A, An,The or Leave it Alone
My name Starts with __ L and ends with __ U.
Have you met the Professor Granger yet?
Error: the Professor Granger, names preceded by professional titles do not take an article.
Have you met Professor Granger yet?
I called Phil the other day, and his brother answered the phone. He told me that Phil is in Hospital with a Broken Leg.
I called Phil the other day, and his brother answered the phone. He told me that Phil is in the Hospital with a broken leg.
Be careful! You are going to knock the vase over!
Immediate presence
The vase is visible to the listener and the speaker.
Indiana Jones found __ Ark of the covenant while in __ Egypt.
Indiana Jones found the Ark of the covenant while in Egypt.
Error: In American English University should be preceded by the.
I met him at the University.
I don't like him very much because he always talks in a class.
Error: Class is being used in its Institutional sense and should be preceded by zero article.
I don't like him very much because he always talks in class.
Adam was typing a report on his laptop. All of a sudden the screen went blank.
associative anaphoric use
The speaker assumes the hearer knows that laptops have screens.
That hooting sound you heard was __ Owl.
___ Owl is a largely predatory bird.
The hooting sound you heard was an Owl.
The Owl is a largely predatory bird.
She gave me an information about it that I can use in my report.
Error: Non count nouns are not preceded by indefinite articles.
She gave me information about it that I can use in my report.
Some girl just called you.
No Error
Mary flew to Paris. The journey lasted six and a half hours.
associative anaphoric use
The speaker assumes that the listener knows that trip to Paris involves a Journey.
My cousin wanted to be __ Surgeon, but he fainted at __ sight of blood.
My cousin wanted to be a Surgeon, but he fainted at the sight of blood.
A. Can I help you with the project?
B. I don't need help, I need data.
No Error
We sent the package by the express mail.
Error: Following the preposition by are preceded by zero article.
We sent the package by express mail.
A. What's up with Sarah? She seems very irritable today.
B. Oh, the woman who she works for has been giving her a hard time.
Relative clause
Woman is defined by who she works for.
We went shopping at __ mall. We bought__ the class gifts.
We went shopping at the mall. We bought the class gifts.
Let's go get coffee and talk this over.
No Error
The meeting is in the conference room.
Part of larger context
Speaker assumes that the listener is familiar with the meeting place.