c





  

 
 





 

 
  



 

 

 





 









 
Basically, the rules are quite simple:
* The definite article shows that a noun is being used in a "defined" or restricted context.
* When a noun is used in a non-defined or "generalizing" context, a definite article is not
needed.


 

.

Use of the definite article therefore depends on the nature or type of noun that is being used.
As in other languages, nouns in English can be divided into two distinct categories, called:

 and
!


Ź "
 are nouns referring to items that can be counted, for example:
0
 

 





   
 
 etc.
"






 
#$!
 are nouns referring to abstractions, substances or generalizations, or
example:
0



  
$!


$%
 




 


&'(
)*+'%$
Sometimes it is not easy to decide if a plural noun is being used as a generalization, or in a
restrictive context: often the speaker or writer can choose. Look at these two sentences:
  




  



In example (a), the writer is clearly implying a generalisation on the noun group ,

 „º




In example (b), he is referring to a restricted or defined category of the noun    


 

  
   
In cases like these, one therefore has a choice; but the choice is not always completely free, as it
often depends on  - . Is it more important or more logical to imply a generalization, or a
limitation?
Deciding whether it is best to use an article in such cases is a skill that has to be mastered!

Ź Follow this link for more information on 

!


.

' 

  
English has  indefinite articles,  and 







is used before nouns starting with a 


/







is used before nouns starting with a  
/

- :   


   
, but — 
  (because the word

 
  does not start with a phonetic vowel)

Indefinite articles are used when a count noun in the singular refers to a !
  
- : „ „ 


  (meaning any train, or any elephant).

There is 
 
  


  . The word " " is occasionally said to be a plural
indefinite article, but really it is a quantifier (like  
 etc.)

By definition, plural nouns refering to non-specified entities are   , therefore need

  .