GRAMMAR NO. 2: The, a, an or nothing

EXPLANATION

In our session today we will learn when to use "the", "a/an" or just no article at all. 

Some general rules on when to use: A, An, The or Nothing

* a = indefinite article (not a specific object, one of a number of the same objects) with consonants. For example:

She has a dog.
I work in a factory.

* an = indefinite article (not a specific object, one of a number of the same objects) with vowels (a,e,i,o,u). For example:

Can I have an apple?
She is an English teacher.

* the = definite article (a specific object that both the person speaking and the listener know). For example:

The car over there is fast.
The teacher is very good, isn't he?

* The first time you speak of something use "a or an", the next time you repeat that object use "the". For example:

I live in a house. The house is quite old and has four bedrooms.
I ate in a Chinese restaurant. The restaurant was very good.

* DO NOT use an article with countries, states, counties or provinces, lakes and mountains except when the country is a collection of states such as "The United States".

He lives in Washington near Mount Rainier.
They live in northern British Columbia.

* Use an article with bodies of water, oceans and seas. For example:

My country borders on the Pacific Ocean

* DO NOT use an article when you are speaking about things in general. For example:

I like Russian tea.
She likes reading books.

* DO NOT use an article when you are speaking about meals, places, and transport. For example:

He has breakfast at home.
I go to university.
He comes to work by taxi.

PRACTICE

1. Initial practice here

2. A little bit more difficult here

3. For more advanced students here

4. Let's review here

5. More general exercises here 

6. Articles in context here

7. More here

8. "The Coffin Door" here

9. "Eggs and Pancakes" here

10. "Jane meets boys" here

11. "Joe's Day" here

12. "Laptops" here

13. "Student Responsibilities" here

14. "Snow??" here

Review

http://a4esl.org/q/h/grammar.html

http://www.nonstopenglish.com/allexercises/Grammar/Grammar-articles.asp

http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises_list/artikel.htm