This document discusses the use of articles (a, an, the) in English. It explains that a/an is used for nouns mentioned for the first time, while the is used for nouns that are clearly defined. No article is used with plural or uncountable nouns in general phrases. For institutions like school or church, no article is used when referring to the concept, but a/an or the is used when referring to the physical building.
1. THE USE OF ARTICLES
(a/an/ the, no article)
Use a/an when you ment ion
somebody/something for the f i rst t ime or say
who/ what somebody/something is.
• My neighbor just
bought a dog :
2. • She is an actress :
• The dog is an Alsatian:
3. Use the when it is clear who/what
somebody/something is.
• He got into the car and drove
to the courthose:
4. Don’t use an article to speak in general with plural
and uncountable nouns, or in phrases like:
• At home, not, at the house.
• At work, not, at the work.
• Go home, not, go to the home.
• To bed, not, go to the bed.
• Next, last week, not, the next/last week.
5. INSTITUTIONS
With school, collage, prison/jail, church, etc. Don’t
use an article when you are talking about the
institution:
• My son is in high
school:
6. To talk about the building, use a/an or the:
They are building a new high school in our town:
