There are two types of articles:
The definite article (the) and the indefinite articles (a, an). We usually use the indefinite article first to mention some person or thing. By doing that, we don’t have to be clear about which particular person or thing we are referring to. When we refer to the same person or thing again, we use the definite article as ‘the’ is used to indicate the person or thing already mentioned. There are times when we don’t have to use any one of the articles. Such non-use of the article is given the name zero article, so we are using zero article when we are not using an article. Having a clear understanding of the different articles enables us to choose the right articles to use.
1. Definite article: the
The, ‘the’ definite article, is one of the most common, if not the most common, words in English. ‘The’ identifies a definite or particular noun that we know of because it has been mentioned. It is not about a noun that has not been mentioned beforehand or a noun that we are unaware of.
Example: He watched a movie. The movie was about the death of a ghost. (We are clear about which movie ‘the movie’ mentioned in the second sentence refers to.)
Example: I saw an old man with an eagle. The eagle was perching on his right shoulder.
Example: I received the letter. The letter is from the former classmate.
The first sentence has to use ‘a letter’ not ‘the letter’ as no one, except the receiver of the letter, knows which letter is referred to.
The second sentence correctly uses ‘the letter’ because we know ‘the letter’ is the same as ‘a letter’ mentioned in the first sentence.
However, we still don’t know which former classmate when it refers to ‘the former classmate’. This is not correct, so the sentence should be rewritten correctly as follow:
I received a letter. The letter is from a former classmate.
We use the:
- When there is only one such person, place or thing
The Pope, The President of the United States, The North Pole, The earth, The sky.
- Before names of famous buildings, etc.
The Eiffel Tower, The Great Wall of China.
- Before a singular noun that refers to a whole class or group of people or things
The middle class, The homeless, The Canadians, The Hindus.
- Before the special names of rivers, seas, oceans, mountain ranges, groups of islands.
The Nile, The Dead Sea, The Pacific Ocean, The Himalayas.
- Before certain organisations, political parties, and countries,
The United Nations, The Republican Party, The USSR, and The UAR.
- Before nouns such as places which we know of
We arrived early at the ferry terminal for our trip to the island.
We went to the cinema, after which we went to the stadium for a football match.
- Before abbreviations and initials of countries
The BBC (the British Broadcasting Corporation), the EEC (the European Economic Community).
The UAR, The UK, The USA and The USSR
2. Indefinite Article: a, an
The indefinite articles ‘a’ and ‘an’ are used to introduce something that has not been mentioned before. The indefinite articles are not used before a plural noun. We use ‘a’ before a word that begins with a consonant. We use ‘an’ before a word that begins with a vowel, or a word that begins with a consonant but has vowel sound (e.g. hour, honour, etc.)
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, etc.
It would be a unique opportunity to travel in space.
- 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.
I have a one-way ticket to travel from one place to another, as I don’t intend to visit a place twice.
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!
Sometimes, it is better to use ’a’ instead of one.
- She wiped up the vomit with a mop. / Better than: She wiped up the vomit with one mop.
- He had a bath before he went to bed. / Better than: He had one bath before he went to bed.
We can use ‘a’ before a proper noun.
- A Mr Brown called to ask when you are going to return the borrowed money.
- I still remember it was on a December morning when I drove through the fog into a tree.
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.
It is going to close in an hour’s time.
I can’t read your writing. Is this an h or what?
- Before abbreviations, some of which begin with a consonant
I have an X-ray of my lungs.
I saw an UFO hovering above my house.
He wanted to be an MP but was not elected to be one.
3. Zero Article
We use the term zero article when no article is used. Articles are not always necessary.
Zero article
He travels to work by train.
Not: He travels to work by a/the train.
She loves taking photos of caterpillars.
Not: She loves taking photos of the caterpillars.
No article:
- before names of materials
Gold is found in Australia.
Not: The gold is found in Australia.
- before abstract nouns used in a general sense
Money cannot buy happiness.
Not: Money cannot buy the happiness.
- before proper nouns
He is a fan of Michael Jackson.
Not: He is a fan of the Michael Jackson.
She gave birth to twins in June.
Not: She gave birth to twins in the June.
- before illnesses
She came down with measles and had to stay in bed.
Not: She came down with the measles and had to stay in bed.
- before th names of cities, states, countries, islands or mountains
India achieved independence in 1947.
Not: The India achieved independence in 1947.
Mount Everest is the world's highest mountain.
Not: The Mount Everest is the world's highest mountain.