The definite article is plural. Definite article

Definite article - Definite article

Definite article indicates some specific, definite object that has already been mentioned, is known from the context, or is the only one of its kind in general.

The definite article in English has the form the, which is read [ði] before words beginning with a consonant sound and [ð?] - from a vowel.

The definite article is used with singular and plural nouns:

There are two articles in English: the definite the and the indefinite a. You can also distinguish one more type of article: the so-called “zero” (Zero Article), i.e. absence of article. An article is a service word, a sign of a noun. By itself, it has no meaning, and the emphasis never falls on it.

The indefinite article The Indefinite Article а (аn)

Derived from the numeral one.
Used only with countable nouns in the singular.
An object is called in a general sense, not a specific one (one of, some, some): a house - a house, a book - a book, a tree - a tree, a dog - a dog, a man - a man, a man, a ship - ship, vessel, a bag - bag, package, a pencil - pencil, a bird - bird, a lake - lake.

Note: if the word (this can be an adjective, not necessarily a noun) following the indefinite article begins with a vowel sound, then it is added to the article: an apple - an apple, an airport - an airport, an octopus - an octopus, an orange - orange, an onion - onion, an ice-cream - ice cream, an interesting book - an interesting book, an easy test - an easy test, etc.

Use of the indefinite article

The indefinite article is used in the following cases:
1. The object stands out as a representative of the class: It’s a tree. - This is a tree, (not a train - not a train, not a baby - not a child)

2. Names of professions, occupations (in units):
a doctor is a doctor, a doctor, an engineer is an engineer, a policeman is a policeman, a driver is a driver, a seaman is a sailor, an accountant is an accountant, a student is a student, a painter is an artist, a builder is a builder.

3. This means any, every representative of a given class of objects or persons:
A child can do it. - A child can do this. (Any, any child);
A square has four sides. - A square (any square) has 4 sides.

4. We report about an object or person for the first time (some, one, some):
I saw a boy near their house. - I saw a boy near their house;
A man called you while you were absent - While you were away, a man called.

5. In some cases, the article has the meaning “one” and (n) = 1
I'll be back an hour. - I'll be back in an hour.
Didn't say a word. - He didn’t say a word (not a single word).

6. In emotional terms: What the...! Which…! What(a)..

Nouns are uncountable or plural. are not used with the indefinite article.
What a beautiful ring! - What a beautiful ring!
What a day! - What a day! (admiration and indignation)
What a pretty little boy! - What a lovely baby!

But: What fine weather! (uncountable noun) - What beautiful weather!
What luck! - What luck!
What bad luck! - What bad luck! (uncountable noun)
But: What a piti! - What a pity! What a shame!
What cold water! (uncountable noun) - What cold water!
What beautiful clouds! (plural) - What beautiful clouds!

such a... - such quite a... - quite (singular)
She’s such a clever woman! - She is such a smart woman!
She’s quite a young girl - She’s quite young!
Ho: These are such interesting films! (plural) - These are such interesting films!
Have you ever seen such weather?! (uncountable noun) Have you ever seen weather like this?!

The Definite Article the

Derived from the demonstrative pronoun that.
Used with countable nouns in the singular. n plural and with uncountable nouns.
Indicates a specific object/person, distinguishing it from all objects or persons of this class.

The definite article is used in the following cases:
1. The object/person is known to the interlocutor, mentioned earlier: When I entered the room I saw a man standing at the window. The man was very tall. - When I entered the room, I saw a man standing at the window. The man was very tall.

2. A specific statement that is clear from the context.
Please close the window. - Close the window, please (this means exactly the window that is currently open. Or there is only one window in the room, there are no other windows there).
Where is the key? - Where is the key?
The interlocutors know which key we are talking about.
Give me the suitcase, please. -Give me the suitcase, please. If it means “yours, yours,” then instead of the definite article it is better to use the corresponding possessive pronoun: Don’t put the keys into your pocket. - Don't put your keys in (your) pocket.

3. An object/person, one of a kind or in a given setting, situation:
the sun - the sun,
the Moon - the moon,
the Earth - Earth,
the sky - the sky,
the Hermitage - Hermitage,
the Kremlin - the Kremlin,
the South Pole - South Pole,
the beginning - the beginning,
the end - the end,
the top - top, upper part,
the bottom - lower part, bottom, bottom,
the President of Russia - President of Russia,
the King of France - the king of France.
Ho: President Bush (the word President combined with the first and last name),
Queen Elizabeth - Queen Elizabeth

4. Nations, belonging to a country (in a collective sense): the Americans - Americans, the Japanese - Japanese, the Russians - Russians, the French - French, the Greeks - Greeks, the Swedes - Swedes, the Poles - Poles, the Dutch - Dutch, the Danes - Danes.

