ARTICLES: A/AN, THE AND ZERO

ARTICLES: A/AN, THE AND ZERO

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USE THE INDEFINITE ARTICLE A/AN

• To talk about something or someone for the first time ex: A new plan is needed / I have a little dog / Susan has a big house

• In expressions of frequency ex: This entrance is used several times a day / Julie does exercise 3 times a week / I take Swimming lessons twice a month.

USE THE DEFINITE ARTICLE THE

• Before a collective group ex: He´s collecting money for the homeless.

• When something has already been mentioned, or is specific ex: I really like the car across the street / I have a little dog, the dog´s name is Fido / Susan has a big house, the house has 5 rooms

Geographical use of the

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There are some specific rules for using the with geographical nouns.

Do not use the before:

• names of most

countries/territories: Italy,Mexico, Bolivia; however, the Netherlands, the Dominican Republic, the Philippines, the United States

• names of cities, towns, or states:

Seoul, Manitoba, Miami

• names of streets: Washington

Blvd., Main St.

• names of lakes and bays: Lake Titicaca, Lake Erie except with a group of lakes like the Great Lakes

• names of mountains: Mount Everest, Mount Fuji except with ranges of mountains like the, Andes or the Rockies

• names of continents (Asia, Europe)

• names of islands (Easter Island,Maui, Key West) except with island chains like the Aleutians, the Hebrides, or the Canary Islands

Use the before:

• names of rivers, oceans and seas:

the Nile, the Pacific

• points on the globe:

the Equator, the North Pole

• geographical areas:

The Middle East, the West

• deserts, forests, gulfs, and

peninsulas:

The Sahara, the Persian Gulf, the Black Forest,

the Iberian Peninsula

Don´t use an article (-)

• Before uncountable and plural nouns in general ex: Street signs should be easy to read. / Diamonds are a girl´s best friend. / bananas are delicious.

• With most proper nouns and cities ex: Fifth avenue is in New York

Omission of Articles NO ARTICLE

Some common types of nouns that don't take an article are:

• Names of languages and nationalities:

Chinese, English, Spanish, Russian (unless you are referring to the

population of the nation: "The Spanish are known for their warm

hospitality.

• Names of academic subjects:

mathematics, biology, history, computer science

• Names of sports: football, hockey,

baseball

Multiple Choice

1.Robert and Jessica went to ____ party last night.

• the

• a

• no article

Multiple Choice

Can you tell me how to get to ____ cinema from here?

• a

• the

• no article

Multiple Choice

Gregory is one of ____ strangest people I know.

• a

• the

• no article

Multiple Choice

____ beer is not good for you.

• a

• the

• no article

Multiple Choice

____ apple a day keeps ____ doctor away.

• an / the

• no article / a

• a / a

Multiple Choice

Do you have ____ dictionary that I can borrow?

• a

• the

• no article

Multiple Choice

Pandas and ____ tigers are both endangered animals.

• a

• the

• no article

Multiple Choice

Bornholm is ___ island in___Baltic Sea.

• a/an

• an/the

• the/an

Multiple Choice

Christmas comes once ___ year.

• a

• the

• no article

Multiple Choice

Jane went to the shop to buy ____ bread.

• a

• the

• no article