A/an, the, no article: The use of articles in English

A/an, the, no article: Grammar chart

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Use a/an

First mention

We use a/an when we mention something for the first time.

• I saw an old woman with a dog in the park.

Jobs and descriptions

We use a/an to talk about people’s jobs or to say what kind of person or thing something/somebody is.

• Paula is a teacher.
• Paris is an interesting city.
• When I was a teenager, I enjoyed sleeping.

❗ Note that you cannot use singular countable nouns alone (without a, the, my, etc.)

• I don’t have driving license.
• I don’t have a driving license.
• This hotel doesn’t have spa.
• This hotel doesn’t have a spa. 

Use the

Second mention

We use the when we mention something for the second time.

• A man and a woman sat in front of me. The man was British, but I think the woman wasn’t.

Specific things

We use the to talk about specific things or people –when it’s clear which things or people we are talking about.

• ‘Where are the kids?’ ‘They’re in the garden.’ (=We know which kids and which garden.)
• Can you open the door? (=We know which door.)

There is only one

We use the when there’s only one of something.

• This company is very profitable. The manager must be really good.
• I’d like to live in this country, but not in the capital.
• The moon looks beautiful today.

Common places in town

With places in a town where we commonly go (the park, the cinema, the doctor, etc.)

• I’m going to the bank.
• I found Peter at the station.
• I’m at the library.

Superlatives

We use the before superlative adjectives.

• This is the best restaurant in town.

Musical instruments

We use the before names of musical instruments.

• Margaret plays the guitar and I play the flute. 

Use no article

General meaning

We do not use an article before plural or uncountable nouns to talk about something in general.

• I don’t drink milk.
• Women drive more cautiously than men.

Compare:

• I love music. (=Music in general.)
• I loved the music at the party. (=Specific music.)
• Children are often difficult. (=Children in general.)
• They are a nice family. The children are very funny. (=The children in that family.)

Meals

We do not use an article before the names of meals: breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

• Dinner is served at 8.
• I always have breakfast with my children.

Years, months and days

We do not use an article before names of years, months and days of the week.

• Friday is my favourite day of the week.
• I think 2020 will be an excellent year.

TV

We do not use an article with TV (when used as a broadcasting service, NOT as an appliance)

• I saw it on TV.
• I don’t watch TV.

❗ But: Turn off the TV. I’ve bought a new TV.

Names of languages and school subjects

We do not use an article before the names of languages and school subjects.

• He doesn’t speak English.
• I study biology. 

Next, last

We do not use an article before next and last + time expression (when they mean before or after now).

• The meeting is next Thursday.
• I saw him last week.

❗ Compare:

• Last year we spent one week in London (Last year= the year before now).
• We really loved London. The last day we were really sad. (The last day= the last day of that trip. NOT the day before now)