Definite and indefinite articles Part 2

Definite and indefinite articles.

In an earlier post we said that::

• The definite article is “the”.
• The indefinite article is “a” or “an”.
• We use “the” when we’re referring to something that is definite or specific.
• We use “a” or “an” when we’re referring to something that is indefinite or general.

In this post we’ll talk further about definite and indefinite articles.

We often use “a” or “an” when we mention something for the first time, and “the” when we mention it again:

• I saw a fox … The fox was in the road.

We also use “a” or “an” when we talk about someone’s job or profession:

• He is a journalist.
• She is an architect.
• I’m a shop assistant.

But notice that we can only use “a” and “an” with singular countable nouns. If we are using plurals we say:

• They are journalists.
• You are architects.
• We are shop assistants.

We use “the” for many geographical features, such as:

• Oceans and seas: The Atlantic, the Red Sea.
• Rivers: The Nile, the Volga.
• Mountain ranges: The Alps, the Urals.
• Deserts: The Sahara, the Kalahari.
• Groups of Islands: The Canaries, the Seychelles.
• Points on the globe: The North Pole, the Equator.
• Some countries: The USA, the United Kingdom.
• Particular regions: The Far East, the West.

But we don’t normally use any article at all when we are using geographical names, such as:

• Mountains: Everest, Mount Fuji.
• Continents: Asia, Africa.
• States or districts: districts: Samara, Texas.
• Most countries: Japan, Saudi Arabia.
• Cities: Paris, Beijing.
• Most streets: Oxford Street, Fifth Avenue

There are many other times when we don’t use articles. We never, for example, use “a” or “an” with singular uncountable nouns, such as:

• Electricity
• Money
• Time
• Fruit

We do use “the” with singular uncountable nouns when we want to be specific. So, we say:

• I like fruit. (We’re not being specific about the fruit that we like)

But:

• Pass the fruit, please. (We’re referring to some particular fruit – probably the fruit on the table)

Nor do we normally use articles for languages or nationalities, such as:

• Russian
• English
• American

Of course, there are exceptions to most of these “rules” and there are some things that we say that don’t seem to fit any rule at all. We just have to learn them and get used to them. We often use “the”, for example, when we say things like:

• I need to see the doctor.
• Where is the dentist?
• We were at the theatre.
• They went to the shops.
• What’s on at the cinema?
• What’s on the tv?
• I bought it at the supermarket.

In each of these examples we don’t necessarily mean a specific doctor, dentist, theatre etc: it’s just the way we say things!

Strangely, we say:

• I’ve got the flu.

But:

• I’ve got influenza.
• I’ve got a cold.
• I’ve got a headache.

If this all sounds very complicated, don’t worry. People will almost always understand you perfectly well if you use “the” when you should use “a” or “an” – or the other way round. They will also understand you if you don’t use an article when a native speaker would, or use one when they wouldn’t. By speaking and by listening to other people speaking you will develop a better understanding of what sounds best and will gradually improve your own speaking and writing skills.

Look out for one more post about definite and indefinite articles – coming soon!

_{Posted by Graham}

_{With thanks again to Lisa and Max for the questions}