The definite article is plural. Article a, an, the in English: examples of use, rule

Articles are an important part of the English language. But unfortunately, this topic is not always clear to Russian-speaking students. Because such a phenomenon is absent in their native speech. The rules for using articles must be studied by a person who wants to competently use various means of the English language. And in some situations, small and seemingly insignificant articles even help to correctly understand the interlocutors.

What are articles and what are they?

An article is one that is inextricably linked with a noun. It does not have its own meaning (translation into Russian), but conveys only a grammatical meaning.

In English, the article does not indicate gender or case of nouns. In some cases it conveys the only thing, or, in general, it carries only the category of certainty-uncertainty. Based on this, there can be three situations with the article: its absence, indefinite and definite. Each of these three situations has its own specifics and its own rules.

The definite article was once formed from that. Therefore, in Russian you can often find the translation “this”, “these”, etc. Formally, this is not entirely true, because the function parts of speech have no translation, but in the case of the article, especially certain, this is often allowed. It's all about the special stylistic function that it can play in a sentence, pointing in a special way to objects and people.

The use of the article the will be the topic of this article. We will look at various situations and give examples. There will be quite a lot of cases of use, but don’t be alarmed if you can’t understand everything at once, much less remember. As you become more and more immersed in the English language through constant study, you will understand this logic and will soon be able to easily determine which article is needed in each case.

The definite article before nouns

The classic case when it is necessary to use the article the before the name of an object (person, animal) is the latter.

1. The called noun is unique.

For example: the sun - the sun, the world - the world.

2. The noun is unique in a given situation.

Do you like the pie? − Did you like the pie?

3. This subject (person, animal) has already been mentioned in this conversation and therefore the interlocutors understand what (whom) we are talking about.

I've got a cat. Her name is Lucy, she’s very cute. May I take the cat with me? − I have a cat. Her name is Lucy, she is very sweet. Can I take my cat with me?

4. This article is also placed before proper names when you need to designate a whole family. For example: the Smiths.

The definite article before other parts of speech

Of course, the article the and any others are used only with nouns. Articles are not needed before other parts of speech. But it often happens that between the article and the associated noun there is a numeral or an adjective. We will consider such cases.

1. The definite article is always placed before ordinal numbers: the twentieth century − twentieth century.

2. The article the is also invariably placed before adjectives: the brightest star - the brightest star.

3. It is necessary to use the definite article when denoting a group of people united common feature: the young − youth.

Definite article with geographical names and concepts

With those concepts that in one way or another relate to geography, the article the is used especially often.

1. Cardinal directions: the East (East).

2. Names of individual countries: the Russian Federation.

3. Oceans, seas, rivers, waterfalls: the Indian Ocean.

4. Groups of islands, lakes, mountains: the Bahamas.

5. Deserts and plains: the Great Plains.

When using the article (or lack thereof) with geographical names, there are also many exceptions, so the most reliable option is simple memorization. And if you have any doubts, you should always look at the grammar reference book and clarify the question for a specific case.

The definite article in special cases

There are also a number of words that can serve as a modifier before a noun. These words are given in the table below.

	previous
	past, past, last
	the only one
	next
	next
	upcoming
	correct, on the right
	central
	exactly the same one
	wrong, wrong
	the same
	upper, highest

You should always use the English article the with them. For example:

This is the very book I need! - This is exactly the book I need!

The last time I saw him was Friday − Last time I saw him on Friday.

The definite article is also required before words:

Definite article to enhance meaning

Separately, situations are highlighted when the article the carries a stylistic function. In these cases, it can be used before proper names, which under normal conditions remain without an article. This is best seen with an example. Compare two sentences: the first with the usual use of a proper name, and the second with a stylistic reinforcement of meaning.

This is Jack, always cheerful and generous! - This is Jack, always cheerful and generous!

This is the Jack I love most − cheerful and generous! - This is the same Jack whom I love most - cheerful and generous!

