| 1) The definite article - the | |
|---|---|
| without the article | with the article |
| general words (indefinite) | general words (definite) |
| Truth is what you believe it to be . | I saw a movie on the truth behind the UFO's. |
| She loves candy. | I like the candy you make. |
| names of persons in singular form | family names in the plural form |
| Ahmad and Nabeel live in Khobar. | The Patricks live in London.
|
|
means of transport, public buildings, institutions (indefinite)
|
public buildings, institutions, means of transport (definite) |
| Sami likes mosque. They go to mosque every day. We go to mosque by bus.
|
The mosque that Sami goes to is brand new. The bus to Dammam arrives at 8.00. The mosque in Medina is called "Almasjed Alnabawee".
|
| names of countries in the singular; places; continents; towns | names of countries in the plural; mountain ranges; regions |
| Syria, Palestine, Mount Uhud, Mount
Everest; Asia, Dammam, New York
|
the Arab World,
the Rocky Mountains, the Alps; the Middle East, the
West Bank
|
| single islands | groups of islands |
| Bahrain, Crete, Sicily
|
the British Isles, the
Canaries
|
| parks; lakes; streets | name of oceans; seas; rivers |
| Central Park, Lake Victoria, 42nd Ave., King Khalid Street
|
the Gate of Victory, the Tower Babel, the Atlantic ; the Mediterranean
the Nile
|
| months, days of the week (indefinite) | months, days of the week (definite) |
| The Eid is over on Thursday morning. January and February are the coldest months of the year. |
I always remember the Thursay when Eid was over. The September of 2001 was a turning point. |
| 2) the indefinite article a/an | |
| - before expressions of time and measurements | - before phrases of occupations and professions |
|
We have English 6 times a
day.
|
He is a doctor. |
|
I go to Mecca twice a
year.
|
He is a teacher. |
|
I can type 45 words a
minute.
|
|
|
I can type 2200 words an
hour.
|
|
|
Bananas are 5 Riyals a
kilo.
|
|