5. We are talking about all objects or persons of this class:
Give a list of the students (all the students). - Give me a list of students (all).

6. With a general meaning: a whole class, breed (singular): The poplar doesn’t grow here. - Poplar doesn't grow here.

7. Before adjectives and participles that have become plural nouns: The poor in this town live in awful conditions. - The poor in this city live in terrible conditions;
The wounded were taken to the hospital at once. - The wounded were immediately taken to the hospital.

8. After the pronouns all and both (if there is no possessive or demonstrative pronoun): all the students - all students, both the letters - both letters.

9. The names of the cardinal directions are always used with the definite article: (where?)
in the north - in the north,
in the south - in the south,
in the west - in the west,
in the east - in the east,
in the Far East - in the Far East,
in the south-east - in the southeast;
(where?) to the north - to the north; to the south - to the south.

10. If the noun has a definition (clarification):
Here’s the man who called you yesterday. - This is the person who called you yesterday.

11. With words (definitions):
same - the same,
next, following - next,
last - last, last,
very - the same one
only - the only one:
the same story - the same story (history),
the following week - next week,
the next day (year, month) - the next day, year, month.

But: Next Sunday we are going to the theater. - Next Sunday we are going to the theater (when?).
the following task - the next task,
in the last carriage - in the last carriage,
on the last page - on the last page.

This exercise is on the last page. - This exercise is on the last page.
But: Not graduated from the University last year. - He graduated from university last year, (when?)
You are the very person I need. - You are the very person I need;
Was not the only child in the family. - He was the only child in the family.

!! The words last and next, as well as the word this to indicate time (when?) used without an article(and without a preposition, not like in Russian):
last week - last week,
next week - next week,
last Sunday - last Sunday,
next Friday - next Friday,
last year - last year,
next year - next year,
last month - last month,
next month - next month,
last time - last time,
next summer - next summer,
this Tuesday - on this Tuesday,
this week - this week,
this year - this year,
this time - this time.

12. The definite article is used before adjectives in the superlative degree of comparison or ordinal numbers: Not is the best student in our group. - He is the best student in our group;
The highest mountains are in Asia. - The highest mountains are located in Asia;
Their office is on the second floor. - Their office is on the second floor.

Zero article (no article) Zero Article
Let's look at cases where there is no article.

1. If before the noun there is a possessive or demonstrative pronoun, another noun in the possessive case, a cardinal number or the negation no (not to be confused with the negative particle not!), or the pronouns some, any, every:
We didn't like that car. - We didn't like that car;
Do you happen to know her brother’s friend? - Do you happen to know her brother's friend?
I’d like to buy one bottle of wine and two or three lemons. - I would like to buy a bottle of wine and 2-3 lemons;
Didn't have money to give them a call - He didn't have money to call them;
I don't care what some people say. - I don't care what some people say.

2. Before applying: What are you drawing, children? - What are you drawing, children?
Morning, Captain. -Good morning, captain.

3. Material nouns are used without an article when talking about a substance or material in the general sense: Water is necessary for people. - People need water; Milk is very useful for children. - Milk is very useful for children.

4. Abstract nouns in the general sense, as well as names of sciences and subjects studied (if they do not have definitions):
Compare: I like music. - I love music. (Not any specific one, but in general.)
I like the music.- I like the music (that is playing at the moment or that we are talking about).

5. Position, title as a title and in combination with first name/surname: Professor Petrov-Professor Petrov, Dr. Brown - Doctor Brown, Colonel Jones - Colonel Jones, Captain Smith - Captain Smith.
But if the position or title is used as a subject or object, then the definite article is used: The dean of our faculty. -Dean of our faculty (subject).

6. Anyone, any representative of the class (plural): Boys like to play football. - Boys love to play football; Lions as well as tigers are dangerous animals. - Lions, like tigers, are dangerous animals.