As is easy to see, there is something common in all cases of using the definite article: it is usually placed before words that carry a certain, specific, narrow, unique meaning. Remember this when you doubt the choice of a function word, and the reference book is not at hand.

Article is a special function word in English that is used before a noun. The article is often not translated into Russian. In English, the article is a noun determiner and is not an independent part of speech. Additionally about.

the definite article the used in English in the following cases:

1. The definite article is used before countable nouns, if it is clear from the situation/previous experience/context what object or person is being discussed.

Examples: We met a girl in the park. The girl was a famous actress. – We met a girl in the park. This girl was famous actress. (In the second sentence the noun girl used with the definite article the, because the girl was already discussed in the previous sentence)
Please close the book. - Close the book, please. (It must be clear to the interlocutor what book we are talking about, otherwise the speaker could not in this case use the article the)

2. The definite article is used before a noun with a modifier, which indicates what kind of subject we are talking about.

Examples: Show me the magazine that I gave you 2 weeks ago. – Show me the magazine that I gave you 2 weeks ago.
The key lying near the pillar is mine. – The key lying near the counter is mine.

3. The definite article is used with nouns that denote unique, one-of-a-kind objects, or the only objects under given conditions.

Examples:the sun – sun (does not indicate the name of the planets, therefore it is used with the definite article as a phenomenon that is unique in its kind),
the moon – moon (does not indicate the name of the planets, therefore it is used with the definite article as a unique phenomenon),
the sky – sky (one of a kind),
the Eiffel Tower – Eiffel Tower (the only one),
the captain - captain (since he is the only one on the ship),
the chief – chef (since he is the only chef in the restaurant),
the window – window (since it is the only one in the room),
the Earth – Earth (Earth as a planet, one of a kind),
BUT!
Noun Earth in the meaning of one of the planets (as Venus - Venus or Saturn - Saturn) used without an article and written with a capital letter, since according to the rule, the names of the planets are used without an article.

4. The definite article is used before a noun, which denotes not a separate object, but the whole class as a whole.

Examples:The lion is a wild animal. – A lion is a wild animal.
The pine is an evergreen tree. – Pine is an evergreen tree.

5. The definite article is used with the names of cinemas, hotels, museums, galleries, newspapers and magazines, ships.

Examples:the Odeon - Odeon cinema,
the Astoria – hotel “Astoria”,
the British Museum - British Museum,
the Tate Gallery – Tate Gallery,
the Times - The Times newspaper,
the Santa Maria - ship "Santa Maria", etc.

Note! If the name of a city facility (cinema, hotel, museum, gallery, etc.) contains the name settlement or a person's name (ending in –s or ‘s), then no article is used.

Examples: St. Paul's Cathedral - Cathedral of St. Pavel
Madame Tussaud’s Museum – Madame Tussaud’s Museum
Covent Garden - Covent Garden Opera House (named after the nearby market)
MacDonald's - McDonald's
Westminster Abbey - Westminster Abbey (named after the area)
Buckingham Palace – Buckingham Palace(named after a county in England)
Edinburgh Castle – Edinburgh Castle
London Zoo – London Zoo
Scotland Yard

6. The definite article is used with names of rivers, canals, seas, oceans, groups of islands, mountain ranges, deserts, lakes(if they are used without the word lake).

Examples:the Dnepr - Dnieper,
the Panama Canal - Panama Canal,
the Black Sea - Black Sea,
the Pacific Ocean - Pacific Ocean,
the Hawaiian Islands - Hawaiian Islands,
the Bahamas - Bahamas,
the Urals - Ural Mountains,
the Sahara desert - Sahara desert,
the Ontario - Ontario et al.
BUT!
Lake Superior – Lake Superior
Leech Lake– (lake) Lich
Loch Ness – (lake) Loch Ness (loch – Scottish version of the word “lake”)

7. The definite article is used with country names consisting of more than one word.

Examples:the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland - Union of the Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,
the United States of America – the USA – United States of America,
the Philippines - Philippines,
the United Arab Emirates - United Arab Emirates,
the Netherlands – Netherlands, etc.

