ARTICLES q All singular countable nouns must have a determiner in front of them. Determiners: § Indefinite articles § Definite articles § Demonstratives: this/ that § Possessives: my, your, ... § Numbers: two, ... § Quantifiers: much, many, not much, ... q We often use no article at all in English. This non-use of the article is so important that we give it a name -- the zero article. q Some refers to quantity not uncertainty and cannot be therefore used instead of the indefinite article! It is only used in front of a plural noun or an uncountable noun -- that is everywhere, where a/an cannot be used. A/an is used only in front of a singular countable (a hat) because it comes from the Old English ´one. ´ The can be used in front of a singular countable (the hat), a plural countable (the hats) an uncountable (the water) Zero -- we often use no articles in front of a plural countable (hats) an uncountable (water) The indefinite article a/an: + Is used to classify things (saying things belong to a class of items -- a flower) by means of general statement, definition or description. Andrew Bright is an architect. An architect is a person who designs buildings. You are an angel. + The most common use of a/an is in the sense ´only one but I do not care which one´, when we are not specifying any particular person or thing. I would like an apple. + Is also used when something is mentioned for the first time. I looked up and saw a plane. (You don't know which one.) NOTE: We always use a/an in a kind of/sort of/ type of and in exclamations: What a surprise! The definite article the: + When using the, we must always bear a very important fact in mind: it normally has a definite reference (i.e. the person or thing referred to is assumed to be known to the speaker or reader). + The group as a whole -- usually nationalities: The British, the Japanese, the Europeans, the Liberals + Specified groups: the public, the unions, the bosses, ... + Specifying: by means of back-reference: Singleton is a small village near Chichester. The village is very quiet. By means of the + noun + of: The life of Napoleon was very stormy. By means of clauses and phrases: The Smith you are looking for no longer lives here. The letters on the shelf are for you. Within a limited context (when the listener/ reader can identify easily enough what/ who is being referred to): It's the postman. She's gone to the butcher's. Pass me the salt, please. + We always use the definite article with superlatives (the best), with musical instruments (Tom plays the piano.) and with some fixed expressions (the sooner the better, do the shopping.) + And we also use it with ´unique items´, i.e. where there is only one of the kind: the French Revolution, the United Nations, The Titanic, the Queen, the Government, The Times, the human race, the dinosaurs, the weather. The ZERO article: + We use the zero article before three types of nouns: Plural countable nouns: Some people want chips with everything. Uncountable nouns: Butter makes you fat. Proper nouns: John lives in London. + Zero article is often used in general statements: Beans contain a lot of fibre. Watches have become very accurate. Smoking is bad for health. Business has been improving steadily this year. + It is always used with names of people, titles ..., days, months, seasons and holidays (Monday, June, Christmas,...), academic subjects (English, History), meals (breakfast, lunch), transport (bus, bike) etc. In almost all these cases a definite article may be used in a certain situation but then, it the meaning is changed (The breakfast I ordered still hasn´t arrived.) For further details please consult Longman English Grammar (L.G.Alexander, 1996.)