Articles

Indefinite Article: A / An

We use the indefinite article a or an before singular countable nouns that are not specific in their meaning; when the listener doesn't know what or who specifically we mean. We use them, for example, when:

• we are referring to something that is not specific
  e. g. Have you packed an umbrella? It's going to rain.
  an umbrella = any umbrella, not a specific one
• we are mentioning something for the first time
  e. g. I walked through a park yesterday. I saw a man and a woman sitting on a bench.
a park, a man, a woman = the listener doesn't know which park, which man or which woman specifically
• we want to say "one"
  e. g. I'll be back in an hour.
  an hour = one hour
• we talk about somebody's job generally:
  e. g. Oh yeah, she's an engineer.

A, or an?

We use a before a consonant sound and an before a vowel sound because that way, the pronunciation is easier.
Watch out! This rule is not about the letter that the noun begins with in writing but about the sound that the noun begins with.

• we use a before consonant sounds:
  a book, a teacher, a computer, a dress
• we use an before a vowel sound:
  an orange, an animal, an electrician

First letter vs. first sound

Some words begin with a silent letter which means that the first letter is not pronounced. In that case, you have to realise which is the first sound that is pronounced, not written, for example:

• an hour (the h is silent, pronunciation starts with a vowel sound)
• an honest man (the h is silent, pronunciation starts with a vowel sound)

Other words start with a vowel in writing but when we pronounce them, they actually start with a consonant sound, usually /j/ or /w/:

• words that start with /j/ sound: a university, a user, a unicorn, a European city

Abbreviations and letters

With abbreviations, we listen to how the first letter is pronounced, we don't pay attention to the first letter that is written.

• an FBI agent (the letter "F" is pronounced "eff" – a vowel sound)
• an NHL player (the letter "N" is pronounced "en" – a vowel sound)

Adjectives change nothing

If an adjective comes before the noun, the article agrees with the sound of the adjective, not the noun.

• a good book
  But! an old book
• a small airport
  But! an interesting game

Quick reference
Consonant sound → a
Vowel sound → an (even after silent h, or before a vowel-sounding letter/adjective)

Definite or Zero Article?

In English, we often use no article (the zero article) when we talk about things in a general sense, activities, or fixed expressions. We use the when we mean something specific, known, or clearly identified.

When to use zero article

• For talking about general ideas, not about specific examples, for example:
  • Music can change people's emotions.
    = music in general
  • I don't drink coffee.
    = coffee as a general type of drink
• For talking about subjects, languages, sports, and activities when we mean them as areas of study or activities, for example:
  • She studies biology.
    = the subject
  • He plays tennis.
    = the sport
  • They speak Spanish.
    = the language
• For generally talking about time and meals; with days, months, holidays, next/last + time, and meals:
  • See you on Monday.
  • I'll call you next week.
  • We had breakfast at 8.
• For using fixed expressions, when we mean normal purposes or activities, for example:
  • go to school (as a student)
  • go to bed (to sleep)
  • go to work (to do your job)
  • travel by bus / go on foot

When to use the

• For talking about something specific or clearly identified, when the listener knows which person, thing, or place we mean, for example:
  • Close the door.
    = a specific door that we can identify
  • I left my keys on the table.
    = a particular table in this situation
• For talking about unique things, when there is only one (or one understood) in the situation, for example:
  • The sun is shining.
    = there is only one sun in our context
  • The sky is very clear today.
    = the sky above us
• For using certain special expressions, for example:
  • play the piano / play the guitar
  • listen to the radio
  • the same, the best, the biggest, the smallest
• For talking about specific places, directions, and positions, for example:
  • go to the cinema
    = a particular cinema
  • go to the doctor
    = a specific doctor or doctor's appointment
  • at the end of the street
  • on the left

Quick reference

• No article → general ideas, activities, subjects, languages, sports, meals, time expressions, and some fixed phrases.
• The → specific, known, unique, or clearly identified things.
• Compare:
  I go to school. = I am a student.
  I go to the school. = I go to the building for a specific reason.

