Articles: basic information (B)

(This entry is for students who speak languages (e.g. Russian or Japanese) that do not have articles like English a/an and the. Students who speak languages which have articles (e.g. German or Portuguese) should read entry (see here).)

Two basic rules

• To say ‘You know which I mean’, we put the before a noun.

  • I’ve been to the doctor. (You know which one: my doctor.)
  • Have you fed the dogs? (You know which ones I mean.)
  • Could you pass the salt? (You can see the salt that I want.)

• When we can’t say ‘You know which I mean’, we:

  • put a/an before a singular countable noun (see here).
    • There’s a rat in the kitchen!
    • I need an envelope.
  • put no article with a plural or uncountable noun.
    • She’s afraid of rats.
    • I need help.

Four common mistakes to avoid

• Don’t use a/an with plural or uncountable nouns.

  • Jack collects stamps. (not … a stamps.)
  • Our garden needs water. (not … a water.)

• Don’t use the to talk about things in general. The does not mean ‘all’. (For exceptions, (see here).)

  • Elephants can swim very well. (not The elephants can swim …)
  • Gas is expensive. (not The gas …)

• Don’t use articles together with my, this, or other determiners.

  • my work (not the my work)
  • a friend of mine (not a my friend)
  • this problem (not the this problem)

• Don’t use singular countable nouns alone, without an article or other determiner. We can say a cat, the cat, my cat, this cat, any cat, either cat or every cat, but not just cat. (For exceptions, (see here).)

  • Give it to the cat. (not Give it to cat.)
  • Annie is a doctor. (not Annie is doctor.)

For more detailed information about articles, see the following sections.