ARTICLES
A short overview


CONTEXT - SITUATION
 The window opens.
 A window opens.

CONTEXT – TEXT
 I opened a window. The boss came in and saw the window.


PARTICULAR                VS       GENERAL
 Countables
 The windows open. The window is an important part of any building.

  Windows open.
 Uncountables
 Drink the milk. Drink milk.

THE ONLY ONE

THE
Sun, Moon…
cinema/theatre
radio

FOOD
 Have breakfast/lunch/dinner

                    I never eat lunch.



                    I have eaten an excellent lunch.

AT SCHOOL / IN THE SCHOOL
 University                   He works at university./ He is in the university (building).
 School                        I was at school./ We found him in the school.
 Hospital                      He was taken to hospital./ We was him in the hospital.
 Church She goes to church./ She met him in the church.
 Prison He was sent to prison./ I was called to the prison.
 Bed I’m still in bed./ I’m under the bed.
 Sea He works at sea./ He likes swimming in the sea.

OTHER USES OF THE

THE
The giraffe is the tallest animal.
The French speak a strange language.
The young, the poor, the elderly
He plays the guitar, the piano and the saxophone.

NAMES WITH THE
 Rivers, oceans: the Mississippi, the Pacific
 Deserts: the Gobi Desert
 People: the Spanish, the French, the Japanese
 Countries: the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, the United States
 Groups of islands: the Seychelles
 Mountain ranges: the Rocky Mountains, the Alps

NAMES WITH NO ARTICLE
 Continents: Africa, Australia
 Lakes: Lake Huron, Loch Ness
 Countries: France, Italy, Germany
 Islands: Sicily, Cyprus
 Cities: New York, Canberra
 Mountains: Mount Everest, Ben Nevis

NAMING PLACES IN CITIES - THE
 Hotels: the Sheraton (Hotel)
 Cinemas: the Palace (Theatre)
 Museums: the Guggenheim (Museum)
 Buildings: the Empire State Building
 Newspapers: the Times, the Washington Post
 Organisations: the BBC

NAMING PLACE IN CITIES – NO ARTICLE
 Streets: Oxford Street
 Airports: JFK Airport
 Universities: Cambridge/ Oxford University (but: the University of Cambridge)
 In general, when the first name is a name of a place or a person:
 Victoria Station McDonald’s
 Buckingham Palace Macy’s
 Canterbury Cathedral St Paul’s Cathedral
 Edinburgh Castle