A, An or The?When do we say "the dog" and when do we say "a dog"? (On this page we talk only about singular, countable nouns.)The and a/an are called "articles". We divide them into "definite" and "indefinite" like this:

ArticlesDefinite Indefinite

the a, an

We use "definite" to mean sure, certain. "Definite" is particular.We use "indefinite" to mean not sure, not certain. "Indefinite" is general.When we are talking about one thing in particular, we use the. When we are talking about one thing in general, we use a or an.Think of the sky at night. In the sky we see 1 moon and millions of stars. So normally we would say:

I saw the moon last night. I saw a star last night.

Look at these examples:

the a, an The capital of France is

Paris. I have found the book that

I lost.

I was born in a town. John had an omelette

for lunch. James Bond

Have you cleaned the car? There are six eggs

in the fridge. Please switch off the TV

when you finish.

ordered adrink. We want to

buy anumbrella. Have you got a pen?

Of course, often we can use the or a/an for the same word. It depends on the situation, not the word. Look at these examples:

We want to buy an umbrella. (Any umbrella, not a particular umbrella.)

Where is the umbrella? (We already have an umbrella. We are looking for our umbrella, a particular umbrella.)

This little story should help you understand the difference between theand a, an:

A man and a woman were walking in Oxford Street. The woman saw adress that she liked in a shop. She asked the man if he could buy thedress for her. He said: "Do you think the shop will accept a cheque? I don't have a credit card."

1. When you talk about things in general:*The main rule to remember is: you don’t need an article when you talk about things in general.  ‘The‘ does NOT = all.Use plural count nouns:Cats make great pets!*You’re not talking about one specific cat or one specific pet; you’re just talking about all cats in general.Women love it when men send them flowers!Houses are expensive in that neighbourhood.People think all Canadians speak English and French, but they’re wrong!Companies in Canada pay very high taxes.I love reading books. 

Use non-count nouns:I love listening to music.*Here you are just saying that you enjoy music in general – not any specific kind of music or song.She’s afraid of heights, so we couldn’t go to the top of the Eiffel Tower.I love chocolate!Have you eaten lunch yet?She’s a vegetarian. She doesn’t eat meat. 

2. Names – holidays, geography, companies, languages.[*these are all proper nouns]a) HolidaysI got a beautiful new dress for Christmas.I got my mom a movie catalogue for Mother’s Day.On St. Patrick’s Day everybody wears green.What are you doing on Valentine’s Day? 

b) Geography*Articles are not used before countries, states, cities, towns, continents, single lakes, single mountains.

I live in Canada.I’m going to Europe next month on vacation.Lake Ontario and Lake Huron are 2 of the Great Lakes.Mt. Fuji is the highest mountain in Japan.Mt. Rosa is part of the Alps mountain range.*Mt. Rosa is one mountain; The Alps describe a group of mountains.*Of course, there is an exception to every rule in English:the United Statesthe Czech Republicthe Philippines 

c) CompaniesBill Gates founded Microsoft.Wal-Mart is the largest employer in the U.S.McDonald’s has restaurants in 119 countries.I use Twitter and Facebook every day. 

d) UniversitiesHer son graduated from Harvard.She goes to Oxford.He applied to Cambridge, Yale, and Stanford.*However, if the name of the university begins with ‘University,’ then you must use ‘the’:

He has a master’s degree from the University of Toronto. 

e) LanguagesI am studying Russian.I speak French.In Brazil people speak Portuguese.I teach people how to speak English. 

3. Places, locations, streets*Streets, some locations and places do not need an article:I left my book at home.I have to go to work [the place where I work / the location] early tomorrow.He was found guilty of murder and sent to jail for life.My office is located on Main street.[a street name is also a proper noun]I usually go to church on Sundays.Good night everyone! I’m going to bed.Did you go to school today?When I was in high school, everyone had to study French.She’s studying business at university.NOTE: you don’t need an article for subjects you study at school: math, geography, business, history, science*Places that you DO need to use an article:the bank, the movies, the hospital, the post office, the airport, the train station, the bus stop, the doctor, the dentist. 

