English Article

Introduction

The articles in English are "a," "an," and "the." The first 
two (a, an) are called "indefinite articles" because they 
refer to general things instead of particular things. For 
example, in the sentence "Shall we go to see a movie?" 
the indefinite article lets us know that the speaker is not 
referring to a particular movie. 

However, "the" is a definite article and always refers to a 
specific thing. For example, if you changed the above 
sentence to read, "Shall we go to see the movie my brother 
told me yesterday?" the speaker is referring to one specific 
movie. 

Here are the categories of nouns and the general rules about 
article usage. 

Proper Nouns

Proper Nouns (names of people, places, religions, languages, etc) 
either use no article or "the." Usually, if the proper noun is 
singular, do not use an article, and if the proper noun is plural, 
use the definite article "the." 

Examples: 

Not appropriate: 

He is going to take a winter vacation in the Europe.
Don't send that email to the Mr. Smith yet.
We invited Canadians in our dorm to join us for Thansgiving 
dinner.

Correct:

He is going to take a vacation in the United States.
Don't send that email to Mr. Smith yet.
We invited the Canadians in our dorm to join us for Thanksgiving 
dinner.

Using "the" with Proper Nouns 

Use "the" with the names of certain countries: the Far East, the 
Middle East, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the 
United States, the Netherlands, the Sudan, the Soviet Union, 
the People's Republic of China

Use "the" with the names of geographical locations

the Panama Canal, the Sahara Desert, the Nile River, the Pacific 
Ocean, the Grand Canyon

Use "the" with plural mountains, lakes and islands 

the Hawaiian Islands, the Great Lakes, the Rocky Mountains 
(but not Lake Superior or Mount Everest)

Common Nouns 

With common nouns (which include every other kind of noun 
besides proper nouns) article use depends on whether the 
noun is countable or not countable. If the noun stands for 
something that can be counted, it needs an article if it is 
singular. If it is plural, it either uses no article or the 
efinite article "the."

Examples (Countable, Singular): 

Not appropriate: 

Would you like apple with your ice cream?
Let's take dog inside.

Correct:

Would you like an apple with your ice cream?
Please hand me the apple closest to you.

Let's take the dog inside.
My daughter wants a cat for her birthday.

Examples (Countable, Plural): 

Not appropriate:

The dogs are a person's best friend (not a specific dog). 
Police officers wearing uniform are coming 
(specific officers).

Correct:

Dogs are a person's best friend.
The police officers wearing uniform are coming.

Non-Countable Nouns

If a noun stands for something that cannot be counted, it 
either takes "the" or no article. Mass nouns never take "a" 
or "an." Also, most non-countable nouns do not have plural 
forms (for example, there is no such form as "wisdoms," or 
"chemistries"). A few non-countable nouns end in "s" but 
are actually singular nouns (such as "civics," measles," 
"news," "tennis," and "politics"). 

Non-countable nouns fall into several categories: 

Abstractions: laughter, information, beauty, love, work, 
knowledge

Fields of activity or study: law, football, biology, research, 
chess, homework

Natural phenomena: weather, rain, sunshine, snow

Whole groups of objects: sand, rice, flour, furniture

Liquids, fluids, gases, and minerals: water, air, gasoline, 
coffee, lead, iron, wood

Wholes made up of smaller parts: cash, clothing, jewelry, 
mail, money

Diseases or medical procedures: cancer, stroke, diabetes

Examples (Non countable): 

Not appropriate: 

Our Constitution guarantees us the happiness.
Nothing is more satisfying than receiving love of children.

Correct: 

Our Constitution guarantees us happiness (general happiness). 
Nothing is more satisfying than receiving the love of children 
(specific kind of love).

When to use "a," "an," or "the":

Use "a" or "an" for nonspecific, singular, count nouns (nouns 
that do not refer to a particular thing). 

Examples: 

You can't take the exam without a pencil.
It will take an hour to drive to Greensboro. 

Use "the" for specific singular nouns (nouns that refer to a 
particular thing). 

Examples:

I can't take the exam without the lucky pencil you gave me.
You must show up at the hour we agreed upon.

Plural and mass nouns do not usually require an article. 

Examples: 

Magic tricks never fool me.
Cereal is my favorite breakfast food.

Plural and mass nouns followed by a modifier require "the". 

Examples:

The magic tricks of David Copperfield never fool me.
The cereal on the top shelf is getting stale.

Here are some other specific occasions where one would use 
"the": 

To show that something or someone has already been spoken or 
written about.

Example: Is this the movie you recommended?

To show that something or someone is already known to the 
speaker or hearer. 

Example: Please hand me the bottle.

Used with things, places, or people because they are well-known. 

Example: When you get back from the store, bring me the change. 

To show that something or someone is the only one of its kind. 

Example: The sun went down at 6:00 p.m. last night.

To refer to parts of the body, parts of houses, and parts of 
machines. 

Example: He received a blow to the head while he was sitting in 
the back of the car that ran into the side of the house. 

Used to refer to all those of a stated kind. 

Example: All the students in this class received passing grades. 

To refer to a species of animal or plant. 

Example: The zebra is not native to North America. 

To show the relation between one thing and another. 

Example: This car gets 38 miles to the gallon.

To show the relation between amounts of things (with a 
comparative adjective such as "more" or "less"): 

Example: The more news you read, the more you will know.

To compare using superlatives, such as "best" or "worst." 

Example: My father's pizza is the best I've ever tasted.

Here are some more specific occasions when one would use "a" 
or "an":

To refer to any one of a number of possible things. 

Example: I need a new book. 

To refer to one part of a larger quantity.

Example: Can I have a bowl of cereal and a slice of pizza?

To specify information associated with each item of a grouping. 

Example: This Chinese take-out food costs $5.00 a box.

With someone's name you have not met before. 

Example: A Mrs. Smith stopped by to see you while you were out.

When a noun is introduced to the reader for the first time, use 
"a." Then use "the" each subsequent reference to that noun. 

Example: A man came into the store today. The man was tall. 

In some cases, the rules for article use seem arbitrary and 
confusing.

For example, articles are needed with some abstract nouns but 
not with others:

Appropriate: We must protect the environment. 

Not appropriate: We must protect the nature.