9. Final Review

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1. Use 'a/an' for singular countable nouns

- I eat a banana every day

- I really want a dog this Christmas

- I want to buy an apple for lunch

2. Don't use 'a/an' or 'the' for plural countable nouns and uncountable nouns

- I eat bananas every day

- I eat rice every day (although you could say I eat a grain of rice every day!)

3. You can use some or any with plural countable and uncountable nouns

- I sang some songs with my friends

- Did you buy any apples?

- We listened to some music.

- Did you buy some apple juice?

When do we use 'the'?

1. When we are thinking of one particular thing or it is clear in the situation which thing or person we meant:

- Can you turn of the light (the only light that is on in the room)

- The apple is delicious (the apple I just ate, not any other apple)

- I'm going to the bank (the bank I always go to)

2. We use 'the' when there is only one of something

- What is the longest river in the world? (there is only one longest river)

- The earth goes around the sun and the moon goes around the earth

- The sun is a star

- Paris is the capital of France

3. We use 'the' before 'same' (the same)

- These two photos are the same

4. We do not usually use 'the' with the names of meals

- I want to eat breakfast

- I will have dinner tonight

5. We do not use 'the' before a noun + number

- I want to go to platform 5

Don't use 'the' for names of people. We also don't usually use 'the' with names of places.

Don't use 'the' for:

1. Continents

- Africa is a huge continent

- I want to go to South America

2. Countries

- Ireland is an island

- Denmark is a small country

3. States, regions

- I am from Texas

- It is very hot in Florida

- Leinster is east of Connacht

4. Islands

- Sicily is an island off the Italian mainland

- I will go to Hawaii for my holidays

5. Mountains

- Everest is the tallest mountain in the world

6. Cities, towns, etc.

- Washington D.C. is the capital of the USA

- Rome is a beautiful city

There are times when we use 'the' for places and names:

1. Some country names

- The United Kingdom and the United States

2. Mountain ranges

- The Alps

- The Rockies

3. Plural names of people and places

- The Smiths

- The Phillippines

- The Canary Islands

4. North/northern, etc.

- The north of France

- Northern France

5. Names of seas, oceans, rivers, canals

- The Atlantic (Ocean)

- Suez Canal

- The Rhine

Countable/Uncountable Nouns

When to use 'the'

Be Careful!