Definite, indefinite and zero articles

Singular countable nouns

Plural countable nouns

Uncountable nouns

a - for nouns that begin with a consonant

an - for nouns that begin with a vowel

the

zero article

Rules for 'a/an'

Examples

To define something

Tennis is a sport.

Manchester is a city in England.

To describe someone or something

She's a lovely person.

He's an optimist.

It's a lovely day today.

To talk about jobs

He's a lawyer and his wife is an electrician.

When we mention something or someone for the first time

I have a dog and a cat.

There's an angry man in reception!

She has a new car.

When we mean one of many - it doesn't matter or we don't know which one

Can you open a window, please?

She works in an office.

Rules for 'the'

Examples

When we talk about something specific - we know which one(s)

What is the name of your company?

Here are the parts that you ordered.

The children are on holiday this week.

When we talk about something previously mentioned

We have a cat and a dog. The cat is very old but the dog loves playing with the children.

When there is only one

Paris is the capital city of France.

the sun

the Queen of England

Countries which are plural or which include the kind of country in the name - kingdom, republic etc.

the UK

the United States

the Netherlands

the Republic of Ireland

Plural names of places

the Alps

the Maldives

the Midlands

Regions and points on the globe

the Far East

the Mid-West [U.S.]

the North

the North Pole

Manchester is in the north-west of England.

Geographical features: oceans, seas, rivers, forests, gulfs, peninsulas and deserts

(but not lakes)

the Pacific

the Irish Sea

the Rhone

the Sahara

the Black Forest

the Gulf of Mexico

When talking generally about the population of some countries

The Spanish start work later and finish later than other Europeans.

The Japanese are often quiet during meetings. 

As an alternative to the plural when discussing facts relating to animals or objects generally

And, similarly, when talking about musical instruments

The elephant is found in Africa and Asia. [Elephants are...]

The CD was invented in 1965. [CDs were...]

Do you play the piano?

I love listening to the violin.

Buildings

the National Gallery

the Louvre

the Ritz Hotel

Some organisations and institutions

the police

the Army, the Navy, the Royal Air Force

the BBC

the Internet

Some expressions relating to position or time

on the top

in the middle

at the bottom

on the left/right

at the moment

in the end

at the beginning

at the weekend

in the morning/afternoon/evening

With 'same'    

It's the same as this one.

With some adjectives to refer to a group of people

the poor = poor people generally

the rich

the young

the homeless

Before superlative adjectives and adverbs

the biggest

the most beautiful

the least expensive

the best/worst

the most carefully

Before some adjectives, often in promotional literature

the necessary = what is necessary

Have a look at these recommendations and do the necessary.

Before some adjectives to make a noun [only in literary or poetic language or in certain expressions]

the deep = the sea

the blue = the sky

It was like a bolt from the blue = It came as a complete surprise to me.

Rules for zero article

Examples

Exceptions

All continents and most countries

Ø Japan is in Ø Asia and has more than 6,000 islands.

The north coast of Ø France faces the south coast of Ø England.

Names of countries which include republic, kingdom etc. or plurals:

the Czech Republic

the UK

the Philippines

the Netherlands

Islands

Ø Ibiza, Ø Corsica and Ø Sicily are all islands in the Mediterranean.

Names which include the word isle(s) or plurals:

the Channel Islands

the Isle of Wight

the Scilly Isles

Cities and towns

Ø Birmingham is the second largest city in England.

the Hague

Mountains & lakes

Ø Lake Gwynant is 3km from  Ø Mount Snowdon in North Wales.

When we don't include 'Mount':

the Matterhorn

the Jungfrau

Groups of lakes:

the Great Lakes

Names of streets

Ø Oxford Street in London has 548 shops.

the High Street

[Street signs usually show High Street but we always say the High Street.]

Names of shops

Ø Sainsbury's is England's oldest supermarket and Ø Tesco is the biggest.

A particular shop:

The Sainsbury's in the High Street is open on Sundays.

Languages

Swiss people speak Ø German, Ø French, Ø Italian or Ø Romansh.

Sometimes,  instead of 'English', (or any other language) we say:

The English language is spoken as a native or foreign language by about 900 million people.

The meaning is the same but this is more formal.

Places such as school, prison, hospital, church etc. when we think of them generally, not as specific buildings

Christians go to Ø church on Sundays.

My son's going to Ø university in September and my daughter left Ø college last year - she's at Ø work now.

He takes his children to Ø school every morning.

She's in Ø hospital. [staying as a patient for more than a day]

We took him to Ø hospital when he broke his leg.

He's in Ø prison. He went to Ø prison 5 years ago for murder.

'The church' means the Christian Church as an institution, not a place.

the synagogue, the temple, the mosque, etc.

Compare:

She works in a hospital. [It doesn't matter which one.]

I went to the hospital yesterday. [as a visitor - and we know which one.]

Names of stations, airports etc.

You can get a train to Ø Gatwick Airport from Ø Victoria Station.

Sport and education

I like playing Ø golf at the weekend.

She's studying Ø archaeology at Manchester University.

Generalisations -

uncountable and plural countable nouns only

I love Ø coffee but I don't like Ø tea.

He reads Ø magazines about Ø cars and Ø motorbikes.

Ø Happiness is more important than Ø money.

Compare:

I need a coffee but the coffee at work is horrible!

She loves Ø music but she doesn't like the music her son listens to.

Meals

In Spain, they have Ø lunch and Ø dinner much later than in England.

Compare:

We had a nice lunch yesterday.

The lunch at the convention was terrible!

Other expressions

I go to Ø bed at 11.00 & on Sundays I stay in Ø bed until 10.00.

I go to work by Ø bus or Ø train but never on Ø foot.

It's on Ø page 36.

They're on Ø holiday.

Compare:

The dog's in the bed again! [talking about a specific bed]

Before 'next' and 'last'

I went to Japan Ø last year. [last = previous]

I'll see her at the meeting Ø next month.

Louis Philippe was the last king of France. [last = final]

The last time I went to London, it rained every day! [last = the most recent]

I was there first and Jean was the next (person) to arrive.