The definite article: 'the'
The definite article the is the most frequent word in English.
We use the definite article in front of a noun when we believe the listener/reader
knows exactly what we are referring to:
because there is only one:
The Pope is visiting Russia.
The moon is very bright tonight.
Who is the president of France?
This is why we use the definite article with a superlative adjective:
He is the tallest boy in the class.
It is the oldest building in the town.
because there is only one in that context:
We live in a small house next to the church. (= the church in our village)
Dad, can I borrow the car? (= the car that belongs to our family)
When we stayed at my grandmother’s house, we went to the beach every day. (= the
beach near my grandmother’s house)
Look at the boy over there. (= the boy I am pointing at)
because we have already mentioned it:
A young man got a nasty shock when he tried to rob a jewellery shop in
Richmond. The man used a heavy hammer to smash the windows in the shop.
We also use the definite article:
to say something about all the things referred to by a noun:
The wolf is not really a dangerous animal. (= Wolves are not really dangerous
animals.)
The kangaroo is found only in Australia. (= Kangaroos are found only in Australia.)
The heart pumps blood around the body. (= Hearts pump blood around bodies.)
We use the definite article in this way to talk about musical instruments:
Joe plays the piano really well.
She is learning the guitar.
to refer to a system or service:
How long does it take on the train?
I heard it on the radio.
You should tell the police.
We can also use the definite article with adjectives like rich, poor, elderly and unemployed to
talk about groups of people:
Life can be very hard for the poor.
I think the rich should pay more taxes.
She works for a group to help the disabled.
Jobs
When we say what people's jobs are, we usually use a/an.
He's an architect.
She's a scientist.
My grandmother was a teacher.
Singular nouns
Singular, countable nouns always have an article – a/an or the (or another
determiner – my, your, this, that, etc.).
We use a/an – the indefinite article – when we talk about something for the
first time, or something that is part of a group or type.
I saw a good film yesterday.
Do you want a drink?
We use a when the word that follows it begins with a consonant sound. We
use an when it's followed by a vowel sound. This makes pronunciation easier.
She has a university degree.
It took me an hour to get home.
We use the – the definite article – when the listener already knows which thing
we are talking about because it was mentioned before or because there's only
one of them.
I'm going to take the dog for a walk.
Have you seen the car key?
They go to the school next to the bridge.
Things in general
When we talk about things in general, we normally use a plural or uncountable
noun with no article.
Birds eat worms.
Water freezes at 0°C.
Children need a lot of sleep.
Particular groups of things
When we talk about a particular group of things, we use the.
We went to the zoo and saw the kangaroos. (These are the particular
kangaroos in that zoo – not kangaroos in general.)
We use “the’:
only before person, place or thing:-the Pope, the President of India, the North
Pole, the earth, the sky.
before names of famous buildings:-the Red Fort, the Great Wall of China, The Taj
Mahal
before a singular noun that refers to a whole class or group of people or things the
middle class, the homeless, the Hindus, the Sikhs
before special names of rivers, seas, oceans, mountain ranges, groups of islands
the Nile, the Dead Sea, the Andaman and Nicobar islands, the Himalayas.
before names of holy books The Ramayana, The Gita
before names of newspapers and magazines The Tribune, The India Today
before superlative degree of adjectives the best, the greatest
before heavenly bodies the moon, the sun, the earth, the sky
before abbreviations the UK, the ICICI
before name of inventions Who invented the aeroplane?
The’ is not used
before proper nouns Sunday, Delhi, Volkswagan, Rita Tiwari
before abstract nouns Man is Mortal.
before names of meals I am very fond of eating Rice and Dal.
before names of parts of body and clothing Show me your fingers.
before name of languages English, Hindi, Chinese
before name of games I love to play football.
We use ‘a’:
when we mention something for the first time I saw a dog.
before a word which begins with a consonant There is a woman waiting for you.
before a word with a long sound of u a university, a uniform, a useful book, a
European, a unique.
before the word one because one sounds as if it begins with a W (wun) a one way
street, a one-eyed monster, a one-year course, a one-week holiday, etc.
The indefinite article a also means one. We can use ‘a’ or ‘one’ as follow:
He keeps a/one dozen snakes as pets.
I have told you a/one hundred times to leave me alone!
We use an
before a noun which begins with a vowel sound They say an apple a day keeps
the doctor away.
before a singular noun (person or thing) to mean only one in quantity She’s an
only child.
before a noun that is representative of a group, species, etc An ostrich has only
two toes on each foot.
before a noun that begins with a silent h an hour, an honest man, an heir, an
honour, an honourable man, etc.
before abbreviations, some of which begin with a consonant an MP, an SP, an X-
ray.
Omission of ‘A’ and ‘An’
A and An are not used with
before plural nouns dogs, chairs, trousers, pants
before abstract nouns gold, advice, patience, loyalty
before names of meals Brunch shall be served at 12.00 O’clock.
before proper names Mohit, Diwali, Cricket
In certain idiomatic expressions and special phrases by bus, on foot, in bed, at
dinner, go home, etc.
Exercise 1
Some of these sentences are right, but some of them need a/an. Put in a/an where
necessary. Write ok if the sentence is already correct.
1. I have not got watch.
2. Do you like cheese?
3. Reena never wears hat.
4. Are you looking for job?
5. Madhu does not eat meat.
6. She eats apple every day.
7. I am going to party tonight.
8. Music is wonderful thing.
9. Jamaica is island.
10. I don’t need key.
11. Everybody needs food.
12. I have good idea.
13. Can you drive car?
14. Do you want cup of coffee?
15. I don’t like coffee without milk.
16. Don’t go out without umbrella.
Exercise 2
Choose the correct definite or indefinite article: "the", "a", "an" or "x" (zero article) .
I bought pair of shoes.
I saw movie last night.
They are staying at hotel.
Look at woman over there! She is a famous actress.
I do not like basketball.
That is girl I told you about.
night is quiet. Let's take a walk!
price of gas keeps rising. John traveled to Mexico.
Juan is Spanish.
I read amazing story yesterday.
My brother doesn't eat chicken.
love is such
beautiful thing.
I live in
apartment.
apartment is new.
I would like
piece of cake.
I was in
Japanese restaurant.
restaurant served good food.
Sara can play
guitar.