7. The article is absent in a number of combinations, which include:
at night
at dinner (breakfast, supper)
at home
at school at school (in class)
at work at work
at sunset
at first sight
at peace in the world
at table at the table (i.e. at lunch, breakfast, dinner)
at war
by tram (train, boat, bus, etc.) by tram (train, boat, bus, etc.)
by air
by water by water
by sea
by land by land
by day
by post (air mail)
by heart by heart
by chance
by mistake
by name
in time on time
in debt
in demand
in sight
in fact
in conclusion
on board a ship
on deck
on demand on demand
on credit
on sale
day after day day after day
day and night
to be in town (meaning: not away, not out of town)
to be in bed
to go to bed
to go to school
to go to town (meaning: to go to the nearest town from the surrounding area)
from morning to (till) night
from day to day
from shop to shop
from time to time from time to time
from head to foot

The article is also not used in many combinations before a noun that is an addition to a verb and expresses a single concept with it:
to have dinner (breakfast, lunch, supper)
to take part;
to take place happen;
to take care;
to shake hands;
to drop (cast) anchor;
to lose sight;
to declare war;
to pass judgment, make a court decision, etc.

Using articles with proper names

1. First names and surnames separately and in combination with position, title are used without an article: John Smith, Paul Brown, Professor Petrov, Colonel Perry, Dr. Davidson, Earl Gray (Earl Gray), Mr. White, Mrs. Adams, Ms. Marple, etc.

2. Surnames in the plural are used with the definite article. in a collective sense, i.e. when the family is meant as a single whole: the Petrovs, the Orlovs, the Belovs, the Brown family, the Adams family: the Petrovs, the Orlovs, the Belovs, the Browns, the Adams.

3. Family members - no article: father, mother, grandpa, sister, Uncle Paul, Aunt Emily.

4. The names of hotels are used with the definite article if the word Hotel is not present: the “Metropol”, the “Savoy”,
Ho: Nadezhda Hotel

5. With deserts and plains it’s the other way around: if after the name there is the word Desert - desert, then the definite article is placed before the name: the Sahara Desert.
But: Sahara.

6. The names of streets, squares, and parks are used without an article:
They are not far from Red Square. - They are located near Red Square.
We live on (in) Green Street. - We live on Green Street.
Broadway is the most famous and the longest street in New York. - Broadway is the most famous and longest street in New York.
They agreed to meet near Hyde Park. - They agreed to meet near Hyde Park.
Exceptions: the Bowery - Bowery street (in New York), the Srand - Strand street (in London).

7. The names of English and American newspapers and magazines are used with the definite article: “The Daily Telegraph”, “The Daily Mirror”, “The Times”.

8. The names of ships are also used with the definite article: The “Northern Star”, The “Titanic”.

9. The names of cities are used without an article: the city of Moscow - Moscow / or the city of Moscow.
Exception: the Hague - the city of The Hague (in Holland).

10. Country names are mostly used without an article: Germany, France, Sweden, Norway, Spain, Russia, Great Britain.
But The names of the following countries are used with the definite article: the Netherlands - the Netherlands (But: Holland - Holland), the Ukraine - Ukraine, the Congo - Congo, the Sudan - Sudan, and regions such as Crimea. - the Crimea, Caucasus - the Caucasus and Transvaal - the Transvaal (province in South Africa).

And also countries whose names contain the words united, united, union, commonwealth, federation:
The United States of America = the USA = the US - United States of America;
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland - the UK - United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland;
The Russian Federation - Russian Federation (But: Russia - Russia).

11. Mountains. The names of individual mountain peaks “do not like” the article and are never placed next to it: Everest, Mt. Mont Blanc - Mount Mont Blanc, Mt Mc.Kinley, Elbrus.
Note: Mt=mount from the word mountain - mountain.
And the names of mountain ranges and mountain ranges are used with the definite article: the Alps - the Alps, the Alpine Mountains, the Urals, the Caucasus.

12. Same thing with the islands. The names of individual islands are used without the article: Cuba - the island of Cuba, Java - the island of Java, Cyprus - the island of Cyprus, and the names of the archipelagos - with the definite article: the British Isles - the British Isles (Great Britain is located on these islands), the Philippines - Philippine Islands, Philippines.

13. The names of the continents are used without the article: Europe - Europe, Asia - Asia, Africa - Africa, Australia - Australia, North America - North America, South America - South America, Arctic (Arctic Region) - Arctic.
Exception: the Antarctic - Antarctica.

