1	THE ARTICLES “a”, “an”, “the” BASIC USAGE EXAMPLES INTERNET LINKS
2	THE ARTICLES “a”, “an”, “the” INDEX of CONTENTS Uses of the article and examples Use “a” or “an” Use “a” Use “an” Do not use “a” or “an” Use “the” Do not use “the” Internet links Grammar theory of the articles Countable/Uncountable Nouns Exercises with “a”, “an” or nothing Exercises with “a”, “an”, “the” or nothing Use and exercises with “THE”
3	USES of the ARTICLE and EXAMPLES USE “a” or “an”: before a singular countable noun (a thing, a person that we can count). Example: “a friend”, “a car” referring to someone’s job. Example: “she is a lawyer” in expressions of measurement. Example: “three times a year”, “four pounds a week”
4	MORE EXAMPLES USE “a” or “an”
5	USES of the ARTICLE and EXAMPLES USE “a”: before consonants. before u in words like “university”, “union”. before h when h is pronounced: Example: “humour”, “house”, “hot” to talk about quantity with: “ a lot (of)” “a few” + plural countable nouns “a little” + uncountable nouns
6	MORE EXAMPLES USE “a”
7	USES of the ARTICLE and EXAMPLES USE “an”: before vowels. before u in words like “under”, “umbrella”. before h when h is not pronounced: Example: “hour”, “honour”
8	MORE EXAMPLES USE “an”
9	USES of the ARTICLE and EXAMPLES DO NOT USE “a” or “an”: (part I) before plural countable nouns. Example: “friends, cars” But you can use some: Example: “He usually buys some magazines every week”
10	USES of the ARTICLE and EXAMPLES DO NOT USE “a” or “an”:(part II) before uncountable nouns (things that we cannot count). Example: “water”, “salt” But you can use expressions like “ a piece of”, “a bottle/ glass of”, etc. A: “Would you like a cup of coffee?” B: “No, thank you. I never drink coffee. Could I have a glass of water instead?” And you can use some. Example: “I need some sugar for my tea”
11	MORE EXAMPLES DO NOT USE “a” or “an”
12	USES of the ARTICLE and EXAMPLES USE “the”: (part I) when it is clear which person or thing in particular we are referring to If you are talking about a room, you can refer to “the door/ floor/ carpet/ lamp…”. If you are talking about a house, you can refer to “the garden/ kitchen/ bathroom/ toilet…”. If you are talking about a town/ city/ village, you can refer to “the station/ centre/ bakery/ post office…”. If you are having breakfast/ lunch/ dinner, you can refer to “the salt/ sugar/ chicken/ bread/ milk/ wine…” Example: “Can you pass me the salt?”
13	USES of the ARTICLE and EXAMPLES USE “the”: (part II) with superlatives Example: “Tom is the best-looking boy in my class” Example: “I feel ill. Where is the nearest hospital?” with expressions like “the top/ the bottom/ the middle/ the beginning…” Example: “There is a house in the middle of the picture” Example: “I liked the beginning of the film but I didn’t like the end”
14	MORE EXAMPLES USE “the”
15	USES of the ARTICLE and EXAMPLES USE “the”: (part III) when there is only one: Example: “Which is the capital of Spain?” Example: “Who is the President of France?” Example: “Is the sun shining?” Example: “Is the moon visible tonight?” when you use “the rain”, “the country”, “the sea”, “the town” with a general meaning. Example: “I like swimming in the sea” Example: “I hate the rain” Example: “I prefer living in the country”
16	USES of the ARTICLE and EXAMPLES USE “the”: (part IV) before some proper nouns: hotels, restaurants, pubs, museums, theatres and cinemas Examples: “The Sheraton Hotel”, “The Tate Gallery” geographical names of oceans, seas and rivers Examples: “The Mediterranean (Sea)”, “The Atlantic (Ocean)”, “The (River) Thames” plural names of countries/ islands/ mountains (the + ... -s) Examples: “the Canary Islands”, “the Seychelles”, “the Netherlands”, “the Andes”, “the Apennines”
17	MORE EXAMPLES USE “the”
18	USES of the ARTICLE and EXAMPLES USE “the”: (part V) before some proper nouns: places for which we have to use the preposition of Examples: “The Bank of Scotland”, “the north of Denmark” when the name includes the words “republic/ states/ kingdom” Examples: “The United Kingdom”, “The United States”, “The French Republic”
19	USES of the ARTICLE and EXAMPLES USE “the”: (part VI) with expressions like: “Go to” or “be at” the cinema/the theatre “Listen to” or “be on” the radio “Play” + musical instrument Examples: “play the guitar/the piano/the drums” other examples: “What’s the time?” “It’s five o’clock” “I live on the second floor” “We don’t have the same friends” “Call the police” “Do you like the red sweater or the blue one?”
