Articles

· The indefinite articles, a / an, can be used to talk about

* objects or ideas in general

* one particular person or thing, when it is mentioned for the first time, or whenthe reader does not know which one is meant, or when it does not matter which one.

· The definite article, the, can be used

* when the noun is singled out as unique or specific

* when the reader already knows which particular person(people) or thing(s) etc. you are talking about.

What are the basic rules for using the articles?

The indefinite article (a / an) is used with singular countable nouns referring to a non-unique item in general:

· separate objects, people, ideas, etc.

singular	a microscope	a scientist	a plan
plural	five microscopes	a large number of scientists	several alternative plans

The definite article (the) is used with nouns referring to a unique specific item. A noun can have a definite article when

· it is modified by a superlative or ordinal number

e.g. the first experiment, the last measurement, the most significant results, the only time

· it refers to an entire type or species

e.g. The telephone can be used to transfer data

· it refers to an item previously mentioned

e.g. They connected a phone line to a modem. The modem was connected to a computer in order for the computer to access the Internet.

· there is only one of something or it is fully specified by the context or background knowledge

e.g. The periodic table is often used in chemistry.

The Internet is now used by millions of people across the world.

· it is followed by of + noun phrase

e.g. The coefficient of expansion of brass is 0.000026^oC.

The importance of international co-operation is emphasised in the report.

Note: Some generalisations may be needed in scientific use, in which case the is left out in long, complex, uncountable or plural noun phrases, in particular those including an of + noun phrase. In these sentences, both options, i.e. using the articles or omitting them, are correct.

e.g. (The) Little-known sources of air pollution are misfires in a car’s engine.

(The) Creation of the simulation model allows for a degree of optimisation of (the) engine performance.

The is used:

· with the names of rivers (the Dnipro), seas (the Black Sea), oceans (the Indian Ocean), mountain ranges (the Pyrenees), deserts (the Gobi), groups of islands (the CanarynIslands) and countries when they include words such as state, kingdom, republic, etc. (the United States)

· with nationality words (the Belgians) and names of families (the Johnsons)

· with historical periods/events (the Stone Age, the First World War) but World War I

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