As an exception, the definite article is used with the following countries and localities:

Examples:the Sudan - Sudan,
the Congo - Congo,
the Argentina Argentina,
the Ukraine - Ukraine,
the Crimea – Crimea,
the Caucasus – Caucasus, etc.

8. The definite article is used with the following city names:

Examples:the Hague - The Hague,
the Athens - Athens,
the Vatican – Vatican, etc.

9. The definite article is used with the following words (when they are used as adverbs of place):

Examples:beach- beach, cinema- cinema, city- city, country(side)- countryside, ground- Earth, jungle– jungle, library- library, pub– bar, radio- radio, sea- sea, seaside– coast, station- railway station, shop- shop, theater- theater, world– peace, etc.

10. The definite article is used with adjectives only - only, last - last, first - first.

Examples: It was the first time I was ever in love. – It was the first time I fell in love.
I had the only dream to become an engineer-designer of the electronic devices. – My only dream was to become an engineer-designer of electronic equipment.

11. The definite article is used with .

Examples:the rich - rich,
the young - youth,
the homeless - homeless people, etc.

12. The definite article is used c .

Examples: Nicole is the best friend. – Nicole is my best friend.
Winter is the coldest season of the year. – Winter is the most cold season per year.

13. The definite article is used with ordinal numbers.

Examples:the first - first,
the second - second,
the fifteenth – fifteenth,
the second Unit - second lesson,
BUT
Unit 1 – Lesson 1, etc.

14. The definite article is used with words morning - morning, afternoon - day, evening - evening.

Examples: in the morning - in the morning,
in the afternoon - during the day,
in the evening - in the evening.

15. The definite article is used with titles musical instruments .

Examples:the piano - piano,
the violin - violin,
the double-bass - double bass,
the guitar - guitar, etc.

16. The definite article is used with names of nationalities.

Examples:the Ukrainian - Ukrainians,
the Belorussian - Belarusians,
the English - Englishmen,
the Dutch - Dutch, etc.

17. The definite article is used with a surname when talking about the whole family.

Examples:the Petrovs – Petrov family,
the Browns - Brown family, etc.

18. The definite article is used with titles.

Examples:the Queen - queen,
the Prince - prince,
the Lord - lord
BUT!
Queen Victoria - Queen Victoria,
Prince William - Prince William,
Lord Byron - Lord Byron, etc.

In this article we will touch on the topic "Articles"- one of the most “unloved” topics of our students.

Many admit that, although they have gone through this topic many times, they continue to put articles at random and cannot systematize their knowledge in any way. The article THE is particularly difficult. Perhaps you have this problem too.

In preparing this article, we asked our students and subscribers to formulate questions related to the use of the article THE, which they find it difficult to answer on their own. I would like to note that the questions were very similar, so we have summarized them. And here are the questions that interest students:

• Which article should I choose: A or THE?
• How to determine whether the article THE is needed with plural and uncountable nouns?

If you are also not completely confident in the depth of your knowledge about the use of the definite article THE and your previous experience of studying “from a textbook” turned out to be useless, then this material will help you systematize your existing knowledge and, perhaps, learn something new.

Which article should I choose, A or THE?

Let's remember a little from the theory. A(an)- this, he points to an indefinite object, and emphasizes that there is only one object. THE- definite article (definite article), it is used when something is mentioned that is already known to the speakers.

Let's look at an example:

My father bought me a dog.
- Great! What color is the dog?
- The dog is black. And my mother bought me a book.

The first sentence uses article A, since the dog is mentioned for the first time and the interlocutor still knows nothing about it. Further used article THE, since it became clear to both speakers what kind of dog they were talking about. In the last sentence the word book also used with the indefinite article, since it is mentioned for the first time, the interlocutor has not yet determined what kind of book it is.