14. All “geographic water” (oceans, seas, rivers, lakes, canals, bays, straits, waterfalls, depressions, currents) is used with the definite article:
the Niagara Falls - Niagara Falls,
the Bering Strait - Bering Strait,
the Persian Gulf,
the Baltic (Sea) - Baltic Sea,
the Pacific (Ocean) - Pacific Ocean,
the Black Sea - Black Sea,
the Atlantic (Ocean) - Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic,
the Arctic (Ocean) - Arctic Ocean,
the Volga - Volga River,
the Thames - River Thames,
the Hudson - Hudson,
the Baikal - Lake Baikal.

The names of rivers and lakes can be preceded by either a definite article or the word river or lake, but not all together: The Neva, the Neva River, River Neva;
The Baikal, the Baikal Lake, Lake Baikal

In this article we will touch on the topic "Articles"- one of the most “unloved” topics of our students.

Many admit that, although they have gone through this topic many times, they continue to put articles at random and cannot systematize their knowledge in any way. The article THE is particularly difficult. Perhaps you have this problem too.

In preparing this article, we asked our students and subscribers to formulate questions related to the use of the article THE, which they find it difficult to answer on their own. I would like to note that the questions were very similar, so we have summarized them. And here are the questions that interest students:

• Which article should I choose: A or THE?
• How to determine whether the article THE is needed with plural and uncountable nouns?

If you are also not completely confident in the depth of your knowledge about the use of the definite article THE and your previous experience of studying “from a textbook” turned out to be useless, then this material will help you systematize your existing knowledge and, perhaps, learn something new.

Which article should I choose, A or THE?

Let's remember a little from the theory. A(an)- this, he points to an indefinite object, and emphasizes that there is only one object. THE- definite article (definite article), it is used when something is mentioned that is already known to the speakers.

Let's look at an example:

My father bought me a dog.
- Great! What color is the dog?
- The dog is black. And my mother bought me a book.

The first sentence uses article A, since the dog is mentioned for the first time and the interlocutor still knows nothing about it. Further used article THE, since it became clear to both speakers what kind of dog they were talking about. In the last sentence the word book also used with the indefinite article, since it is mentioned for the first time, the interlocutor has not yet determined what kind of book it is.

A few more examples:

Yesterday I got a letter. The letter was from my friend. - Yesterday I received a letter. The letter was from my friend.

I am reading a newspaper. I bought the newspaper from the newsagent. - I'm reading a newspaper. I bought a newspaper from a periodical dealer.

Remember the rule: If you have a singular countable noun in front of you, then use A if this item is mentioned for the first time or it is indefinite, unimportant. THE is used if the subject has already been mentioned before and is known to the interlocutors.

Sometimes, despite the fact that something is mentioned for the first time, we can understand from the context what is being said: when additional information about the subject is given, an explanation, or when it is clear from the situation itself. Let's look at examples with explanations:

I was at a party yesterday. - I was at a party yesterday.
(Referring to some kind of party that we don’t know anything about yet)

I was at theparty organized by my friend. - I was at a party organized by my friend.
(We understand what kind of party we are talking about)

He saw a woman in the corridor. - He saw (some) woman in the corridor.
(No additional information is given about the woman)

He saw the woman who lived next door to him. - He saw a woman who lived next door.
(We understand what kind of woman this is)

He entered a door. - He came through the door.
(He entered one of the doors, we do not know which one).

He entered the door nearest to the stairs. - He entered the door closest to the stairs.
(Specify which door exactly)

In what cases is the article THE always used?

Remember a number of cases in which the article THE is always used:

• when something is mentioned that exists in one copy, something unique of its kind: the sun, the moon, the world, the earth, the capital, the ground, the environment, the universe
• with names of groups of people expressed by adjectives: the elderly, the young, the old, the rich, the poor, the unemployed, the disabled and others
• with names that end in -ese And -sh (-ch): the British, the Scottish, the Spanish, the Chinese, the Japanese. With other nationalities, the article THE may not be used: (the) Russians, (the) Americans
• in combinations related to space: the end, the beginning, the middle, the center
• in combinations related to time: in the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening; the next, the last, the present, the future, the past
• with names of titles and positions: the King, the president, the Prime Minister, the Queen
• with and superlative adverbs: the best, the worst, the fastest, the most interesting, the most beautiful
• s, including dates: the first (of May), the third (of November), the twentieth, the thirty-first
• in combinations like: THE something OF: the legs of the table, the topic of our lesson
• with names of musical instruments: the guitar, the piano, the cello
• with the word same: the same
• in many set phrases and idiomatic expressions.

