Three Rules for Using A, AN and THE

1. Three
Rules
When to use
a, an or the
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2. BEFORE YOU BEGIN
1. The word the is used before a noun
with a specific meaning.
2. The word a or an is used before a
noun with a general meaning.
3. For a noun with a general
meaning, the plural form can be used
instead of a or an.

3. the = specific meaning
The boy in the picture is
smiling. However, the boys in
the left corner are angry.

4. a or an = general meaning
A boy is a young male
human being. Any young male
human is a boy.

5. Plural = general meaning
In many societies around
the world, boys are expected
not to cry when they become
men or when they are
considered as adults.

6. a, an, plural = general meaning
A boy is a young male
human being. In my
society, only boys cry. A man
who cries is considered weak.
Men who are strong are never
seen to cry in public.

7. the = specific meaning
In my society, only girls and
boys cry. However, boys that
never cry are considered
strong. The boy who cries is
considered to be like a girl.

8. a, an, plural = general meaning
In my society, only girls and
boys cry. However, a boy who
never cries is considered
strong. Boys who cry are
considered to be like a girl.

9. ONE MORE TIME
1. The word the is used before a noun
with a specific meaning.
2. The word a or an is used before a
noun with a general meaning.
3. For a noun with a general
meaning, the plural form can be used
instead of a or an.

10. Three
Rules
How to use
a, an or the
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11. SUMMARY
1. When mentioning a noun for the first
time, use a or an. At next mention
(2nd, 3rd, etc. time), use the.
2. When a noun is described
specifically, use the.
3. When you and your receiver know
the noun you are talking about, use
the.

12. RULE 1

13. RULE 1
When mentioning a noun
for the first time, use a or an.
At next mention (2nd, 3rd, etc.
time), use the.

14. 1ST
MENTION
2ND
MENTION

15. 1ST
MENTION

16. 1ST
MENTION

17. 2ND
MENTION

18. 2ND
MENTION

19. 1ST
MENTION
2ND
MENTION
Mothers can follow five
steps in a visual poster that
shows how to create a cold
lotion.
Since the poster is for
illiterate mothers, pictures
can show how the cold
lotion looks like.

20. RULE 2

21. RULE 2
When a noun is described
specifically or has one specific
meaning, use the.

22. RULE 2
the
we use
when there
is only one of something

23. RULE 2
I’m
the leader of this
group.

24. RULE 2
the
You could be
next
winner of our singing
competition.

25. RULE 2
Control of insect bites
among the AiU student
population.

26. RULE 2
Use of the Divine
Command Principle to
Lessen Plagiarism

27. RULE 3

28. RULE 3
When you and your receiver
(listener, reader or audience)
know what you are talking
about, use the.

29. RULE 3
May I turn on
the TV?

30. RULE 3
Where’s Mary?
She’s in
the kitchen.

31. however, there are some
special uses of
a/an and the

32. 4 Exceptions
TO THE THREE RULES
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33. EXCEPTION 1
we use
the with musical
instruments

34. EXCEPTION 1
the guitar.
Jane plays the violin.
I play

36. a or an = general meaning
I can play a guitar = I can
play any guitar.
Jane can play a piano = She
can play any piano.

37. EXCEPTION 2
a an
we use or
with
prices, frequency and
speeds

38. EXCEPTION 2
prices
It costs 2 dollars
a liter

39. EXCEPTION 2
frequency
I drink about three bottles
of water
a day

40. EXCEPTION 2
speeds
You’re traveling at ninety
miles
an hour

41. EXCEPTION 3
a an
we use
or
before
hundred, thousand, and
million

42. EXCEPTION 3
a hundred people
a thousand days

43. EXCEPTION 4
a an
we use or
for
talking about
jobs, occupations or
careers

44. EXCEPTION 4
I’m a bank manager

46. BACK TO RULE 2

47. RULE 2
When a noun is described
specifically or has one specific
meaning, use the.

48. RULE 2
the
we use
when there
is only one of something

49. EXCEPTION 4
I’m a bank manager

50. RULE 2
I’m
the bank manager
here.

52. ONE MORE TIME
Use a or an with
• hundred, thousand, million
• jobs, occupations, careers

53. ONE MORE TIME
Use the with
• musical instruments
• prices
• speeds
• frequency
• speeds

54. and ... ONE MORE TIME
Nouns with specific meanings
• Use the before the noun.

55. and ... ONE MORE TIME
Nouns with general meanings
• Use a or an before the noun, or
• Use the plural form.

56. and ... THE LAST ONE
Use a or an
• When mentioning a noun
the first time.

57. and ... THE LAST ONE
Use the
• At next mention of the noun
• When a noun is described
specifically
• When you and your audience
know the noun you are talking
about

58. END OF PRESENTATION
Send comments or suggestions to mr.jaime.aiu@gmail.com
THANK YOU

59. Reference
Coe, N., Harrison, M. And Paterson K. (2006). Basic
with Answers. Oxford, England: Oxford
University Press.