Articles: a, the or no article

The sun, the best, play the piano, go to bed: when English uses a, the or nothing.

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You already know that a or an means "one, any one" and the means "the one we both know". This page adds the common cases where the choice is not obvious: things there is only one of, superlatives, things in general, music and sport, places and names.

A first, then the

When we mention something for the first time, we use a or an. When we talk about it again, it is the: now the listener knows which one.

We stayed in a small hotel. The hotel was near the beach.
I bought a shirt and a jacket. The jacket was cheaper.
Incorrect: I've got a new job. A job is in the city centre.
Correct: I've got a new job. The job is in the city centre.
The second time, we know which job: the job.

The: there is only one

Use the for things there is only one of in our world or in a place: the sun, the moon, the sky, the world, the internet, the sea, the government.

The sun is very strong today.
Can you see the moon?
I read about it on the internet.
Incorrect: Sun is very hot in July.
Correct: The sun is very hot in July.
There is only one sun, so it needs the.

The: superlatives, first, same

Use the before a superlative (the best, the most expensive), before first, second and last in a series (the first time, the last train), and before same. But last week, last year, next month have no the.

It's the best pizza in town.
This is the first time I've been here.
We work in the same office.
Incorrect: It was best day of my life.
Correct: It was the best day of my life.
A superlative needs the.

No article: things in general

When we talk about things in general, use a plural or an uncountable noun with no article. Use the only when we mean particular things.

In general	Particular things
I like music.	I like the music in this film.
Dogs are good pets.	The dogs next door bark all night.
Money isn't everything.	Where's the money I gave you?

Coffee keeps me awake.
People here are very friendly.
Incorrect: I like the music, especially jazz and rock.
Correct: I like music, especially jazz and rock.
This is music in general, so there is no article.
Incorrect: The money doesn't buy happiness.
Correct: Money doesn't buy happiness.

Music and sport

Before a musical instrument, British English usually uses the. Sports and games have no article.

She plays the piano and the guitar.
Do you play football?
We often play cards on Friday evenings.
Incorrect: He plays the tennis every weekend.
Correct: He plays tennis every weekend.
Sports have no article.

Home, work, school, bed

We say go to school, go to work, go to bed, go to hospital and at home, at work, at school, in bed with no article, when we mean the usual reason for the place. When we mean the building, we use the.

My son is twelve. He goes to school by bike.
(He is a pupil there.)
I went to the school to talk to his teacher.
(I went to the building as a visitor.)
I'm tired. I'm going to bed.
Incorrect: I usually go to the work at eight.
Correct: I usually go to work at eight.

Names of places

Most names have no article: people, cities, most countries, streets, lakes and single mountains. Rivers, seas, oceans and groups of mountains or islands take the, and so do country names with a word like kingdom or states, or a plural.

No article	The
London, France, Oxford Street	the UK, the USA, the Netherlands
Lake Geneva, Everest	the Thames, the Alps, the Atlantic

She lives in Paris, near the Seine.
We went skiing in the Alps.
Incorrect: The London is a very big city.
Correct: London is a very big city.
Names of cities have no article.

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Where this rule sits

All A2 rules Nouns and articles: all rules

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