ARTICLES

There are only three articles in English: a, an and the.

There are two types of articles indefinite 'a' and 'an' or definite 'the'. We also need to know when
not to use an article.

 Uses of `the';

1. `The' is called the definite article, and is the commonest determiner. We use `the' when the
person we are talking to knows which person or thing we mean. We can use `the' in front of
any noun, whether it is a singular count noun, an uncount noun, or a plural count noun.
She dropped the book.
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2. We use `the' with a noun when we are referring back to someone or something that has
already been mentioned.
I bought a pen and some paper, but I left the pen in the shop.
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3. We use `the' with a noun when we are referring to something of which there is only one in the
world. They all sat in the sun.
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 We also use `the' when we are referring to something of which there is only one in a particular
place. He decided to write some words on the whiteboard.
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4. We can use `the' with a singular count noun when we want to make a general statement about
all things of that type.
The whale is the largest mammal in the world
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5. We can use `the' with musical instruments when we talk about playing them or listening to
them. Gemunu plays the piano very well. (But note: I'd like to buy a piano.)
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6. We do not normally use `the' with proper nouns that are people's names. However, if we are
talking about a family, we can say `the Fernandos'.
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7. We use `the' with some titles, such as `the President of Sri Lanka', and with the names of some
organizations, buildings, newspapers, and works of art.
the registrar /the United Nations /the Taj Mahal /the Sunday Times /the Mona Lisa.
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8. We use `the' with adjectives such as `rich', `poor', `young', `old', and `unemployed' to talk
about a general group of people. We do not need a noun.
Only the rich could afford his firm's products.
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(When we use `the' with an adjective as the subject of a verb, we use a plural verb.)

9. We use `the' with superlatives.

He was the cleverest man I ever knew.
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10. We usually say the before the places we visit in a town: the cinema, theatre, disco, opera, post
office, bank; names of shops - baker's, grocer's, supermarket, chemist, butcher's; dentist('s),
doctor('s), hairdresser('s), toilet
 But we can sometimes use a before these words:
I'm going to the bank, but: Does she work in a bank?
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 Omission of ‘The’

 We do not use ‘the’ before proper nouns, before abstract nouns, used in a general sense.
Humans fear death. BUT The death of the prime minister left his party without a leader.
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 Before names of academic subjects, languages, sports, meals.
Sangakkara plays cricket and tennis.
English isn't too difficult to learn.
I usually have bread for breakfast.
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 Before plural nouns, used to refer to class of things.
I like bicycles.
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 When we use home and work.
I think she's at home now.
I usually go to work at 8.30.
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 When we use bed, church, temple, court, hospital, prison, school / college as the places
which are visited or used for their main purposes.

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 I go to temple on poyadays.
He doesn't like going to school.
She was very tired so she went to bed early.
Their father's in prison.
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 Use of `A' and `An'

1. We only use `a' or `an' with singular count nouns. `A' and `an' are called the indefinite article.
I got an email from Saman.
He was eating a banana.
We use `a' in front of a word that begins with a consonant sound even if the first letter is a vowel,
for example `a piece, a university, a European language'. We use `an' in front of a word that begins
with a vowel sound even if the first letter is a consonant, for example `an exercise, an idea, an
honest man, an MP’.

2. We use `a' or `an' when we are talking about a person or thing for the first time.
She picked up a book.
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 Note that the second time we refer to the same person or thing, we use `the'.
She picked up a book. The book was lying on the table.

3. We do not use `a' or `an' with uncount nouns or plural count nouns. We do not need to use a
determiner at all with plural count nouns, but we can use the determiners `any', `a few',
`many', `several', or `some'. I love dogs.
Do we have any dogs?
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practice

Practice 1; Write a, an, the, or no article to complete these sentences.

1 She's _______________journalist.
2 _______________moon moves slowly round _______________earth.
3 _______________sun is shining.
4 I'd like _______________cup of _______________coffee, please.
5 Have we got _______________double room?
6 He gave me a lighter and some cigarettes. But _______________lighter didn't work.
7 There were _______________doctor and _______________nurse in the room. _______________ nurse
was sleeping.
8 She took _______________sandwich and _______________piece of cake, but she didn't eat
_______________cake.
9 Yes, I work at this school. I'm _______________teacher.
10 A man and two women were sitting in the car. I think _______________man was Italian.
11 Did you see _______________Pope when he came to Sri Lanka?
12 He offered me _______________cigarette, but I refused.

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13 Did you send me _______________letter when we were in India?
14 They had six cats and _______________dog. They really liked _______________dog.
15 Have you got _______________pen, please?
16 She sent me _______________letter and _______________card, but _______________letter didn't
arrive.
17 I had _______________cup of tea and _______________egg bun, but _______________ tea was
terrible.
18 Have you met Sandya? She's _______________friend of mine.

Practice 2; Write the sentences, adding the where necessary.

1 Is he still in bed? ____________________________________________________________________________
2 Would you like to go to cinema tonight? ______________________________________________________
3 We visit him in prison about once a month. __________________________________________________
4 Can I go home now? _________________________________________________________________________
5 I usually go to bank once a week. ____________________________________________________________
6 Does she like it at university? ________________________________________________________________
7 School is almost falling down. _______________________________________________________________
8 I do all my shopping at supermarket. ________________________________________________________
9 What time do you finish work? _______________________________________________________________
10 I went to hairdresser last week but my hair looks terrible. ___________________________________
11 Bed in this room is too small for me. ________________________________________________________
12 I don't usually go to temple but my parents do. _____________________________________________
13 He goes to doctor regularly - he always thinks he's ill. _______________________________________
14 What are you going to study at college? _____________________________________________________
15 Poor Janaka! He hates being in hospital. ____________________________________________________

Practice 3;
a. Complete the conversation with a, an, the, or no article.

A: It’s _______________beautiful day today. I'd like to go to _______________ beach.

B: Yes, but _______________beach is always crowded. I'd like to stay at _______________home and
sit in ___________garden. We can have _______________lunch in _______________garden.
A: But we stayed at _______________home all day yesterday. I'd like to go out. I'm going back to
_______________work tomorrow and this is _______________last day of my holiday.
B: Well, we could go out tonight. There's _______________good film on at _______________cinema, or
we could go to __________theatre.
A: O.K. but _______________theatre's too expensive. It's about Rs.500 _______________seat.
B: That's true. We'll go to _______________cinema, then. Or we could stay here and watch
_______________television.
A: Oh no, that's boring. I want to go to _______________cinema.
B: And this afternoon?
A: We can stay here but I think I'll go to _______________town.
B: Can we do _______________shopping when we're in town?
A: Oh, all right.

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