Articles

Nouns – countable – singular /plural

                Uncountable

a/an- before a singular countable nouns ( we can’t use singular countable noun alone)

the- countable/ uncountable nouns

Zero article- Before uncountable nouns (general reference) / Before plural nouns(general reference)

We use a/an To talk about something for the first time

A cap, a man, a dog, a pen, a hospital an apple, an orange,  an hour, an animal

We use a/an to talk about someone’s job

A doctor /  an actor

We use The to talk about a specific person or thing or things already mentioned before

I see a man, the man is tall.

Can you turn off the TV

The sun, the moon, the earth, the sky

No article- talk about things in general

Carrots are good for you               The carrots in the market are not good

English people are good             The English people in the hotel are not good

No article- when talking  about in general  with school, university, prison,  hospital, church, bed, work, home

We use The- when talking about a particular one

I go to school.                     The school is next to my house

My husband is in prison      I go to the prison to see him

I go to work                          the work is difficult

We use The with singular countable nouns to talk about a type of thing

The computer is good for students.    The computer in my office is broken

 The deer is a harmless animal            I saw the deer in the temple

We use the+ adjective to talk about a group of people

The homeless / the unemployed / the rich / the poor / the elderly / the young

We use the –musical instruments

The piano / the guitar / the violin/ the organ

No article with continents, countries, regions, cities, streets, mountains, lakes and parks

Asia, Sri Lanka, California, Kandy, Bristol street, Bible rock,  Lake Superior, central park

We use the with plural names and places

The Netherlands, The united states, The Bahamas, The alps

We use the with oceans, seas, rivers and canals

The Atlantic ocean, The red sea, The Nile

We use the with north, south, east and west

It is in the south of Europe.

We normally use the with building, except if the first word is a name of a place

The white house

Oxford university

The- newspapers

The Sunday observer/ the daily news

 No article- name of sports

volleyball, hockey, baseball