The artiles

The articles: a/an and the
Summary
ACCIDENTS CAN HAPPEN
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents held an exhibition at Harrogate, in the north of England. Some shelves were put up to display the exhibits. During the exhibition, the shelves fell down, injuring a visitor.
We use a/an only with a singular noun, but we can use the with any noun. We also use some as a plural equivalent of a/an.
Some shelves were put up.
We can also sometimes use a noun on its own without an article.
Accidents can happen.
The form of the articles  I
We use a before a consonant sound and an before a vowel sound.
a visitor an exhibition
The basic use of the articles  II
A/an is the indefinite article, and the is the definite article. We use the when it is clear which one we mean. This can happen in three different ways. Firstly, by repetition: we say an exhibition when we first mention it, but the exhibition when it is mentioned again, when it means `the exhibition just mentioned`. Secondly, when there is only one: the captain. And thirdly, because a phrase or clause after the noun makes clear which one is meant: the woman sitting behind us.
A/an to describe and classify  III
We use a/an to describe and classify.
This is a nice place. `The Economist` is a magazine.
The article in generalizations  IV
Articles can also have a general meaning.
The bicycle is a cheap means of transport.
There is lots to interest a visitor.
A plural or uncountable noun on its own can also have a general meaning.
Accidents can happen.
a/an or one?  V
We can use either a/an or one with a singular noun. One puts more emphasis on the number.
a/an, some and a noun on its own  VI
We use a/an only with a singular noun. With plural or uncountable nouns we use some or the noun on its own.
Singular: A shelf was put up.
Plural: (Some) shelves were put up.
Uncountable: (Some) furniture was brought in.
Sugar or the sugar?  VII
With an uncountable or plural noun we often have a choke between, for example, music (general) and the music (specific).
Music usually helps me relax. The music was far too loud.
OVERVIEW: a/an, some and the  VIII
A singular noun on its own  IX
We use a singular noun on its own only in some special patterns.
Articles with school, prison etc  X
I hope to go to university.
Articles in phrases of time  XI
You should get the letter on Thursday.
Names of people  XII
Names of people normally have no article.
Place names and the  XIII
Some place names have the. We say Kennedy Airport but the Classic Cinema.
Ten pounds an hour etc  XIV
There is a special use of a/an in phrases of price, speed etc.
A nursing home costs £ 400 a week.
I. The form of the articles
1. Before a consonant sound the articles are a// and the /ð/. Before a vowel sound they are an / a/ and the /ð/.
a + consonant sound an + vowel sound
a shelf // + /∫/ an accident /n/ + /æ/
a visitor // + /v/ an exhibition /n/ + /e/
a big exhibition // + /b/ an interesting display /n/ + /I/
the /ð/ the /ðI/
the shelf // + /∫/ the accident /I/ + /æ/
2. It is the pronunciation of the next word which matters, not the spelling. Note especially words beginning with o, u or h. or abbreviations.
a one-day event // + /w/ an only child /n/ + //
a union/uniform/university // + /j/ an umbrella /n/ + //
a European country // + /j/ an error /n/ + /e/
a holiday // + /h/ an hour /n/ + //
a U-turn // + /j/ an MI5 agent /n/ + //
NOTE
a. With some words we can either pronounce h or not. e.g. a hotel /a/ + /h/ or an hotel /n/ + //. Also: a/an historic moment. a/an horrific accident. Leaving out /h/ is a little formal and old-fashioned.
b. In slow or emphatic speech we can use a /ei/, an // and the //.
And now, ladies and gentlemen, a /ei/ special item in our show.
When the is stressed, it can mean `the only`, `the most important`. .
Aintree is the // place to be on Grand National Day.
For the Ronald Reagan.  170(2) Note a.
II. The basic use of the articles
1. HOVERCRAFT STOWAWAY
A hovercraft flying at 40 mph was halted in rough seas when a stowaway was discovered -on the outside. He was seen hiding behind a liferaft to avoid paying the £5 fare from Ryde, Isle of Wight to Southsea. The captain was tipped off by radio. He stopped the craft and a crewman brought the stowaway inside.
A Hovertravel spokesman said: ‘It was a very dangerous thing to do. The ride can be bumpy and it would be easy to fall off.’
