DEFINITE ARTICLE: THE

The definite article the is the most frequent word in English. We use the definite article in front of a noun when we believe the hearer/reader knows exactly what we are referring to. because there is only one: The Pope is visiting Russia. The moon is very bright tonight. The Shah of Iran was deposed in !"!. This is why we use the definite article with a superlative ad#ective: $e is he alles !oy in the class. %t is he oldes !"#ld#n$ in the town. because there is only one #n ha pla%e or in those surroundings: We live in a small village next to the church. 'the church in our village( 'the car that belongs to our family(

& &

)ad* can % borrow the car+ When we stayed at my grandmother,s house we went to the beach every day. -oo. at the boy in the blue shirt over there.

'the beach near my & grandmother,s house( 'the boy % am pointing at(

&

because we have already men #oned it: / woman who fell 0 metres from $igh 1ea. was lifted to safety by a helicopter. The woman fell while climbing. The rescue is the latest in a series of incidents on $igh 1ea.. %n 2anuary last year two men wal.ing on he peak were .illed in a fall. We also use the definite article: to say something about all he h#n$s referred to by a noun: The wolf is not really a dangerous animal '& Wolves are not really dangerous animals( The .angaroo is found only in /ustralia '& 3angaroos are found only in /ustralia( The heart pumps blood around the body. '& $earts pump blood around bodies( We use the definite article in this way to tal. about m"s#%al #ns r"men s: 2oe plays the piano really well.'& 4eorge can play any piano( 5he is learning the guitar.'& 5he is learning to play any guitar( to refer to a sys em or ser&#%e:

$ow long does it ta.e on he ra#n. % heard it on he rad#o. 6ou should tell he pol#%e. With ad'e% #&es li.e rich* poor* elderly* unemployed to tal. about $ro"ps of people: -ife can be very hard for he poor. % thin. he r#%h should pay more taxes. 5he wor.s for a group to help he d#sa!led. The def#n# e ar #%le w# h names: We do not normally use the definite article with names: William 5ha.espeare wrote $amlet. 1aris is the capital of 7rance. %ran is in /sia. 8ut we do use the definite article with: %o"n r#es whose names include words li.e kingdom* states or republic: the 9nited 3ingdom: the .ingdom of ;epal: the 9nited 5tates: the 1eople,s Republic of <hina. %o"n r#es which have pl"ral no"ns as their names: the ;etherlands: the 1hilippines $eo$raph#%al fea "res* such as mountain ranges* groups of islands* rivers* seas* oceans and canals: the $imalayas: the <anaries: the /tlantic: the /tlantic =cean: the /ma>on: the 1anama <anal. newspapers: The Times: The Washington 1ost well .nown !"#ld#n$s or works of ar : the Empire 5tate 8uilding: the Ta# ?ahal: the ?ona -isa: the 5unflowers or$an#sa #ons: the 9nited ;ations: the 5eamen,s 9nion ho els* p"!s and res a"ran s@: the Rit>: the Rit> $otel: the 3ing,s $ead: the )A#B Cu @;ote: We do not use the definite article if the name of the hotel or restaurant is the name of the owner* e.g.*8rown,s: 8rown,s $otel: ?orel,s: ?orel,s Restaurant* etc. fam#l#es: the =bamas: the 2ac.sons

INDEFINITE ARTICLE: A AND AN

. We use the indefinite article* aDan* with %o"n no"ns when the hearer/reader does no know exactly which one we are referring to: 1olice are searching for a E yearFold girl. G. We also use it to show the person or thing is one of a $ro"p: 5he is a pupil at -ondon Road 5chool. 1olice have been searching for a E yearFold girl who has been missing since 7riday. 2enny 8rown* a pupil at -ondon Road 5chool* is described as .H metres tall with short blonde hair. 5he was last seen wearing a blue #ac.et* a blue and white blouse and dar. blue #eans and blue shoes. /nyone who has information should contact the local police on 0I00JE!"I .

J. We do no use an indefinite article with pl"ral no"ns and "n%o"n no"ns: 5he was wearing blue shoes. '& plural noun( 5he has short blonde hair. '& uncount noun( 1olice have been searching for a E yearFold girl who has been missing since 7riday. 2enny 8rown* a pupil at -ondon Road 5chool* is described as .H metres tall with short blonde hair. 5he was last seen wearing a blue #ac.et* a blue and white blouse and dar. blue #eans and blue shoes. /nyone who has information should contact the local police on 0I00JE!"I .

E. We use aDan to say what someone is or what 'o! they do: ?y brother is a do% or. 4eorge is a s "den . K. We use aDan with a singular noun to say something about all h#n$s of that .ind:

/ man needs friends. '& /ll men need friends( / dog li.es to eat meat. '& /ll dogs li.e to eat meat(