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Articles /P BSUJDMF

5IF JOEFm OJUF BSUJDMF a/an No article is used:
A/an is used for something general or non-specifi c, or when t with plural and uncountable nouns with a general
we refer to something for the fi rst time: meaning:
Have you got a bicycle? (= any kind of bicycle) Cats chase mice.
He’s a good gymnast. (= one of many) Pollution is ruining our towns and cities.
There’s a tennis club in our town. t in certain phrases which relate to a type of place or
institution, but not a specifi c one:
Other uses: Did you go to university?
t to refer to someone’s job or function: What did you do in class today?
She used to be a hotel receptionist.
Other similar phrases:
t to mean one: be in / go to church, court, hospital, prison, bed
I have a sister and two brothers. be at / go to sea, school, university, college, work
be at / go home
5IF EFm OJUF BSUJDMF the

The is used with any type of noun when it is clear which at, in and on to express location
thing/person we are referring to. It may be specifi cally
identifi ed in the sentence, it may have been mentioned 6TF at
before, or there may be only one of these things: t when a place is thought of as a point, not an area
Where’s the furniture we ordered last week? (I’m identifying (including at home, at school, at work, at university):
the furniture I mean) I’ll meet you at the airport when you arrive.
We ordered a table and six chairs. The chairs have arrived
but the table hasn’t. (= the one(s) I’ve just mentioned) t to talk about an event involving a number of people:
She’s at the station. (= the local station, the only one) Tina met Joe at Charlie’s wedding.
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We’re meeting at UIF café later. (= you know the one I t for addresses:
mean – the one we always go to) She lives at number 11, Abbey Road.

Other uses: 6TF in
t to refer generally to some geographical locations, e.g. t when a place is thought of as an area or space:
the beach, the coast, the mountains, the sea, the road: Gary lives in a small fl at at the top of a tower block.
We’re spending a fortnight in the mountains, but I’d t for cars and taxis:
prefer to be somewhere on the coast.
Let’s talk in the car.
t to refer to a type of musical instrument:
t in phrases such as in class, in hospital, in prison, in court:
He’s learning to play the trumpet.
He studied for a degree while he was in prison.
t to refer generally to public transport and other services:
t for the world:
You can take the train to Edinburgh.
It’s the tallest building in the world.
I like reading on the bus.
Have they contacted the police? 6TF on
t with adjectives used as nouns for groups of people, e.g. t to talk about a position in contact with a surface:
the rich, the poor, the living, the dead, the blind, the deaf, We’ve hung the picture on the wall above the fi replace.
the unemployed: She lay on the beach, soaking up the sunshine.
There’s a growing gap between the rich and the poor. t to talk about a position on something thought of as a line,
e.g. a coast, a road, the outskirts, the edge:
Keyhaven is a small village on the south coast.
There were huge traffi c jams on the motorway.
t with means of transport apart from cars and taxis:
Hi, Karen. I’m on the train now so I’ll be home soon.

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