(from The Mail on Sunday)
When the report first mentions a thing, the noun has a/an, e.g. a hovercraft and a stowaway in the first sentence. When the same thing is mentioned again, the writer uses the.
He stopped the craft and a crewman brought the stowaway inside.
The means that it should be clear to the reader which one, the one we are talking about.
The difference between a/an and the is like the difference between someone/something and a personal pronoun.
Police are questioning a man/someone about the incident. The man/He was arrested when he arrived at Southsea.
A man/someone is indefinite; the man/he is definite.
NOTE
a. For a/an describing something, e.g. It was a very dangerous thing to do,  161.
b. We sometimes see a special use of the at the beginning of a story. This is the first sentence.of a short story by Ruth Rendell.
A murderer had lived in the house, the estate agent told Norman.
This puts the reader in the middle of the action, as if we already know what house.
2. The context is important in the choice of a/an or the. Take this example from Hovercraft Stowaway in (l).
The captain was tipped off by radio.
We use the here even though this is the first mention of the captain. Because we are talking about a hovercraft, it is clear that the captain means the captain of the hovercraft. We use the for something unique in the context -there is only one captain.
A car stopped and the driver got out.
You`ll see a shop with paintings in the window.
We know which window -the window of the shop just mentioned.
Now look at these examples.
A hovercraft crossing the English Channel was halted in rough seas.
The Prime Minister is to make a statement.
The sun was shining. We were at home in the garden.
I`m just going to the post office.
Could I speak to the manager? (spoken in a restaurant).
I can’t find the volume control (spoken while looking at a stereo)
There is only one English Channel, one Prime Minister of a country, one sun in the sky, one garden of our house and one post office in our neighbourhood. So in each example it is clear which we mean.
3. We often use the when a phrase or clause comes after the noun and defines which one is meant.
Ours is the house on the corner.
I`d like to get hold of the idiot who left this broken glass here.
But if the phrase or clause does not give enough information to show which one, we use a/an.
He lives in a house overlooking the park.
We cannot use the if there are other houses overlooking the park.
We often use the when an of-phrase follows the noun.
We came to the edge of a lake.
The roof of a house was blown off in the storm.
Steve heard the sound of an aircraft overhead.
NOTE
But we, can use a/an before a phrase of quantity with of.
Would you like a piece o/toast?
4. We normally use the in noun phrases with superlative adjectives and with only, next, last, same, right and wrong.
The Sears Tower is the tallest building in the world.
You`re the only friend I`ve got.
I think you went the wrong way at the lights.
NOTE
a. An only child is a child without brothers or sisters.
b. For next and last in phrases of time, e.g, next week,  169(8).
5. We use the in a rather general sense with some institutions, means of transport and communication, and with some jobs.
This decade has seen a revival in the cinema.
I go to work on the train. Your cheque is in the post.
Kate has to go to the dentist tomorrow.
Here the cinema does not mean a specific cinema but the cinema as an institution.
The train means the train as a means of transport.
Also the countryside, the doctor, the establishment, the media, the (news)paper, the police, the press, the seaside, the working class (es).
NOTE
Television and radio as institutions do not take an article.
Donna has got a job in television/ in radio.
But compare watch television/see it on television and listen to the radio/hear it on the radio
When we talk about the physical things, we use the articles in the normal way.
There was a television /a radio on the shelf
Harry turned on the radio/the television.
6. a/an can mean either a specific one or anyone.
I`m looking for a pen. It`s a blue one. (a specific pen)
I`m looking for a pen. Haw you got one? (any pen)
A hovercraft was halted in rough seas yesterday. (a specific hovercraft)
The quickest way is to take a hovercraft. (anyone)
7. Here is an overview of the basic uses of the articles.
a/an the
Not mentioned before Mentioned before ".
Do you want to see a video Do you want to see the video?
(We don`t say which video. (= the video we are talking about)
Unique in context
Are you enjoying the play?
(spoken in a theatre)
Not unique Phrase or clause defines which
We watched a film about wildlife. I watched the film you videoed.
(There are other films about wildlife.) (You videoed one film.)
