a / an — indefinite article
Use a/an with singular countable nouns. Use an before vowel sounds (not just vowel letters).
| Use | Example |
|---|---|
| First mention — introducing something new | I saw a dog in the park. |
| One of many — not a specific one | Can you pass me a pen? |
| Jobs and roles | She is a teacher. He works as an engineer. |
| Before vowel sound → an | an apple · an hour · an MBA · a university (sounds like "yu") |
the — definite article
Use the when the speaker and listener both know which specific thing is meant.
| Use | Example |
|---|---|
| Second mention — already introduced | I saw a dog. The dog was barking. |
| Unique things (only one exists) | the sun, the moon, the internet, the sky |
| Superlatives | She is the best student in the class. |
| Specific geographical features | the Amazon, the Alps, the Pacific Ocean |
| Ordinal numbers | the first, the second floor |
Zero article — no article
Use no article (zero article) in these common situations:
| Use | Example |
|---|---|
| Plural/uncountable nouns in general | Dogs are loyal. Water is essential. |
| Countries, cities, continents (most) | I live in Spain. She's from Paris. |
| Languages | She speaks Japanese. |
| Sports and games | He plays football. |
| Meals | We had dinner at eight. (but: "a nice dinner") |
| Institutions used for their purpose | She's in hospital. He goes to school. (UK English) |
the + countries:
Use "the" with plural or descriptive country names: the USA, the UK, the Netherlands, the Philippines, the Czech Republic.
Exercises
Choose the correct article (or Ø = no article).
1. She is ___ architect. (profession)
2. I bought a new phone. ___ phone has a great camera.
3. ___ gold is more expensive than silver. (general statement)
4. ___ Amazon is the longest river in South America.
5. She loves playing ___ tennis every weekend.