When is THE used with place nouns?

Nouns denoting various places (not to be confused with place names!) can be used with or without the article THE. The use of the article directly depends on the context in which the noun is mentioned.

Let's look at an example. If someone is sick, he is in the hospital:

He is at hospital.

When we say this, we do not mean a specific hospital, but we are talking about the hospital in general, as an institution where patients are treated.

If a friend of our patient decided to visit him and came to the hospital, then about him we need to say:

He is at the hospital.

He is not sick and should not be in the hospital (in the general sense of the word), he came to a certain hospital (the one where his friend is lying), which is why the article THE appears.

Another example:

My little sister goes to school. Today it is a school concert so all our family will go to the school.

Children generally go to school to learn, so when talking about students, the article is not used. Other family members are not students. They will go to a certain school where their child studies to watch a concert, respectively, before the word school Let's put an article.

The same miracles happen with the words prison, church, university.

Remember the rule: if you mean some place All in all(its intended purpose is emphasized), article THE not used. When it means specific establishment or building, article THE used.

As for other nouns denoting places, THE is most often used with them: the beach, the station, the coast, the seaside, the city, the countryside.

With cinema and theater, the article THE is used even when the speaker does not mean a specific place:

We go to the cinema every weekend.
They have never been to the theater.

Why is the article used with these words? The explanation is that when we use them, it is clear from the context what we mean, and the interlocutor understands what we are talking about. Let's look at examples of situations where it is clear from the situation itself which place we are talking about:

1. When, being in a room or apartment, we talk about its parts:

Switch on the light! - Turn on the light! (In this room, in the room where you are)

I closed the door and opened the window. - I closed the door and opened the window. (In the room where I was at that moment, in my room)

The floor was clean. - The floor was clean. (The floor in the room I was in.)

2. When we talk about city buildings, if it is clear which city we are talking about:

Where is the railway station? - Where is the station? (The station of this city. If there are several stations in the city, you will have to clarify which one you need. If you are located near the station, then the interlocutor will understand that you are asking about the nearest station)

The city hall is very old. - The city hall building is very old. (There is only one city hall in the city, so your interlocutor will understand what we are talking about)

The market was crowded in the morning. - The market was crowded in the morning. (The market of this city; the nearest market; the market where the speaker goes)

3. When mentioning organizations that provide services, if it is clear from the context what exactly the speaker means:

I need to go to the bank tomorrow. - I need to go to the bank tomorrow. (The bank where I have an account; the nearest bank; the bank whose services I use)

Tom went to the post office to send a letter. - Tom went to the post office to send a letter. (This refers to the nearest post office; the only one in a given city)

You should go to the doctor. - You should go to the doctor. (To your doctor)

She is seeing the dentist on Friday. She is going to see the dentist on Friday. (To your dentist).

Be careful, in some situations, of course, article A can be used. Most often, when a speaker means: “any”, “one of many”, “no matter which”, “any”:

How to determine whether the article THE is needed with uncountable nouns and plural nouns?

Don't forget about our communities in

English nouns, which in the singular are used with the definite article, retain it in the plural:

He didn't like the present I bought. He liked the gift I bought. He didn't like the presents I bought. He liked the gifts I bought.

The definite article is also used with plural nouns if all representatives of this group are meant:

The city-dwellers often suffer air pollution. City residents (all city residents) often suffer from air pollution. This candidate is not very popular among city-dwellers. This candidate is not very popular among urban residents (not all, but only some).

In addition, the definite article can be used with combinations of nouns and cardinal numbers if they are already known to the reader:

Steven and Mark dislike each other, the two have a fight almost every day. Steven and Mark don't like each other, and the two fight almost every day.

Definite article with proper names

The definite article is used with the following proper names:

Astronomical names: the Sun, the North Star

Place names: the South Pole, the Hague, the Crimea

Mountain ranges: the Alps, the Urals

Rivers: the Thames, the Oka

Seas and oceans: the Baltic Sea, the Atlantic Ocean

Parts of the world: in the North, to the West

Channels: the Panama Canal, the English Channel

Names of some countries: the USA, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom

Nationalities: the Russians, the Americans

Deserts: the Sahara, the Gobi

City areas: the Bronx, the City

Names of establishments, unique buildings: the Kremlin, the White House

Vessel names: the Queen Elizabeth

Newspaper names: the Times, the Guardian

Families: the Ivanovs, the Forsytes, the Simpsons

The definite article can also be used for additional clarification:

You are not the light-minded John I knew. You are no longer the frivolous John I once knew. She married George Brown, but it is not the George Brown who owns the local oil company. She married George Brown, but this is not the George Brown who owns the local oil company.

and before nicknames:

Nicky the Tall is a famous robber in this town. Tall Nicky is a well-known robber in this city.