III. A/an to describe and classify
1. A singular noun phrase which describes something has a/an, even though it is clear which one is meant.
This is a big house, isn`t it? Last Saturday was a lovely day.
You are an idiot, you know. It`s a long way to Newcastle.
2. We also use a/an to classify, to say what something is.
What kind of bird is that?~A blackbird, isn`t it?
The Sears Tower is a building in Chicago.
This includes a person`s job, nationality or belief.
My sister is a doctor. NOT My sister is doctor.
The author of the report is a Scot.
I thought you were a socialist.
Mr Liam O`Donnell, a Catholic, was injured in the incident.
NOTE
We can also use an adjective of nationality (e.g. American, Scottish) as complement.
The author of the report is an American/is American.
My grandfather was a Scot/was Scottish.
For nationality words,  288.
IV. The article in generalizations
This paragraph contains some generalizations about animals.
ANIMAL NOSES
As with other parts of its equipment, an animal evolves the kind of nose it needs. The hippo has grown its ears and eyes on the top of its head, and its nostrils on top of its nose, for lying in water. Camels and seals can close their noses; they do it in the same way but for different reasons. The camel closes its nose against the blowing sand of the desert, and the seal against the water in which it spends most of its time.
(from F. E. Newing and R. Bowood Animals And How They Live)
For generalizations we can use a plural or an uncountable noun on its own, or a singular noun with a/an or the.
Camels can close their noses.
A camel can close its nose.
The camel can close its nose.
These statements are about all camels, camels in general, not a specific camel or group of camels. We do not use the camels for a generalization.
1. Plural/uncountable noun on its own
Blackbirds have a lovely song. Airports are horrible places.
People expect good service. Time costs money.
This is the most common way of making a generalization.
2. A/an + singular noun
A blackbird has a lovely song.
A computer will only do what it`s told to do.
An oar is a thing you row a boat with.
Here a blackbird means any blackbird. any example of a blackbird. We also normally use a/an when explaining the meaning of a word such as an oar.
3. The + singular noun
The blackbird has a lovely song.
What will the new tax mean for the small businessman?
Nobody knows who invented the wheel.
Can you play the piano?
Here the blackbird means a typical, normal blackbird, one which stands for blackbirds in general, also use the with some groups of people described in economic terms (the small businessman, the taxpayer, the customer), with inventions (the wheel, the word processor) and with musical instruments.
NOTE
Sports and games are uncountable, so we use the noun on its play tennis, play chess.
Compare play the piano and play the guitar. For American usage, 304(3).
4. The + adjective
We can use the before some adjectives of nationality and before some other adjectives to make generalizations.
The French love eating in restaurants.  288(3)
What is the World Bank doing to help the poor?  204
V. A/an or one?
1. A/an and one both refer to one thing, but one puts more emphasis on the number.
The stereo has a tape deck. (You can record on it.)
The stereo has one tape deck. (You can`t use two tapes.)
2. We use one for one of a larger number. It often contrasts with other.
One shop was open, but the others were closed.
One expert says one thing, and another says something different.
We use one in the of-pattern.
One of the shops was open.
3. We use one in adverb phrases with morning, day, time etc.
One morning something very strange happened.
One day my genius will be recognized.
4 We use a/an in some expressions of quantity, e.g. a few, a little, a lot of, a number of,  177. And we can sometimes use a instead of one in a number, e.g. a hundred,  191(1) Note b.
VI. A/an, some and a noun on its own
We use a/an only with a singular noun. Some + plural or uncountable noun is equivalent to a/an + singular noun.
Singular: There`s a rat under the floorboards.
Plural: There are some rats under the floorboards.
Uncountable: There`s some milk in the fridge.
some rats = a number of rats; some milk = an amount of milk
But we can sometimes use a plural or uncountable noun on its own.
There are rats under the floorboards.
There`s milk in the fridge.
Leaving out some makes little difference to the meaning, but rats expresses a type of animal rather than a number of rats.
To classify or describe something,  161, or to make a generalisation.
 162, we
use a/an+ singular noun or a plural or uncountable noun on its own.
Singular: That`s a rat, not a mouse. A rat will eat anything.
Plural: Those are rats, not mice. Rats will eat anything.
Uncountable: Is this milk or cream? Milk is good for you.