4. Sports*Sports and other physical activities do not need an article:I love to go skiing in the winter.I play football every day after school.He loves watching hockey on TV.She tries to do yoga at least 3 times a week.My daughter really enjoys dancing. 

5. Noun + numberHe’s staying at the Hilton hotel in room 221.[NOT the room 221]The train to Paris leaves from platform 2.My English class is in room 6 on the first floor. *’First’ is an adjective in this sentence, used to describe ‘the floor.Picture number 6 matches with ‘window’[This is something learners say when doing a matching activity in an English class]

 

6. AcronymsAn acronym is an abbreviation (a short form) of a name. It uses the first letter of each word to form a new word.a) If the acronym is pronounced as a word (not individual letters), don’t use ‘the.’NATO ambassadors met to discuss the situation.(NATO is the acronym used for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. UNESCO is pronounced as one word, /’neɪtoʊ/.)UNESCO was formed in 1946.(UNESCO is the acronym used for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. UNESCO is pronounced as one word, /ju’nɛskoʊ/.) 

b) The is not used before university acronyms:John Smith got his MBA at UCLA.She has a Ph.D. from MIT. 

EXCEPTION:You need to use ‘the’ before acronyms of organizations & countries when the letters arepronounced individually, not as a word.The UN was created after the Second World War.(UN is used to represent the United Nations. UN is pronounced you-N /ju’ɛn/. It is not pronounced ‘un’ /ʌn/, like in the word under.)Other acronyms that need ‘the’:

the EUthe USthe CIAthe FBI

When to Use 'A,' 'An,' or 'The'There are several exceptions, or more complicated situations than the above chart covers. Below we have laid out some of the general and specific rules about using A, AN, and THE.

Remember, in order to use A, AN, and THE properly, you must know whether or not a noun is a Count or Non-Count Noun. (A count noun is the name of something that can be counted: one book, two books, three books. A non-count noun is the name of something that cannot be counted: milk, flour, freedom, justice).

Use "a" or "an" Use "the" Don't Use "a," "an," or "the"

General Rules

Use "a" or "an" with a singular count noun when you mean "one of many," "any," "in general."Bob is a student (one of many students).I like a good movie (one of many movies).

Use "the" with any noun when the meaning is specific; for example, when the noun names the only one (or one) of a kind. 

Adam was the first man (the only 'first man').New York is the largest city in the United States (only one city can be 'the largest').We live on the earth (the only Earth we know).Have you heard the news (specific news)?

Don't Use "a," "an," or "the" with a non-count noun when you mean "any," "in general."We believe in love (in general).He gave me information (not specific).

Use "a" or "an" the first time you use a noun in a paragraph.I saw a movie last night.A man  ran into the street.

Use "the" the second time you use that same noun in the same paragraph.I saw a movie last night.The movie was entertaining.A man  ran into the

Don't Use "a," "an," or "the" with a plural count noun when you mean "some of many things," "any," "in general."Movies are entertaining (some movies; movies in

street. A car hit the man.

general).She likes men (in general).

Title

Use "a" or "an" if the title is not a specific title.a presidenta doctora queen

Use "the" if a specific person has a title or if only one person has a title.the presidentthe doctorthe Queen of England

Don't Use "a," "an," or "the" if the person's name is given.President KennedyDr. YangQueen Elizabeth

Names of Countries

Non-specifica country

Use "the" if the name of the country is plural or indicates a group (of states, islands, etc.)the United Statesthe Netherlandsthe Phillipines

Don't Use "a," "an," or "the"RussiaSouth AfricaHollandCanadaGreat BritianEngland

Names of Continents

Non-specifica continent

Don't Use "a," "an," or "the"AfricaAsiaEuropeNorth America

Names of Some Geographical Areas

Use "the"the South Polethe Westthe Souththe North East

Don't Use "a," "an," or "the"Western Europe

Names of Cities and States

Non-specifica citya state

Don't Use "a," "an," or "the"New YorkParisWashingtonException:the District of Columbia

