When the noun is specific or particular.

’The’ signals that

ARTICLES the noun is definite, that it refers to a particular member of a
group.
English has two articles: the and a/an. The is used to refer to
specific or particular nouns; a/an is used to modify For example: "The parrot that he bought yesterday, flew
non-specific or non-particular or general nouns. We away." Here, we're talking about a specific parrot, the parrot
call the the definite article and a/an the indefinite article. he bought yesterday.

For example, if I say, "Let's read the book," I mean "I was happy to see the policeman who saved a child!" Here,
a specific book. If I say, "Let's read a book," I mean any book we're talking about a particular policeman.
rather than a specific book.
‘The’ can be used with uncountable nouns, or the article can
Indefinite Articles: a and an be omitted entirely.

"A/an" can be used only with countable nouns. Use of ‘the’

"A" and "an" signal that the noun modified is indefinite, There are some specific rules for using ‘the’ with
referring to any member of a group. For example: geographical nouns.

● "His son really wants a parrot for his birthday." This

Do use ‘the’ before:
refers to any parrot.
● "Please, call a policeman!" This refers
● names of rivers, oceans and
to any policeman.
seas: the Nile, the Pacific
● points on the globe: the Equator, the North Pole
Remember, using ‘a’ or ‘an’ depends on the SOUND that
Geographical areas: the Middle
begins the next word.
East, the West, deserts the Sahara
● deserts, gulfs, forests, mountain ranges, and
● a + singular noun beginning with a peninsulas: the Sahara, the Persian Gulf, the
consonant: a boy; a car; a bike; a zoo; a dog Himalayas, the Arabian Peninsula
● an + singular noun beginning with a ● Ships: the Titanic, the PNS Saad
vowel: an elephant; an egg; an apple; an idiot; ● the things generally regarded as unique, for
an orphan example heavenly bodies: the moon, the sun
● a + singular noun beginning with a consonant ● Compass directions if preceded by a preposition:
sound: a user (sounds like 'yoo-zer,' i.e. begins with in the East, to the West, etc.
a consonant 'y' sound, so 'a' is ● The—--- of—--- ( The man of crisis etc.)
used); a university; a unicycle ● countable nouns representing a whole class or
● an + singular nouns beginning with a vowel category of something: the computer, the dog
sound: an hour, an umbrella, an S.P ● hotel names: the Pearl Continental
● Newspapers, holy books: the Times, the Quran
Definite Article: the ● titles: the Holy Prophet, the Father of Nation
● Before family names: the Flemings
The definite article is used before singular and plural nouns ● Heads of institutes: the principal
● currencies: the dollar,the yen
● The names of musical instruments. the guitar (in
the sense of playing) I bought a guitar. I know how
to play the guitar.
many forms of entertainment, but not before the medium of Names of diseases : Measles, Cancer but a
television.(I go to the cinema/ the theatre. In the daytime I headache/ toothache a heart attack, a cold, a sore throat,
listen to the radio, but in the evenings I like to watch the flu, the measles, the mumps, the creeps
television.) Before proper nouns no article is used; however,
● superlative degree of adjectives: the best see the following examples:
● comparative degree followed by of: This is the Last night in the party I met a Mr. Qasim. ( Someone
better book of these two books. whose name was Qasim) Or There is a Mr. Smith at the door.
● Names of sports: volleyball, hockey, baseball
● Before ‘whole, same, only’, etc.
● Names of academic subjects: mathematics,
● After ‘both’, ‘all’, etc.
biology, history, computer science
● Before ordinals when used as adjectives: the
● Abstract nouns except when they are specific.
fourth class, the next patient, etc.
● Material nouns except when they are specific.
● Before a proper nouns referring to a common
● Names of meals, We had lunch yesterday. But
noun: Waris Shah is the Shakespeare of Punjabi.
We had a tasty/ wholesome lunch yesterday Or
● Before an adjective modifying a proper noun:
It was a birthday dinner. The breakfast that you
Allah the Merciful, Alexander the great, the great
prepared was amazing.
Akbar.
● No article is needed before bed, church, court,
● Before the names of dynasties and families The
hospital, prison, school, college, university, etc.
Ghaznavid dynasty, The Ming dynasty, The
when these are used for their primary purpose.
Umayyad dynasty
● No article is used after “type of, kind of , sort of”:
the Smiths, the Qureshis, the Mailks etc.
type of rose, kind of boy, etc.
● Before plural countable nouns: Balloons were
Do not use ‘the’ before: rising in the air.( But.) The balloons that we
bought were very expensive.
● Names of most countries/territories: Italy, Mexico, ● Before the names of relations: Father gave us gifts
Bolivia; however, the Netherlands, for Christmas. Aunt would like you to visit her.
the DominicanRepublic, the Philippines, the United
States, the Congo, the United Kingdom
● Names of cities, towns, or states: Seoul, Karachi,
Miami
● Names of lakes and bays: Lake Saif ul-Malok, Lake
Erie
● Names of mountains: Mount Everest, Mount
Fuji except with ranges of mountains like the
Himalayas, the Andes or the Rockies
● Names of continents (Asia, Europe) names of
islands (Easter Island, Maui, ) except with island
chains like the West Indies, the Hebrides,
or the Canary Islands, the Maldives

Omission of Articles

Some common types of nouns that don't take an article are:

● Names of languages, : Chinese, English, Spanish,

Russian,