Three Basic Rules for Articles

Rule #1: Is it specific?

• If you talk about something not specific, use the Indefinite Article: a / an
• Can I have a cookie? (any cookie)
• If you talk about something specific, use the Definite Article: the
• Can I have the last cookie? (a specific cookie)

Rule #1: Is it specific?

• When you first introduce a noun, use the Indefinite Article: a/an. (your listeners don't know about it, so it's not specific yet)
• I bought a grammar book yesterday.
• Then, use the Definite Article: the. (now your listeners know the specific noun you are talking about)
• The book is really helpful.

Rule #1: Is it specific?

• I bought a bicycle for my son for his birthday. The bicycle was so heavy, that I asked a shop assistant to help me. The shop assistant carried the bicycle out to my car. The bicycle was so big that it didn't fit in my car!
• The shop assistant said that a delivery truck would bring the bicycle to my house yesterday. I waited for the delivery truck all day! Finally the delivery truck arrived one hour before my son's birthday party.
• My son was very happy with his new bicycle!

Rule #2: Is it unique? Yes, it's the only one.

• When a noun is unique, use the Definite Article: the
• When something is unique, there is only one of that thing.
• the sun the moon the sky the Earth
• the President the Prime Minister the government
• the army the navy (each country has only one)
• the airport the train station (each town has only one)
• the door the floor (each room has only one)
• the kitchen the living room (each house has only one)

Rule #2: Is it unique? No, there are many.

• When a singular noun is not unique, use the Indefinite Article: a / an
• She is a member of Parliament. (there are many members of Parliament)
• He is an accountant. (there are many accountants in the world!)
• We work at a school.
• (there are many schools in the world!)

Rule #2: Is it unique? Yes, it's the best!

• Use the Definite Article (the) with Superlatives.
• Superlatives show the only one - so that one is unique!
• He is the best chef in the city.
• She is the fastest runner in her school.
• We stayed in the most expensive hotel.
• Use the Definite Article (the) with ordered things.
• the first time the second example the last day

Rule #2: Is it unique? EXCEPTIONS

• People and places are unique, but we don't use "the" with most names.
• Names of people:
• Jack, Margus Hunt, Doctor Smith, President Obama, Princess Diana
• Names of Continents, Countries, Cities, Towns, Streets:
• Africa, Europe, Brazil, India, New York City, Cape Town, Main Street
• Names of single lakes, mountains, and islands:
• Lake Victoria, Mount Everest, Christmas Island
• Names of buildings with places or possessives:
• Cambridge University, Tallinn Airport, St. John's Church

Rule #2: Is it unique? Names of Places

• We often use the Definite Article (the) when things are named.
• Names of oceans, seas, rivers and deserts:
• the Atlantic Ocean, the Baltic Sea , the Nile River, the Sahara Desert Names that are plural and names of groups:
• the Alps, the United States, the United Nations, the European Union
• Names of buildings:
• the Eiffel Tower, the National Gallery, the Hilton Hotel, the Taj Mahal

Rule #3: Is it general?

• When you talk about a plural noun in general, don't use an article.
• I love strawberries! (all strawberries, not a specific strawberry)
• I always use blue pens. (blue pens in general, not a specific one)
• When you talk about an uncountable noun in general, don't use an article.
• Love is all you need! (love in general, not specific love)
• Knowledge is power. (knowledge in general, not specific knowledge)

Rule #3: Is it general?

• General Plural: no article
• General Uncountable: no article
• I love cake!
• Bananas are yellow.
• Air is all around us.
• Humans need water to survive.
• Specific Plural: the
• Specific Uncountable: the
• The cake you made is delicious!
• The bananas are on the table.
• The air in this room is stuffy!
• Don't drink the water!