A few more examples:

Yesterday I got a letter. The letter was from my friend. - Yesterday I received a letter. The letter was from my friend.

I am reading a newspaper. I bought the newspaper from the newsagent. - I am reading a newspaper. I bought a newspaper from a periodical dealer.

Remember the rule: If you have a singular countable noun in front of you, then use A if this item is mentioned for the first time or it is vague, unimportant. THE is used if the subject has already been mentioned before and is known to the interlocutors.

Sometimes, even though something is mentioned for the first time, we can understand from the context what it is about: when it is given Additional Information about the subject, an explanation, or when it is clear from the situation itself. Let's look at examples with explanations:

I was at a party yesterday. - I was at a party yesterday.
(Referring to some kind of party that we don’t know anything about yet)

I was at theparty organized by my friend. - I was at a party organized by my friend.
(We understand what kind of party we are talking about)

He saw a woman in the corridor. - He saw (some) woman in the corridor.
(No additional information is given about the woman)

He saw the woman who lived next door to him. - He saw a woman who lived next door.
(We understand what kind of woman this is)

He entered a door. - He came through the door.
(He entered one of the doors, we do not know which one).

He entered the door nearest to the stairs. - He entered the door closest to the stairs.
(Specify which door exactly)

In what cases is the article THE always used?

Remember a number of cases in which the article THE is always used:

• when something is mentioned that exists in one copy, something unique of its kind: the sun, the moon, the world, the earth, the capital, the ground, the environment, the universe
• with names of groups of people expressed by adjectives: the elderly, the young, the old, the rich, the poor, the unemployed, the disabled and others
• with names that end in -ese And -sh (-ch): the British, the Scottish, the Spanish, the Chinese, the Japanese. With other nationalities, the article THE may not be used: (the) Russians, (the) Americans
• in combinations related to space: the end, the beginning, the middle, the center
• in combinations related to time: in the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening; the next, the last, the present, the future, the past
• with names of titles and positions: the King, the president, the Prime Minister, the Queen
• with and superlative adverbs: the best, the worst, the fastest, the most interesting, the most beautiful
• s, including dates: the first (of May), the third(of November), the twentieth, the thirty-first
• in combinations like: THE something OF: the legs of the table, the topic of our lesson
• with names of musical instruments: the guitar, the piano, the cello
• with the word same: the same
• in many set phrases and idiomatic expressions.

When is THE used with place nouns?

Nouns denoting various places (not to be confused with place names!) can be used with or without the article THE. The use of the article directly depends on the context in which the noun is mentioned.

Let's look at an example. If someone is sick, he is in the hospital:

He is at hospital.

When we say this, we do not mean a specific hospital, but we are talking about the hospital in general, as an institution where patients are treated.

If a friend of our patient decided to visit him and came to the hospital, then about him we need to say:

He is at the hospital.

He is not sick and should not be in the hospital (in the general sense of the word), he came to a certain hospital (the one where his friend is lying), which is why the article THE appears.

One more example:

My little sister goes to school. Today it is a school concert so all our family will go to the school.

Children generally go to school to learn, so when talking about students, the article is not used. Other family members are not students. They will go to a certain school where their child studies to watch a concert, respectively, before the word school Let's put an article.

The same miracles happen with the words prison, church, university.

Remember the rule: if you mean some place All in all(its intended purpose is emphasized), article THE not used. When it means specific establishment or building, article THE used.

As for other nouns denoting places, THE is most often used with them: the beach, the station, the coast, the seaside, the city, the countryside.

With cinema and theater, the article THE is used even when the speaker does not mean a specific place:

We go to the cinema every weekend.
They have never been to the theater.

Why is the article used with these words? The explanation is that when we use them, it is clear from the context what we mean, and the interlocutor understands what we are talking about. Let's look at examples of situations where it is clear from the situation itself which place we are talking about:

1. When, being in a room or apartment, we talk about its parts:

Switch on the light! - Turn on the lights! (In this room, in the room where you are)

I closed the door and opened the window. - I closed the door and opened the window. (In the room where I was at that moment, in my room)

The floor was clean. - The floor was clean. (The floor in the room I was in.)

