Grammar: articles and their usage

 

There exist definite (the), indefinite (a, an) and zero (Ø) articles in English.

The definite articles «the» are used with specific nouns (when the listener or reader knows what specific thing or person the speaker is talking about: Where is the dictionary? (that I gave you). Де словник? (той, що я вам дав). The method was used before. Цей метод, використовувався раніше. «The» is used when the noun is unique — «only one»: The sun is shining» (There is only one sun).

The indefinite articles «a», «an» are used with singular countable nouns that are non-specific: I need a pencil — Мені потрібен олівець.

For plural count and non-count nouns that are indefinite, we use «some» instead of «a»: I need some pencils. — Мені пoтpiбні олівці. Would you care for some coffee? Чи хочете кави?

Ø is used for plural count and non-count nouns that are indefinite and when the speaker talks about the things in general: When Ø people can communicate with each other they get along better. Коли люди спілкуються, їм легше порозумітися.

It is useful to remember three so-called «golden rules» (with some exceptions to them):

1. Do not use the definite article «the» with non-count nouns denoting substances, abstract nouns, or when you talk about things in general: Ø Life is hard. Життя важке. Ø Tea is popular beverage. Чай популярний напій. Ø Literature and Ø music are called «the fine arts». Література та музика називаються витонченим мистецтвом.	But: The life of the scientist was hard. Життя вченого було важким. They lived a happy life. Вони жили щасливо. The tea I drank today was Chinese. Сьогодні вранці я пив китайський чай. Please, pass the salt. Будь ласка, передайте сіль.
2. Use either definite or indefinite articles with singular countable nouns: He is going to buy a dictionary. Biн збираеться придбати словник. Where is the dictionary you spoke about? Де той словник, про який ви згадували?
3. Use indefinite article with the names of professions: He is a mathematician. Він математик. She is an engineer. Вона інженер.	But: They are Ø doctors. Вони лікарі. They are Ø engineers. Вони інженери.

GENERAL USAGE OF ARTICLES:

 

Nouns	Articles
	a	the	Ø
single countable	a book	the book	—
plural countable	—	the books	books
uncountable	—	the water	water

 

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ARTICLES USED WITH CERTAIN EXPRESSIONS

 

a	the	Ø
a couple of a dozen a pair of	at/to the office to the movies to the theater	at work at home at/to school
a lot of a great deal a great many a host of	the first the second(...) the last the...est (the best, the biggest; the most...)	part of   in stable condition according to contract in rush hour
a hundred a thousand
two times	a day an hour		by bus/car/train on foot
what such	a + countable noun		face to face arm in arm
such what	a promising approach!	(the) so-called from beginning to end

 

ARTICLES WITH PROPER NAMES

	Ø	the	a
Cities, states	Paris, London, New Jersey, Ohio	Exception: the Hague
Streets, squares, avenues, roads, boulevards	Green Street, First Avenue, Peach Boulevard	Exception: the Strand
Countries (use «the» when they have a plural name and are viewed as unions)	Canada, France, Ukraine	the Philippines, the United Kingdom
(the) USA
Geographic areas (regions)		the Orient, the Middle East, the Crimea
Continents	Europe, Asia, South America, Africa
Mountains, mountain peaks	Mount Everest	Exception: the Matterhorn
Mountain ranges		the Rocky Mountains, the Alps
Lakes	Lake Michigan
Lakes when they form a set		the Great Lakes
Rivers		the Danube
Oceans and seas		the Atlantic Ocean, the Black Sea
Gulfs		the Gulf of Mexico
Bays	San Francisco Bay

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Canals		the Erie canal
Planets	Mars, Venus	Exceptions: the Sun, the Moon, (the) Earth
Separate islands	Jamaica
Chains of islands		the Canary Islands
Deserts		the Gobi desert
Parks	Central Park
Tourist attractions, famous buildings, monuments,	Exception: Disneyland	the White House, the National Gallery,
Museums, libraries		the Library of Congress
with universities, colleges, schools beginning with a proper noun	Harvard University, Lambton college
with universities, colleges, schools beginning with «university», «school», «college»		the University of Virginia, the college of arts and sciences
Names of magazines	Time magazine
Names of historic documents		the Treaty of Geneva
Names of wars (except World Wars)	World War I	the War of Independence
names of ships, Trains, airplanes		the Orient express
names of scientific methods: a) well-known and established (the) b) those still not recognized by everyone (Ø)	Green method	the Montessori method
proper names a) denoting family as a whole (the) as opposed To separate name (Ø) b) specifying maiden name (a)	Ann Johnson	the Johnsons	She was a Brown before marriage.