1.The indefinite article
2.The definite article
3.Cases where no article is used
1.The indefinite article:
-The
indefinite article in English is
a/an.
It is used:
a)
before a singular noun when the
latter is countable.
e.g.
a
chair
b) before names of professions.
e.g.
a
carpenter
c)
with few
and
little
e.g.
a
few
tables
a
little
milk
-the form
"an"
is used before one of
the cases mentioned above beginning with a vowel (a, o, i, u when not
pronounced (/you/)
e.g.
an
arm; an
uncle (but not "an university").
2.The definite article:
-The definite article is the.
It is used before:
a)
a noun which has become definite
as a result of being mentioned a second time.
e.g.
I am driving a car. The car belongs to my friend John.
b)
nouns which there is only one or considered as one.
e.g.
the
sun, the
moon, ... (but not the
God but God).
c)
Superlatives:
e.g.
the
best,
the
easiest, the
most expensive, …
d)
Names of rivers, mountains, seas, etc. and plural nouns of countries:
e.g.
the
Mississippi, the
Djurdjura,
the
Mediterranean Sea, the
Philippines, the
United Arab Emirates, ...
3.Cases where no article is used:
a)
before plural nouns used in general terms.
e.g.
trees, animals, ...
b)
before amenities like: church,
market, hospital, school, etc. when they are used for their primary use.
e.g.
I went to hospital. (because I was ill.)
But when they are not used for that, the definite article is used:
I went to the
hospital. (to visit a friend of mine.)
c)
before uncountable nouns.
e.g.
information, money, ink, water, wood, …
d)
before abstract nouns.
e.g.
freedom, peace, ...
e)
before names of meals.
e.g.
lunch, dinner, …
f)
before names of days of the week and months of the year.
e.g.
Tuesday, January, …
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