Articles

There are a lot of rules about how we use articles. Here are four rules for using the indefinite articles ‘a’ and ‘an’:

	We use theindefinite articles a / an
	1.We use the indefinite article, a/an, with count nouns when the hearer/reader does not know exactly which one we are referring to: Sociological research is usually conducted by a working group. 2.before professions and job titles: a scientist a sociologist a politician a marketing executive 3.We also use it to show the person or thing is one of a group: Statistical methods are a useful tool in sociological research. We use a/an with a singular noun to say something about all thingsof that kind: A student has a role that involves patterned interaction with professors and other students (= All students have such role)
The definite article the is the most frequent word in English.
We use the definite article in front of a noun when we believe the hearer/reader knowsexactly what we are referring to. • because there is only one: The Pope is visiting Poland. The Shah of Iran was deposed in 1979. This is why we use the definite article with a superlative adjective: In the simplest terms, a theory is an explanation of the relationship between two or more specific facts. • because there is only one in that place or in those surroundings: Sociologists raise the question of whether we are prisoners of society acting out the roles we are given. • because we have already mentionedit: There is a close connection between sociology and other disciplines such as psychology, economy, anthropology, criminology, political science, and history. Sociology is a broader discipline than the other social sciences.

The definite article with names:

We do not normally use the definite article with names: Paris is the capital of France. Iran is in Asia.

But we do use the definite article with:

• countries whose names include words like kingdom, states or republic: the United Kingdom; the kingdom of Nepal; the United States; the People’s Republic of China.

• countries which have plural nouns as their names: the Netherlands; the Philippines

• geographical features, such as mountain ranges, groups of islands, rivers, seas, oceans and canals: the Himalayas; the Canaries; the Atlantic; the Atlantic Ocean; the Amazon; the Panama Canal.

• newspapers: The Times; The Washington Post.

• well known buildings or works of art: the Empire State Buildin; the Taj Mahal; the Mona Lisa; the Sunflowers

• organisations: the United Nations; the Seamen’s Union.

• hotels, pubs and restaurants *: the Ritz; the Ritz Hotel; the King’s Head; the Déjà Vu.

*Note: We do not use the definite article if the name of the hotel or restaurant is the name of the owner, e.g.,Brown’s; Brown’s Hotel; Morel’s; Morel’s Restaurant, etc.

• families: the Obamas; the Jacksons.