Articles with Names of People, Buildings and Places

Most names of people, buildings, streets, parks, and similar places use no article. However, some names use the because it is part of their official name or because the name contains a common noun.

Zero article

We usually use no article when the name itself identifies a specific person or place.

• With people's names and titles + names:
  Mr Johnson, Doctor Smith, Uncle Tom
• With streets, roads, squares, parks, and avenues:
  Oxford Street, Times Square, Hyde Park, Fifth Avenue
• With places where the first word is already a name (person or place):
  Cambridge University, Victoria Station, London Zoo

The

We use the with some buildings, organisations, and other names when it is part of the official name.

• With many hotels, museums, theatres, cinemas, galleries, restaurants, and famous buildings:
  the Hilton, the British Museum, the National Theatre, the White House
• With names containing of:
  the Tower of London
  the Bank of England
• With newspapers and many organisations:
  the Times, the Sun, the European Union
• With family names when we mean the whole family:
  the Browns

Important exceptions

• Some buildings use no article:
  Buckingham Palace
• Some universities have two official forms:
  Cambridge University
  the University of Cambridge

Quick reference

• No article → people's names and titles, streets, parks, squares, and places whose first word is already a name.
  Mr Johnson, Hyde Park, Oxford Street, Cambridge University
• The → many hotels, museums, theatres, newspapers, organisations, famous buildings, names with of, and family names.
  the British Museum, the Tower of London, the European Union, the Browns
• Remember: Some official names are exceptions, for example Buckingham Palace (no article) but the White House.

Articles – Summary

English has three article choices: a/an (indefinite article), the (definite article), and no article (zero article). The choice depends on whether we mean something non-specific, specific, or general.

A / an – one non-specific thing

We use a/an with singular countable nouns when we talk about one thing that is not specific or not known to the listener.

• For something mentioned for the first time:
  I saw a dog in the garden.
• When it means one:
  I'd like a coffee, please.
• When we say what somebody or something is (job, type, category):
  She is a teacher.
  It's an insect.
• With expressions meaning per:
  twice a week, 60 km an hour

A/an is not used with plural nouns or uncountable nouns.

The – specific or clearly identified

We use the when we mean a particular person, thing, or place that the listener can identify, or when there is only one in the situation.

• When something was mentioned before:
  I bought a book. The book was interesting.
• When the situation makes it clear:
  Close the door.
  = a specific door we can identify
• For unique things:
  The sun is shining.
• For specific places or buildings:
  I went to the hospital to visit my friend.
• For special expressions:
  play the piano, listen to the radio, the same, the best
• With the + adjective for groups of people:
  the rich, the poor, the unemployed

Zero article – general meaning and fixed expressions

We use no article when we talk about things in a general sense, activities, subjects, languages, time expressions, meals, or normal purposes.

• For general ideas:
  Music can change people's emotions.
  = music in general
• For subjects, languages, sports, and activities:
  She studies biology.
  He plays tennis.
  They speak Spanish.
• For days, months, holidays, next/last + time, and meals:
  See you on Monday.
  I'll call you next week.
  We had breakfast at 8.
• For fixed expressions with the normal purpose of a place or activity:
  go to school (= as a student)
  go to bed (= to sleep)
  go to work (= to do your job)
  travel by bus / go on foot
• For many names of places:
  London, France, Europe, Mount Everest, Lake Superior

Names: zero article or the

Many names use no article because the name already identifies the place. We use the when the name describes a group, a geographical feature, or contains a common noun.

• Zero article:
  London, Prague, Oxford Street, Cambridge University, Mount Everest
• The:
  the Atlantic, the Alps, the Canary Islands, the United States, the British Museum

Quick reference

• a/an → one non-specific singular countable thing
• the → a specific, known, unique, or clearly identified thing
• zero article → general ideas, activities, subjects, languages, meals, time expressions, fixed phrases, and many names
• Compare:
  I go to school. = I am a student.
  I go to the school. = I go to the building for a specific reason.