2. When we talk about city buildings, if it is clear which city we are talking about:

Where is the railway station? - Where is the railway station? (The station of this city. If there are several stations in the city, you will have to clarify which one you need. If you are located near the station, then the interlocutor will understand that you are asking about the nearest station)

The city hall is very old. - The city hall building is very old. (There is only one city hall in the city, so your interlocutor will understand what we are talking about)

The market was crowded in the morning. - The market was crowded in the morning. (The market of this city; the nearest market; the market where the speaker goes)

3. When mentioning organizations that provide services, if it is clear from the context what exactly the speaker means:

I need to go to the bank tomorrow. - I need to go to the bank tomorrow. (The bank where I have an account; the nearest bank; the bank whose services I use)

Tom went to the post office to send a letter. - Tom went to the post office to send a letter. (This refers to the nearest post office; the only one in a given city)

You should go to the doctor. - You should go to the doctor. (To your doctor)

She is seeing the dentist on Friday. She is going to see the dentist on Friday. (To your dentist).

Be careful, in some situations, of course, article A can be used. Most often, when a speaker means: “any”, “one of many”, “no matter which”, “any”:

How to determine whether the article THE is needed with uncountable nouns and plural nouns?

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Indefinite article a/an in English (the indefinite article) has two forms:

a[ə] - used before consonants. That is, if a word begins with a consonant, use a:

a b ook, a t able, a m an a g irl a c computer, a t omato, a yacht [ jɒt], a unit[ ˈj uːnɪt]

an[ən] - used before vowels. That is, if a word begins with a vowel sound, use an:

an a pple, an e ngineer, an i dea, an o range an a nswer, an hour [ˈ aʊə(r)]

Please note that the choice of the form of the indefinite article is determined not by spelling, but by pronunciation.

For example, the word hour starts with a vowel sound, so we use the article an (an hour), although the first letter in writing is a consonant h. Or, for example, the word yacht (yacht) written with a vowel y, but the consonant sound [j] is pronounced, so we choose a (a yacht). Using different forms of the same article helps make speech harmonious, easy, and natural. Try to pronounce an apple or an book, and you will feel how difficult and uncomfortable it is.

Remember:

Indefinite article a/an used only with singular:

a pen(pen), a story(story), a chair(chair), a child(child), a flower(flower)

If the noun is used in the plural form, then there is no indefinite article. The absence of an article before a noun is usually called the "zero article".

pens(pens), stories(stories), chairs(chairs), children(children), flowers(flowers)

When to use the indefinite article a/an

Below you will find a description of the main uses of the indefinite article a/an in English.

№1

Indefinite article a/an used when we first mention an object or person. In this case, we assume that our interlocutor does not know what or who exactly we are talking about.

Yesterday I bought a handbag. — Yesterday I bought a handbag.
Up until this point, I hadn’t even talked about how I was going to buy a bag. That is, I mention this for the first time (my interlocutor knows nothing about this bag), hence the indefinite article a/an.

If you continue to talk about this bag, then the noun handbag (bag) will already be used with the definite article the, since this time the interlocutor knows which specific bag we are talking about:

Yesterday I bought a handbag. The handbag is very beautiful. — Yesterday I bought a handbag. The handbag is very beautiful.

Although most often a personal pronoun is used instead of a noun, it sounds more natural and avoids repetition:

Yesterday I bought a handbag. It is very beautiful. — Yesterday I bought a handbag. She is very beautiful.

