacher and her husband is _____ actor.
6) I usually have lunch at ______ same restaurant.
7) _____ fish here doesn’t look fresh.
8) My mom likes _____ cake from _____ bakery near home.
9) Cris has _____ terrible headache.
10) ______ longest river in the world is _____ Nile.
 Let’s practice!
1) The blue dress looks nicer than the black one.
2) I work at the weekends once a month.
3) Where’s the book I lent you last week?
4) Are you living in the same house?
5) Sara is a teacher and her husband is an actor.
6) I usually have lunch at the same restaurant.
7) The fish here doesn’t look fresh.
8) My mom likes the cake from the bakery near home.
9) Cris has a terrible headache.
10) The longest river in the world is the Nile.