Names of Streets

Don't Use "a," "an," or "the"Pennsylvania AvenueFourth StreetFlorida Avenue

Names of Oceans, Rivers, Seas, Deserts, Forests, Canals

Use a/an for non-specifican ocean

Use "the"the Pacific Oceanthe Mediteranean

a rivera seaa desert

Seathe Potomac Riverthe C & O Canalthe Atlantic Oceanthe Painted Desert

Names of Lakes Non-specifica lake

Don't Use "a," "an," or "the"Lake OntarioLake Geneva

Names of Monuments, Memorials, Parks, and National Shrines

Use a/an if you write about a non-specific building or monument.a buildinga museuman institution

Use "the"the Capitolthe White Housethe Senate Office Buildingthe Sam Rayburn Buildingthe National Archivesthe Library of Congressthe National Gallery of Artthe Smithsonian Institute

Names of Colleges, Universities, and Other Schools

Use a/an for non-specific colleges or schools.a schoola university

Use "the" if the title of the school has "of" or "for" in it.the University of Marylandthe Catholic University of Americathe Maryland School for the DeafThe Model Secondary School for the Deaf

Don't Use "a," "an," or "the" if the school is named for a person or place.Gallaudet UniversityHarvard UniversityGeorge Washinton UniversityGeorgetown UniversityMaryland UniversityCatholic University

Names of Buildings on Gallaudet University Campus

Use a/an for non-specific buildings.a dorman office

Use the with specific places that have no names.the infirmarythe librarythe dormthe cafeteriathe bookstore

Don't Use "a," "an," or "the" if a building on campus is named for a person.Peet HallEly CenterDawes HouseKrug HallHall Memorial BuildingHughes GymnasiumMerrill Learning CenterKendall School

Uncount nouns

You cannot say a/an with an uncount noun. You cannot put a number in front of an uncount noun. (You cannot

make an uncount noun plural.) You use an uncount noun with no article if you mean that thing in

general. You use the with an uncount noun when you are talking about a

particular example of that thing.

Count nouns

You can put a number in front of a count noun. (You can make a count noun plural.)

You can put both a/an and the in front of a count noun. You must put an article** in front of a singular count noun.

You use a plural count noun with no article if you mean all or any of that thing.

You usually use a/an with a count noun the first time you say or write that noun.

You use the with count nouns:o the second and subsequent times you use the noun in a piece of

speech or writingo when the listener knows what you are referring to (maybe

because there is only one of that thing) You use an (not a) when the next word (adverb, adjective, noun) starts

with a vowel sound.

Note:

The above rules apply whether there is or there is not an adjective in front of the noun.

Some nouns can be either count or uncount, depending on the context and meaning:

o Do you have paper? I want to draw a picture. (uncount = a sheet of paper)

o Can you get me a paper when you’re at the shop? (count = a newspaper)

Uncount nouns are often preceded by phrases such as: a lot of .. (luck), a piece of .. (cake), a bottle of .. (milk), a grain of .. (rice).

* Instead of an article, the noun can also be preceded by a determiner such as this, that, some, many or my, his, our, etc.

Following are some of the most important guidelines listed above, with example sentences:

1. You use an uncount noun with no article if you mean all or any of that thing.

I need help! I don't eat cheese. Do you like music?

2. You use the with an uncount noun when you are talking about a particular example of that thing.

Thanks for the help you gave me yesterday.

I didn't eat the cheese. It was green!

Did you like the music they

played at the dance?

3. You usually use a/an with a count noun the first time you say or write that noun.

Can I borrow a pencil, please?

There's a cat in the garden! Do you have an mp3 player?

4. You use the with count nouns the second and subsequent times you use the noun, or when the listener already knows what you are referring to (maybe because there is only one of that thing).

Where's the pencil I lent you yesterday?

I think the cat belongs to the new neighbours.

I dropped the mp3 player and it broke.

Please shut the door!

5. You use a plural count noun with no article if you mean all or any of that thing.

I don't like dogs. Do they have children? I don't need questions. Give

me answers!

6. The above rules apply whether there is or there is not an adjective in front of the noun.

I don't eat German cheese. Can I borrow a red pencil,

please? There's an extremely large

cat in the garden! I don't like small, noisy

children.