Grammar: Articles: a, an, the (or no article)
by Geoff Taylor, CALL Co-ordinator, St Clare's, Oxford, December 2002

1. Test yourself: a, an, the, or no article?
2. Introduction: a, an and the
3. Study and practice: a or an?
4. Test yourself: a or an?

5. Study and practice: the
6. Test yourself: a, an or the?
7. Study and practice: the or no the?
8. Test yourself: a, an, the or no article?

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Study: the or no the?

When we use the

• When we talk or write about specific things, we use the.

When we do not use the

• When we talk or write about things in general, and general ideas, we do not use the. (We use nothing, no article.)

Study these example sentences:

1. Love is more important than work.
   (the general ideas of love and work)
2. The work a doctor does is very important. The love I get from my family helps me feel important.
   (The specific work of a doctor. The specific love of my family.)

Practice: the or no the?

(Click the answer buttons to check your answer)

1. The students helped the technician carry PCs/the PCs? the PCs up to the computer room.
2. Do you think PCs/the PCs? PCs are easy to use?
3. Do you like tea/the tea? tea with milk?
4. I think there's something wrong with the milk/the milk? the milk . It smells bad.
5. Fruit/The fruit? Fruit and vegetables/the vegetables? vegetables are good for our health.
6. Bananas/The bananas? The bananas I bought yesterday were delicious.
7. Don't ask me who the British Prime Minister is. I hate politics/the politics? politics .
8. Professor Brown is writing a book entitled " Politics/The Politics? The Politics of Margaret Thatcher: the first female Prime Minister of Britain"
9. Intelligence/The intelligence? Intelligence is often described as the ability to solve problems.
10. How do scientists measure the intelligence/the intelligence? the intelligence of animals?
11. I've forgotten my watch. What's time/the time? the time ?
12. When you are having fun, time/the time? time goes very quickly.
13. In Britain, millions of people have used (and continue to use) recreational drugs/the recreational drugs? recreational drugs like marijuana.
14. When the police broke into the house, the drug dealer quickly put all drugs/the drugs? the drugs down the toilet.

TOP

1. Test yourself: a, an, the, or no article?
2. Introduction: a, an and the
3. Study and practice: a or an?
4. Test yourself: a or an?

5. Study and practice: the
6. Test yourself: a, an or the?
7. Study and practice: the or no the?
8. Test yourself: a, an, the or no article?

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