a/an or no article
I need ___ new phone.
a
First mention of a singular countable noun; we don't know which phone yet.
I go to ___ bed at 11 pm.
Ø
"Bed" is used for its purpose (sleeping), not as a specific object.
She never wears hat.
Wrong
A singular countable noun cannot stand alone; we need "a hat".
___ France is in Europe.
Ø
Countries take no article: France, Japan, Canada.
I had a sandwich. The sandwich was good.
Why "I had a sandwich" but "The sandwich was good"?
"A" = first mention; "the" = second mention, now specific and known.
___ water is essential for life.
Ø
Uncountable noun in a general statement; no article is used
Please turn off ___ light.
the
A specific object in the room; both speaker and listener know which one.
The sun is a star.
Right
"The sun" is unique; "a star" is one of many
We visited ___ Alps last winter.
the
Mountain ranges take "the": the Alps, the Andes, the Urals.
Why "I need paper" but "I bought a paper"?
"Paper" as a material is uncountable; "a paper" means a newspaper — a countable noun.
She is ___ engineer.
an
Job / profession; singular countable noun starting with a vowel sound.
What did you have for ___ breakfast?
Ø
Meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) take no article.
I bought a paper. A paper was interesting.
Wrong
Second mention of the same thing requires "the": "The paper was interesting."
___ Amazon is the longest river in South America
the
Rivers take "the": the Amazon, the Nile, the Thames.
Why "the sun" but "a star"?
"The sun" is unique; "a star" is one of many stars.
We had ___ very nice date.
a
An adjective before a singular countable noun; we still need a/an.
___ moon goes round ___ earth.
The / the
"Moon" and "earth" are unique objects; unique things take "the".
We went to the France last summer.
Wrong
Country names normally take no article: "France", not "the France".
___ Lake Victoria is in Africa.
Ø
Lakes take no article: Lake Victoria, Lake Superior.
Why "Mount Everest" but "the Alps"?
A single mountain has no article (Mount Everest); a mountain range has "the" (the Alps)
He gave me ___ useful advice.
Ø
"Advice" is uncountable; in a general statement it takes no article.
We had ___ lunch in ___ restaurant near the office.
Ø / the
Meal takes no article; "restaurant near the office" is a specific one.
He was mistaken for a famous businessman.
Right
"A famous businessman" means one of many, unknown to us.
___ Mount Everest is in ___ Himalayas.
Ø / the
A single mountain takes no article (Mount Everest); a mountain range takes "the" (the Himalayas).
"I watch TV" but "I listen to the radio"?
"TV" (television) takes no article, but "radio" takes "the".