The indefinite article in English

Indefinite article (a) comes from the numeral one and is used, as a rule, with singular nouns denoting countable objects.

The indefinite article in English can have three meanings: classifying, generalizing and numerical.

Article in classifying (ranking) meaning assigns an item to a specific class or group of items:

There is a ball on the grass. There is a ball on the grass. (not a shuttlecock, not an elephant, not a person) It is a golf ball. This is a golf ball. (not for football or tennis) I smell an omelette. I smell the omelette. (not soup or porridge)

That is, a noun with a classifying article classifies an object into a certain class, but does not directly refer to it.

This meaning also includes the use of the indefinite article in exclamatory sentences with the word what:

What a tall man! What a tall man!

and before singular countable nouns with words rather, quite, such And most(Very):

It's quite a difficult question. This is a rather difficult question.

Article in general meaning means that the noun is a representative of a certain class, and everything that is said about it in the sentence can be attributed to other objects of this class:

A limerick is a short comic universe consisting of five lines. A limerick is a short humorous poem of five lines. A kitten is a young cat. A kitten is a young cat.

Unlike classifying articles, which introduce a new concept or information, that is, the most important part of the sentence, generalizing articles only open the statement.

Numerically, indefinite articles express their original meaning of the number “one”:

We could stay in Prague for only a day. We could only stay in Prague for one day. This task will take me an hour. This task will take me (one) hour.

Also, articles in numerical value can take on the meaning “glass”, “portion”, “variety”, etc.:

I'd like a whiskey. I'd like (one) glass of whiskey. Let's drink a coffee or two? Maybe we can have a cup or two of coffee? a very expensive wine

Many foreign languages ​​have such a concept as an article. Starting to study grammar with this topic would be a good option for those who want to know English. The article (the rule of use will help you understand the question) is a functional part of speech in the English language. It shows certainty or uncertainty. Below in the text are the rules for its use when the article a (an), the is omitted.

Types of articles

There are two types of articles in English:

• definite - the;
• indefinite - a (an) (two forms).

The definite article shows that we are talking about some well-known or familiar object that is more individualized and stands out from others in some way. And indefinite indicates a more generalized meaning or an object that appears in the text for the first time. Examples:

The girl has a dog./The girl has a dog.

From this sentence it can be understood that we are talking about a specific girl who is already familiar to the reader and she was previously mentioned in the text, but the word “dog” is more general, what kind of dog is unknown.

Origin

We have already found out that in English there is such a part of speech as the article: a (an), the. They originally came from other words and to some extent retained their old meaning.

For example, the definite article is a shortened form of the word that (that, that), which is why it carries such a specific meaning.

Comes from the word one (someone, some).

Definite article

In English, the definite article has two functions: the first of them is specifying, and the other is generalizing. And this part of speech is used if a person knows exactly what object is being discussed, or if this object is unique.

The definite article in a specific meaning

• It is used if one item stands out from the entire set, it has some excellent parameters, it stands out due to a unique case, context. Before adjectives in

He is the best player in our team./He is the best player in our team.

• Placed before the words following, last, next, only and very. They make the noun more specific.

And not the next day./And not the next day.

• Superlative adjectives are also preceded by a definite article.

It is the worst day in my life./This is the worst day in my life.

The definite article in its general meaning

• Generalizing - when a noun can be attributed to a whole type of object.

Examples include the German Shepherd - the double coat is straight, and short length./For example, the German Shepherd. The coat has two characteristics: straight and short.

Here we are talking about all dogs belonging to a specific breed.

• Omitted if replaced by a possessive pronoun.

She sure had some love for her German Shepards./She definitely loves her German Shepherds.

• If you can put the word “this” in front of a noun.

The hotel also features easy access to the several subway stations./The hotel (this hotel) is also easily accessible from several subway stations.

• When indicating the era, significant events.

