A(n), the, no article

Grammar / B1 Grammar lessons and exercises \ A(n), the, no article

✏️ Exercises

A / An / The / No Article

Comprehensive grammar chart detailing the use of articles 'a', 'an', 'the', and instances where no article is needed in English, with examples for each rule suitable for B1 Intermediate level students.

🟦Use A / An

  • ➟ First mention
    I saw an old woman with a dog.
  • ➟ Describe type or profession
    That’s a chimpanzee.
    Paula is a teacher.
    When I was a teenager, I enjoyed sleeping.
  • ➟ Meaning “one”
    Can I have an orange?
  • ➟ Frequency, rates, speeds
    I work 6 hours a day.
    The rent is €500 a month.
    We were driving at 70 km an hour.
  • ➟ With “what a” / “such a”
    What a fantastic idea!
    Yesterday was such a horrible day!
    You are such a good friend.

❗ Never use singular countable nouns alone:
❌ I don’t have driving license. → ✅ I don’t have a driving license.
❌ I have car. → ✅ I have a car.
❌ When I was teenager… → ✅ When I was a teenager.

🟩Use The

  • ➟ Already mentioned or known
    A man and a woman sat in front of me. The man was British.
    “Where are the kids?” “They’re in the garden.”
  • ➟ Made specific by description
    I sat on a chair. → I sat on the chair in the corner.
    I saw the man who tried to rob me.
  • ➟ Only one of something
    The moon, the internet, the sky, the manager
    I’d like to live in this country, but not in the capital.
  • ➟ Common places in town
    I’m going to the bank / the cinema / the doctor.
  • ➟ With superlatives
    This is the best restaurant in town.
  • ➟ Oceans, rivers, canals
    The Mediterranean, the Amazon, the Panama Canal

🟪Use No Article

  • ➟ General plural/uncountable nouns
    Love and health are more important than money.
    Women drive more cautiously than men.
    🆚 I love music. (general) → I loved the music. (specific)
  • ➟ Home, work, bed, hospital, school, prison (general use)
    David isn’t at school. (=learning)
    Maria is in hospital. (=as patient)
    They’re sending him to prison. (=to be imprisoned)
    ❗ But: I went to the hospital to visit Grandma. (=building)
  • ➟ Meals
    Dinner is at 8. I always have breakfast.
  • ➟ Years, months, days
    Friday is my favorite day. 2020 was great.
  • ➟ Noun + number
    He is in room 15. Go to page 86.
  • ➟ TV (as broadcast service)
    I saw it on TV. I don’t watch TV.
    ❗ But: Turn off the TV. I bought a new TV.
  • ➟ Next / last + time (relative to now)
    The meeting is next Thursday.
    I saw him last week.
    ❗ But: The last week in London was amazing. (=not “the week before now”)
  • ➟ Most continents, countries, cities, mountains
    Europe, Spain, Rome, Mount Everest
    ❗ But: the US, the UK, the Netherlands, the Philippines

📌 Remember:
A/An = first mention, professions, “one”, rates, “what a/such a”
The = known/specific things, unique items, superlatives, rivers/oceans, common places
No article = general plurals/uncountables, institutions (in function), meals, days, TV (broadcast), next/last (relative to now), most place names
⚠️ Singular countable nouns always need an article or determiner (a/the/my/this/etc.)