ARTICLES (A, AN, THE AND ZERO

ARTICLE)
Articles are used to help us separate (or understand) new vs. old
information.
They help us understand specific vs. general information.
And they help us understand if you are talking about many vs.
all vs. one.
 ARTICLE ‘A & AN’ (INDEFINITE ARTICLES)
A/AN
Normally, if the noun is SINGULAR and COUNTABLE and this is the
FIRST TIME you have MENTIONED it, then you will usually need the
indefinite article:
1. The article A is used before singular, countable nouns which begin
with consonant sounds.
Ex: a bag, a student, a car, a bear (first mention)
2. Use A before words such as "European" or "university" which sound like
they start with a consonant even if the first letter is a vowel.
Also use A before letters and numbers which sound like they begin with a
consonant like O-N-E.
AN
1. The article AN is used before singular, countable nouns which
begin with vowel sounds.
Ex: an orange, an umbrella (first mention)
2. Use AN before words such as "hour" which sound like they start
with a vowel even if the first letter is a consonant.
A/AN
1. Remember that A (AN) means "one" or "a single".
You cannot use A (AN) with plural nouns.
a bags (X), a bag (√)
2. In English, some nouns are considered uncountable such as: information, air,
advice, salt and fun.
We do not use A (AN) with these uncountable nouns.
a salt (X), salt/the salt (√)
3. If there is an adjective or an adverb-adjective combination before the noun, A
(AN) should agree with the first sound in the adjective or the adverb-adjective
combination.
Ex: an excellent teacher, an old letter
a big house, a funny joke
4. When we say what people’s jobs are, we use a/an:

Ex: She is an architect.

I am an accountant.
John is a teacher.
 THE (DEFINITE ARTICLE)
Normally, if your reader or listener understands what you are referring to, then you will
usually need the definite article (the).
 singular and plural countable/uncountable nouns (if the nouns are repeated).
Ex: There’s a man (article “a” is used as the noun “man” is first mentioned) at the door,
but I don’t know who the man is.
 unique things (where there is only one): the world, the sun, the moon, the White
House, the Indian Ocean.
 superlatives: Blue whales are the largest animals in the world.
 groups of countries or countries which are plural: the United Kingdom, the European
Union, the United States of America, the Philippines.
 locations: in the middle, on the left/right, in the north/south/east/west.
 musical instruments: I play the saxophone.
words about the weather and climate: the wind, the rain
ordinal numbers: the first, the second, the third
Deserts (gurun): the Gobi, the Sahara
rivers: the Amazon, the Seine, the Ciliwung
mountain ranges: the Alps, the Himalayas
oceans and seas: the Pacific, the Mediterranean
periods of time, decades and history: the holidays, the weekend,
the sixties, the 18th century, the Enlightenment, He was born in
the 1920s.
titles: the President, the Revolutionary War
newspapers: The Pennsylvania Gazette, The Times, The Kompas
some common expressions: go to the theatre/bank/
cinema/gym/shops/city center
 ZERO ARTICLE (NO ARTICLE)
meals as part of a routine: breakfast/lunch/dinner are nouns.
We don’t put article before these nouns.
Ex: What do you have for breakfast?
play + sports/games: play tennis, play chess
by + transport: by car, by taxi, by train
possessive’s: Sally’s house, Franklin’s invention, my coffee, her
book
towns and cities: Paris, Boston, Jakarta
most countries: France, New Zealand, South Africa, Indonesia
continents: Asia, Africa, Europe, Antarctica
 lakes and mountains: Lake Geneva, Mount Everest
 days of the week, months and years: Monday, Tuesday, January, February,
1991, 2001
 languages: Italian, Japanese, Bahasa, English
 school subjects: Geography, History, Art, English
 magazines: Vogue, Hello!
 some common expressions: to/at/from school/ university/college/church/work;
to/in(to)/out of hospital/prison; on holiday
 to talk about things in general: I like cats. English people drink tea in the
afternoon.