How to use English Articles: THE, AN, A (& NO Article)

Summary

In this lesson, Emma from mmmEnglish teaches the proper use of English articles, focusing on the definite article 'the' and when to use no article at all. She explains key rules, such as using 'the' with previously mentioned nouns, specific items, superlative adjectives, and unique titles. The lesson also covers tricky exceptions, like when not to use articles with general statements or proper nouns. Emma provides helpful pronunciation tips and a downloadable worksheet for practice, ensuring learners gain a solid understanding of article usage in English.

Takeaways

• 😀 The definite article 'the' is used with both singular and plural nouns, as well as with uncountable nouns.
• 😀 The pronunciation of 'the' changes depending on the following sound: 'the' with a schwa sound (before consonants) and 'the' with a longer vowel sound (before vowels).
• 😀 The definite article 'the' is used after a noun has been mentioned once and is now specific or known to both the speaker and listener.
• 😀 Use 'the' to specify a particular noun, like 'the tram' to refer to a specific tram you regularly take.
• 😀 The definite article is also used with unique nouns or titles, like 'the President', 'the Queen', or 'the Himalayas'.
• 😀 Superlative adjectives always require 'the' because they describe something unique, like 'the biggest' or 'the best'.
• 😀 Do not use articles when making general statements with plural or uncountable nouns, e.g., 'Fruit is sweet'.
• 😀 Articles are not used with proper nouns such as the names of people, countries, or cities, except in certain exceptions (e.g., 'the United States').
• 😀 'The' is used with geographical features like mountain ranges, rivers, seas, and oceans, but not with individual mountains or lakes.
• 😀 Avoid using 'the' with body parts when talking possessively, such as 'He hurt his foot' rather than 'He hurt the foot'.
• 😀 To master article usage, review examples and practice identifying when and where to use articles correctly in both spoken and written English.

Q & A

What are the two ways to pronounce 'the' in English?

'The' can be pronounced as /ðə/ when followed by a consonant sound (e.g., 'the car', 'the unit'), or as /ðiː/ when followed by a vowel sound (e.g., 'the apple', 'the elephant').

When do we use 'the' with a noun that has already been mentioned?

We use 'the' when we refer to a noun that has already been mentioned in the conversation, making it specific. For example, 'I saw a woman on the tram this morning. The woman was wearing a red coat.'

What is the rule for using 'the' with superlative adjectives?

'The' is used with superlative adjectives because they describe something unique. For example, 'Jupiter is the biggest planet in the solar system.'

Can 'the' be used with general statements about plural or uncountable nouns?

No, we do not use 'the' with general statements about plural or uncountable nouns. For example, 'Fruit is sweet' or 'Sloths are lazy animals.' However, 'the' is used when we refer to specific instances, such as 'The fruit on the table is sweet.'

When do we use 'the' with geographical names?

'The' is used with certain geographical nouns, such as mountain ranges (e.g., 'the Alps'), rivers (e.g., 'the Nile'), and countries like 'the United States' or 'the Philippines.'

What is the rule for using articles with proper nouns?

In general, we do not use articles with proper nouns, like names of people, places, or organizations. For example, we say 'John' and not 'the John'. However, 'the' is used with certain proper nouns referring to groups of people or specific places, like 'the Smiths' (the Smith family) or 'the United Kingdom'.

When do we use 'the' with time expressions?

'The' is used with specific time expressions such as 'the morning', 'the afternoon', and 'the evening'. However, we say 'at night', without 'the'.

Why is it important to avoid directly translating articles from your native language into English?

It’s important to avoid direct translation because each language has its own rules for using articles, and directly translating can lead to mistakes in English. For example, some languages don't use articles at all, while others use them differently.

What are some examples of when not to use an article in English?

We do not use articles in general statements about plural or uncountable nouns, such as 'Sloths are lazy animals' or 'Fruit is sweet'. Additionally, articles are not used with proper nouns like names of countries (e.g., 'India' not 'the India') or people (e.g., 'John' not 'the John').

How does the use of 'the' change when describing superlative adjectives or unique nouns?

When using a superlative adjective, such as 'the best' or 'the biggest', or a unique noun, such as 'the sun' or 'the President', 'the' is used because these are considered unique or specific in the context. For example, 'The sun is hot' or 'The President gave a speech.'