№2

Indefinite article a/an is used when we are not talking about a given (specific) object or person, but simply about any, some, one of a group of the same objects or people. In other words, when we talk about an object or person in general, without having a specific one in mind skirt, work, handle or dog:

I want to buy a skirt. — I want to buy a skirt. (some kind of skirt, I don’t know which one yet; I only know that I want a skirt, not a dress)
He refused to look for a job. — He refused to look for work. (some kind of work)
Give me a pen, please. - Give me a pen, please. (any, any)
It is a dog. - This is a dog. (some dog, any dog)

When we are not talking about a specific object or person, but about anyone, then further, if we need to re-designate it, we do not use personal pronouns or the definite article the. And again we use the indefinite article a/an or pronoun one.

She wants a car but he says they don’t need one. “She wants a car, but he says they don’t need it.”
or
She wants a car but he says they don’t need a car. — She wants a car, but he says they don’t need a car.
She wants to have a car (not a motorcycle, not a bicycle, but some kind of car, so a car), but he says that they don’t need a car (they don’t need any car at all, not just a specific one). Since in the second part of the sentence we are again talking about any / indefinite machine, we again use a car.

№3

Indefinite article a/an we also use it to describe or give any information about something that has already been mentioned earlier. In this case, an adjective is often used before the noun. Please note that although the article comes before an adjective, it refers to a noun:

It is a beautiful place. - This a nice place. (describe what this place is)
He is a clever boy. - He's a smart boy. (we characterize what kind of boy he is)
Do you live in a big house? — Do you live in a big house? (we ask which house)

When we talk about a person’s profession or work, we also use the indefinite article a/an:

She is a teacher. - She is a teacher.
I am a doctor. - I am a doctor.

№4

Historically indefinite article a/an came from the numeral one (one). Hence the possibility in some cases to replace the article a/an numeral one. Such a replacement is possible when the article a/an essentially means "one". For example, this meaning of the indefinite article is observed in numerals a hundred (one hundred), a thousand (thousand), a million (million) and in the word a dozen (dozen) when they are used independently or before a noun:

This toy costs a thousand roubles. = This toy costs one thousan d roubles. — This toy costs a thousand rubles (one thousand rubles).
Give me a dozen, please. = Give me one dozen, please. - Give me a dozen, please (one dozen).

It is precisely with the origin from the numeral one (one) and the meaning of the singularity of the indefinite article is associated, which is especially evident when expressing measures of time, distance, weight or quantity:

This chocolate bar costs a dollar. — This chocolate bar costs a dollar. (=one dollar, we can replace a dollar on one dollar)
I'll call you in an hour. - I'll call you in an hour. (=in one hour, we can replace an hour on one hour)
Can I have a kilo of tomatoes, please? — Can I have a kilogram of tomatoes, please? (=one kilogram, we can replace a kilo on one kilo)

Please note that the numeral one instead of an article a/an should only be used when you want to emphasize that you are talking about just one thing or person, that is, when you want to be very precise:

I have got one sister. - I have one sister. (not two sisters, not three, but only one)
I have got a sister. - I have a sister. (in this case I just say that I have a sister)

The meaning of the singularity of the indefinite article can be seen in some stable phrases that convey the one-time action:

have a look- take a look
have a snack- have a snack
have a try- try, try
have a rest- relax
have a good time- have a good time
give a chance- give a chance
give a hint- hint
give a lift- give me a ride
make a mistake- make a mistake
play a trick- play a trick

№5

Indefinite article a/an also used when it is necessary to indicate the quantity per unit of measurement. For example, when we talk about the price of oranges per kilogram, the size wages per month, about the number of classes per week or about the speed of the car per hour. A noun denoting this same unit of measurement will be used with the indefinite article.

The oranges were 80 rubles a kilo. — Oranges cost 80 rubles per kilogram.
She works 8 hours a day. — She works 8 hours a day.
I go to aerobics twice a week. — I go to aerobics twice a week.

№6

Indefinite article a/an can also be used with some uncountable abstract nouns (for example, humor - humor, hatred - hatred, anger - anger, magic - magic) in the case when they have an adjective with them. Typically, such use of the indefinite article is characteristic of book style and expresses the author’s desire to emphasize the individual, special character of this or that abstract concept.