The First World War./First World War.

• Before uncountable nouns, only if we are talking about a certain volume of a substance.

And then the farmer has to find another way to deliver the juice./Then the farmer will have to find another way to produce juice.

• Before the names of body parts.

The hand/hand.

• Before social classes and strata of society.

The police./Police officers.

The definite article with proper names and some names

The table below will help you better understand how to use articles with proper names and some names. All the words below must be preceded by the definite article the.

Definite article. Plural

• If the definite article is used before a word in the singular, then it is also placed before it in the plural.

You can bring the ball with, if you want./If you want, take the ball with you.

You can bring the balls with, if you want./If you want, take the balls with you.

• Also, the article remains before the plural if we are talking about a group as a whole.

The members of Golf club can breathe fresh air./Members of the golf club can breathe fresh air. (Everyone can breathe fresh air).

Indefinite article a (an)

Use “a” if the first letter in the word is a consonant, “an” if it is a vowel:

• a table, a carpet, a dog/table, carpet, dog;
• an elephant, an eagle, an orange.

Exceptions to the rule:

• the article "a" is always placed before words that begin with the letter "u" if it is pronounced as /ju:/ (English is a universal language);
• before the words “one”, “ones” the article “a” is always used (a one-parent family);
• If abbreviations begin with a consonant, but are read with a vowel (F is pronounced like /ef/), then the indefinite article “an” (an FBI agent) is always used before them.

Classifying, generalizing and numeral meaning of the indefinite article

• In expressive sentences, in exclamatory sentences that begin with the word what, the indefinite article is used.

What a great!/How great!

• With singular nouns preceded by words such as rather, quite, such and most.

In a rather prescient way./Very far-sighted.

• If a noun is a generalizing meaning for an entire class, type, layer, etc., then an indefinite article is placed before it. Most often, such a noun appears at the beginning of a sentence and does not carry any important information. More significant details are described later in the text.

A newspaper text is a very laconic and relevant essay./Newspaper text is a laconic and relevant essay.

• In the numeral value, the article denotes its original meaning - one.

I can stay in Paris for only a day./I could stay in Paris for just a day. (Here it is clear that the particle -a can be replaced by one, the word from which the article a (an) was formed (the - from that). In this sentence, the particle takes its usual place).

The indefinite article a (an). Plural

Articles that are used before nouns in the singular are not used in the plural.

She had a book of astrology./She had a book on astrology.

She had two books./She had two books. (As you can see, the article is omitted.)

Proper names and articles a (an)

The article a (an) is used before if they:

• unknown

A Mr. Anderson has come to see you./A certain Mr. Anderson has come to see you.

• used as common nouns

You think, I am a Leonardoda Vinci?/Do you think I am Leonardo da Vinci?

• point to individual family members

It is no wonder; in fact, she is a Smith./No wonder, because she is Smith.

• describe the position of a place or object

We saw a rebuild Rome./We saw Rome rebuilt.

In addition, there are stable expressions that, regardless of the context, never change and always remain in their place. You just need to learn these phrases:

a few/several, it is a pity/sorry, a little/a little, etc.

When the article is not needed

In English there is such a thing as when it is absent in sentences before nouns. Cases where the article is omitted have already been mentioned in the article. Let's look at a few more typical rules.

• If the nouns are preceded by the adjectives old/old, little/small, poor/poor, lazy/lazy, honest/honest.

She is little girl./She is a little girl.

• If there is no definition for the noun.

I do not like Peter./I don’t like Peter.

• Before titles, titles.

Lord Green./Lord Green.

Exercises on articles

To consolidate the acquired knowledge, you need to do several exercises. Then check your answers with the keys and analyze the errors. For example, you can do the task below.

Fill in the missing article a (an), the:

Paris is…beautiful town./Paris is a beautiful city.

What's going on? I think it's … salute./What's going on? I think it's a fireworks.

Britney Spears is ... singer./Britney Spears is a singer.

This is Nick. He is... engineer./This is Nick. He's an engineer.

… spider has eight legs./Spiders have eight legs.

It is... tomato./This is a tomato.

I am...nurse./I am a nurse.

She is... best./She is the best.

To take... seat./Sit down.

In... country./In the country.

Answers to the exercise. How to correctly insert the article a (an), the:

1. a. 2. a. 3. a. 4. an. 5.a. 6. a. 7. a. 8. the. 9. a. 10. the.