This content has been automatically translated from Ukrainian.
Articles in English are service words used before nouns to clarify their meaning. There are two main types of articles: the definite article (definite) the and the indefinite article (indefinite) a/an.
Indefinite Article a/an is used before a singular countable noun to indicate belonging to a certain class of objects with verbs to have, to see, to be, etc., with the phrase there is in the nominative part of the predicate, when there is a definition and without it - There is a tree near our house. Can I have an apple? I have got a son and a daughter. I saw a beautiful flower. My father is a driver.
- The article a is used before nouns that begin with a consonant, and the article an is used before nouns that begin with a vowel - a book, an umbrella, an old man.
- In exclamatory sentences after what - What a fine building. What a wonderful view!
- In phrases “adjective + noun,” if the noun is used in the singular - This is a funny puppy. I have a red cat.
- In phrases in a day, in a week, in a month, in a year meaning “in,” once (twice/three times…) a day (week/month/year), this is a, there is a, that is a - You should take this mixture twice a day. See you in a week! This is a house.
- In structures “such a/an + adjective + singular countable noun”- It is such a sunny day.
Definite Article the is used with singular countable nouns if they are mentioned for the first time - They have a car. The car is new:
- With plural countable nouns and with uncountable specific nouns in the plural - The books are on the shelf. The milk is in the fridge.
- With ordinal numbers - The first story was funny. My grandmother lives on the third floor.
- With the superlative degree - This is the older man in our village. These seats are the most comfortable in the cinema.
- With names of musical instruments -He plays the violin, but he doesn't play the piano.
- With the words country (side), seaside, cinema, theater, shop, market, beach, police - My husband will spend the holidays at the seaside.
- With names of parts of the world the south, the east, the west, the north.
- In phrases in the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening (but at night), in the middle, in the corner, to the right, to the left - He left his home early in the morning. There is a table in the middle of the room.
- With names of nationalities and surnames in the plural meaning “family” The Jacksons went to the country. The Swedish prefer fish to meat.
- With names of countries in the plural and those that include the words State, Republic, Kingdom - the United States of America, the United Kingdom.
- With nouns that name unique things - The sun is shining and the weather is fine.
- With titles, if the names of their bearers are not mentioned the President, the Queen.
- With names of rivers (the Dnipro), seas (the Irish Sea), oceans (the Atlantic Ocean), deserts (the Sahara Desert), groups of islands (the Bahamas), mountain ranges (the Carpathians).
- With names of cinemas (the Odeon), theaters (the Globe), hotels (the Hilton Hotel), museums (the British Museum), newspapers (the Telegraph), liners (the Queen Mary).
Articles a/an are not used in the following cases:
- With cardinal numbers - He has got a cat and two kittens.
- If a possessive or demonstrative pronoun stands before the noun - That disc is new. These are his toy.
- If a noun in the possessive case or the negative part no stands before the noun - This is my mother`s hat. These is no park near our house.
- With names of sports, substances, colors - The dress is blue. Children like chocolate. They like to play football.
- With names of days of the week and months - Her birthday is in December. Max has football training on Monday and Wednesday.
- With the words breakfast, lunch, dinner, supper, school, home, work, bed - We have dinner at two o'clock. My parents come home in the evening.
- With plural nouns - She bought many flowers.
- With uncountable nouns that name beings, objects, or substances as a type or class - Dairy products are made of milk.
The article the is not used in the following cases:
- With names and surnames of people - Peter Davis is my classmate.
- With names of languages - She speaks French and Italian quite well.
- With names of countries (Ukraine, Greece), settlements (Berlin, Kyiv), streets (Baker Street), parks (Hyde Park).
- With titles that are used with the names or surnames of their bearers: Queen Elizabeth, King Henry VIII, President Kennedy.
- With names of lakes (Lake Huron), single islands (Sri Lanka), mountain peaks (Everest), continents (Africa).
- With names of universities (Cambridge University), schools (Cedar Grove School), palaces (Buckingham Palace), castles (Holyrood Castle), cathedrals (St Paul`s Cathedral), stations (Paddington Station), airports (Heathrow Airport).
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