20	MORE EXAMPLES USE “the”
21	USES of the ARTICLE and EXAMPLES DO NOT USE “the”: (part I) for general ideas: with plural countable nouns when you talk about something in general. Example: “Children like having pets” Example: “Children don’t like exams” with uncountable nouns when you talk about something in general Example: “Money isn’t everything” Example: “I like modern music”
22	USES of the ARTICLE and EXAMPLES DO NOT USE “the”: (part II) before a lot of proper nouns, for example: names of people Example: “Peter”, “Mr. Smith” days and months Example: “Today is Monday” Example: “ I like August very much” languages Example: “I speak Spanish”
23	MORE EXAMPLES DO NOT USE “the”
24	USES of the ARTICLE and EXAMPLES DO NOT USE “the”: (part III) Before geographical names of: continents and most countries Example: “Africa”, “Europe”, “Spain”, “France” But “the United States of America” or “the United Kingdom” states and islands Example: “Sicily”, “Maryland” villages, towns and cities Example: “London”, “Cambridge”
25	USES of the ARTICLE and EXAMPLES DO NOT USE “the”: (part IV) Before geographical names of: streets, squares and many buildings Example: “Downing Street”, “Trafalgar Square” But “the Royal Palace” when the name of the place is followed by the words “airport/ station/ university/ castle/ zoo” Example: “London Zoo”, “Barajas airport”, “Victoria Station”, “Oxford University”
26	MORE EXAMPLES DO NOT USE “the”
27	USES of the ARTICLE and EXAMPLES DO NOT USE “the”: (part V) with some common expressions: “Be/stay at” home “Go/travel” by car/plane/bus/train “Go/travel” on foot (you are walking) “Have/eat” breakfast, lunch, dinner “Watch” or “be on” television/TV
28	USES of the ARTICLE and EXAMPLES DO NOT USE “the”: (part VI) with some common expressions: “Go to”, “start/leave” or “be at” school/college/university “Go to”, “start/finish” or “be at” work “Go, get, arrive, come, leave, walk, drive” home “Go to” or “be in” bed “Go to” or “be in” prison (you are a prisoner there) “Go to” or “be in” hospital (you are a patient there) “Go to” or “be at/in” church (you are praying)
29	MORE EXAMPLES DO NOT USE “the”
30	USES of the ARTICLE and EXAMPLES DO NOT USE “the”: (part VII) for games and sports Example: “I like watching basketball but I prefer playing football” for languages or school subjects, like “Maths, Physics, Geography, History…” Example: “English is an interesting language but my favourite subject is Chemistry”
31	Grammar theory of the articles INTERNET LINKS General theory about the use of the article: eslus.com english@home General theory about the article “a/an” and exercises for those students who need explanations in Spanish La Mansión del Inglés “a/an” General theory about the article “the” and exercises for those students who need explanations in Spanish La Mansión del Inglés “the”
32	Theory and exercises with countable/uncountable nouns INTERNET LINKS General theory about the use of countable or uncountable nouns EduFind.com Decide if a word is countable or uncountable a4esl.org Exercises about countable/uncountable nouns better-english.com Crossword with uncountable nouns englishlearner.com
33	Exercises with “a”, “an” or nothing INTERNET LINKS “A” or “an” eflnet.com a4esl.org 1 a4esl.org 2 better-english.com 1 english-zone.com “A”, “an” or nothing a4esl.org 3 a4esl.org 4 Using “a” with a job better-english.com 2 “A/an” in expressions of measurement better-english.com 3 Exercises with “a little”, “a few” a4esl.org 5 Grammar theory of “a little”, “a few” english-at-home.com
34	Exercises with “a”, “an”, “the” or nothing INTERNET LINKS “A/an” & “the” englisch-hilfen.de “A”, “an”, “the” or nothing a4esl.org 1 a4esl.org 2 a4esl.org 3 better-english.com La Mansión del Inglés “A”, “an”, “the”, “some” or nothing edu.ge.ch 1 edu.ge.ch 2 edu.ge.ch 3 “A”, “an”, “the” or nothing. A quiz about famous people
35	Use and exercises with “the” INTERNET LINKS Exercises using “the” better-english.com 1 Use of “the” or nothing. englishlearner.com better-english.com 2 Use of “the” with adjectives with no noun (“the Spanish”) better-english.com 3 “The” + adjective + “one” better-english.com 4 “The” + superlative adjective isabelperez.com