List of English article rules with examples.
1) Use a/an for singular, countable, non-specific nouns
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I saw a cat.
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She bought an umbrella.
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He wants a job.
2) Use the for specific nouns
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The cat on the roof is mine.
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Please close the door.
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I liked the movie we watched yesterday.
3) Use the when both speaker and listener know the noun
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Did you finish the homework?
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Where is the key?
4) Use the for something unique
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The sun is bright.
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The moon looked big last night.
5) Use a/an to talk about one member of a group
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She is a teacher.
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He is an engineer.
6) Use a/an based on sound, not spelling
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a university.
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an hour.
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an honest person.
7) Use no article with plural nouns in general
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Cats are independent.
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Books are expensive.
8) Use no article with uncountable nouns in general
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Water is essential.
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Music can be relaxing.
9) Use the with plural or uncountable nouns when they are specific
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The books on the table are mine.
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The water in this bottle is cold.
10) Use no article with many meals
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We had breakfast.
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They are eating lunch.
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Let’s go to dinner.
11) Use no article with some places in their normal sense
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She is at school.
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He is in hospital.
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They go to church on Sundays.
12) Use no article with transport after by
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She came by bus.
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We traveled by train.
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He went by car.
13) Use no article with certain time expressions
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at noon.
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at midnight.
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last night.
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this morning.
14) Use no article with abstract nouns in general
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Love is powerful.
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Freedom matters.
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Honesty is important.
15) Use no article for generalizations
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Dogs are loyal.
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Teachers need patience.
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Cars are expensive.
16) Use the with superlatives and ordinal references in many cases
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She is the best student.
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This is the first time I’ve been here.
17) Use the with some geographic names
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The Atlantic Ocean.
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The Nile River.
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The Himalayas.
18) Do not use articles with proper names in general
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John is here.
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Canada is large.
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Mount Everest is high.
19) Use a/an for a single example in expressions like quantity or rate
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a hundred people.
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an hour later.
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twice a day.
20) Use article choice to show meaning change
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I saw a doctor. = any doctor.
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I saw the doctor. = a specific doctor.
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She is in school. = attending school.
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She is in the school. = in the building.