Please note that in the above case, the use of the indefinite article is optional. If you do not want to highlight in a certain way the special character of any emotion, character trait, etc., the article a/an may not be used.

On a note

To learn to use the indefinite article a/an more or less automatically, try to form a rule in your head: use the indefinite article with singular countable nouns when there is no other reason for using the definite article the or some other determiner (possessive or indefinite pronoun).

That is, the absence of an article. Let's consider when the article the is used, which, by the way, is, according to linguists, the most frequently occurring word in the English language, although, of course, it is difficult to call it a word.

How to use the definite article THE - the basic rule

Most of the rules for using the definite article the come down to the fact that the is placed before a noun that means something specific. The article the itself comes from the word that (this, that) - knowing this, it is easier to understand how it is used.

This is the place that we were talking about. - This is the place we were talking about.

You have the file that I need. – You have (the) document that I need.

The article here does not define, of course, but the noun defined by this adjective. The article the is needed because the superlative degree of a feature or person distinguishes it as unique:

This is the most delicious ice-cream in the world. – This is the most delicious ice cream in the world.

He is the smartest student in the university. – He is the smartest student at the university.

5. Before a series of adjectives implying the uniqueness of the subject.

These are words like same(same), only(the only one), left\right(left\right). Like superlative adjectives, they indicate specificity about what is being said.

This is the only way out. - This is the only way out.

Turn the left valve, please. – Turn the right valve, please.

My sister had the same problem. – My sister had the same problem.

6. Before ordinal numbers.

Ordinal – denoting number, not quantity. If an item is “first” or “twentieth,” this implies its relative uniqueness (in the context of the conversation). This also applies to words like the last(last), the previous(previous), which are similar in meaning to ordinal numbers.

Who was the first human in the space? – Who was the first man in space?

I am reading the third chapter now. – I’m reading the third chapter now.

Let's invite the previous candidate again. - Let's invite the previous candidate again.

This is the last warning. - This is the last warning.

7. Before people's names when talking about the family as a whole.

The surname is used in the plural, as in Russian.

I don't know the Allens, but they seem to be nice people. “I don’t know the Allens, but they seem like nice people.”

The Petrovs moved out on Monday. – The Petrovs moved out on Monday.

8. Before wordspast, present, future, winter, spring, summer, autumn (fall).

These words are worth highlighting separately because many tense expressions use the indefinite or zero article, for example: a week ago(a week ago) on Monday- on Monday. When talking about the past, future, present, we use the:

That is my plan for the future. - This is my plan for the future.

Whatever happened in the past, stays in the past. – Whatever happened in the past will remain in the past.

When we talk about seasons, we use the when we mean, say, the autumn of a particular year. When talking about the time of year in general, we use the zero or definite article:

• I moved to London in the autumn of 2010. – I moved to London in the fall of 2010.
• Poets love (the) autumn. – Poets love autumn.

Note: words autumn And fall means “autumn”, but autumn- this is the British version, fall– American.

9. Before some place names

– a rather confusing topic, I’ll highlight the main cases:

• The article the is not needed before names of countries consisting of one word (Russia, Spain), but is needed before names that include words like federation, kingdom, states: the Russian Federation, the Kingdom of Spain, the United State of America.
• The is also placed before place names used in the plural: the Netherlands(Netherlands), the Virgin Islands(Virgin Islands), the Urals(Ural Mountains).

The article THE before an adjective and pronoun

Any article, both the and a\an, can be used before an adjective. The article defines the noun, the attribute of which denotes this adjective:

This is the new guy I told you about. - This is the new guy I told you about.

Have a nice day. - Have a nice day.

Neither the article the nor a\an is used before a possessive (my, his, your, etc.) or demonstrative (this, these, that, those) pronoun that defines a noun - it in itself speaks of ownership, and therefore specificity of the subject.

• Wrong: Where is the my car?
• Right: Where is my car?