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When to Use A, An, The

Count and Non-Count Nouns
A count noun is the name of something that can be counted: one book, two books, three books.
A non-count noun is the name of something that cannot be counted: milk, flour, freedom, justice. A non-count noun does not take "a" or "an" and does not have a plural form.

Use "a" or "an" Use "the" Don't Use "a," "an," or "the"

General Rules Use "a" or "an" with a singular count noun when you mean "one of many," "any," "in general."

Bob is a student (one of many students).
I like a good movie (one of many movies).
Use "the" with any noun when the meaning is specific; for example, when the noun names the only one (or one) of a kind.

Adam was the first man (the only 'first man').
New York is the largest city in the United States (only one city can be 'the largest').
We live on the earth (the only Earth we know).
Have you heard the news (specific news)?
Don't Use "a," "an," or "the" with a non-count noun when you mean "any," "in general."

We believe in love (in general).
He gave me information (not specific).

Use "a" or "an" the first time you use a noun in a paragraph

I saw a movie last night.
A man ran into the street.
Use "the" the second time you use that same noun in the same paragraph

I saw a movie last night. The movie was entertaining.
A man ran into the street. A car hit the man.
Don't Use "a," "an," or "the" with a plural count noun when you mean "some of many things," "any," "in general."

Movies are entertaining (some movies; movies in general).
She likes men (in general).

Title Use "a" or "an" if the title is not a specific title.

a president
a doctor
a queen
Use "the" if a specific person has a title or if only one person has a title.

the president
the doctor
the Queen of England
Don't Use "a," "an," or "the" if the person's name is given.

President Kennedy
Dr. Yang
Queen Elizabeth

Names of Countries Non-specific

a country
Use "the" if the name of the country is plural or indicates a group (of states, islands, etc.)

the United States
the Netherlands
the Phillipines
Don't Use "a," "an," or "the"

Russia
South Africa
Holland
Canada
Great Britian
England

Names of Continents Non-specific

a continent

Don't Use "a," "an," or "the"

Africa
Asia
Europe
North America

Names of Some Geographical Areas
Use "the"

the South Pole
the West
the South
the North East
Don't Use "a," "an," or "the"

Western Europe

Names of Cities and States Non-specific

a city
a state

Don't Use "a," "an," or "the"

New York
Paris
Washington
Exception:

the District of Columbia

Names of Streets

Don't Use "a," "an," or "the"

Pennsylvania Avenue
Fourth Street
Florida Avenue

Names of Oceans, Rivers, Seas, Deserts, Forests, Canals Use a/an for non-specific

an ocean
a river
a sea
a desert
Use "the"

the Pacific Ocean
the Mediteranean Sea
the Potomac River
the C & O Canal
the Atlantic Ocean
the Painted Desert

Names of Lakes Non-specific

a lake

Don't Use "a," "an," or "the"

Lake Ontario
Lake Geneva

Names of Monuments, Memorials, Parks, and National Shrines Use a/an if you write about a non-specific building or monument.

a building
a museum
an institution
Use "the"

the Capitol
the White House
the Senate Office Building
the Sam Rayburn Building
the National Archives
the Library of Congress
the National Gallery of Art
the Smithsonian Institute

Names of Colleges, Universities, and Other Schools Use a/an for non-specific colleges or schools.

a school
a university
Use "the" if the title of the school has "of" or "for" in it.

the University of Maryland
the Catholic University of America
the Maryland School for the Deaf
The Model Secondary School for the Deaf
Don't Use "a," "an," or "the" if the school is named for a person or place.

Gallaudet University
Harvard University
George Washinton University
Georgetown University
Maryland University
Catholic University

Names of Buildings on Gallaudet University Campus Use a/an for non-specific buildings

a dorm
an office
Use the with specific places that have no names.

the infirmary
the library
the dorm
the cafeteria
the bookstore
Don't Use "a," "an," or "the" if a building on campus is named for a person.

Peet Hall
Ely Center
Dawes House
Krug Hall
Hall Memorial Building
Hughes Gymnasium
Merrill Learning Center
Kendall School

	Use "a" or "an"	Use "the"	Don't Use "a," "an," or "the"
General Rules	Use "a" or "an" with a singular count noun when you mean "one of many," "any," "in general." Bob is a student (one of many students). I like a good movie (one of many movies).	Use "the" with any noun when the meaning is specific; for example, when the noun names the only one (or one) of a kind. Adam was the first man (the only 'first man'). New York is the largest city in the United States (only one city can be 'the largest'). We live on the earth (the only Earth we know). Have you heard the news (specific news)?	Don't Use "a," "an," or "the" with a non-count noun when you mean "any," "in general." We believe in love (in general). He gave me information (not specific).
General Rules	Use "a" or "an" the first time you use a noun in a paragraph I saw a movie last night. A man ran into the street.	Use "the" the second time you use that same noun in the same paragraph I saw a movie last night. The movie was entertaining. A man ran into the street. A car hit the man.	Don't Use "a," "an," or "the" with a plural count noun when you mean "some of many things," "any," "in general." Movies are entertaining (some movies; movies in general). She likes men (in general).
Title	Use "a" or "an" if the title is not a specific title. a president a doctor a queen	Use "the" if a specific person has a title or if only one person has a title. the president the doctor the Queen of England	Don't Use "a," "an," or "the" if the person's name is given. President Kennedy Dr. Yang Queen Elizabeth
Names of Countries	Non-specific a country	Use "the" if the name of the country is plural or indicates a group (of states, islands, etc.) the United States the Netherlands the Phillipines	Don't Use "a," "an," or "the" Russia South Africa Holland Canada Great Britian England
Names of Continents	Non-specific a continent		Don't Use "a," "an," or "the" Africa Asia Europe North America
Names of Some Geographical Areas		Use "the" the South Pole the West the South the North East	Don't Use "a," "an," or "the" Western Europe
Names of Cities and States	Non-specific a city a state		Don't Use "a," "an," or "the" New York Paris Washington Exception: the District of Columbia
Names of Streets			Don't Use "a," "an," or "the" Pennsylvania Avenue Fourth Street Florida Avenue
Names of Oceans, Rivers, Seas, Deserts, Forests, Canals	Use a/an for non-specific an ocean a river a sea a desert	Use "the" the Pacific Ocean the Mediteranean Sea the Potomac River the C & O Canal the Atlantic Ocean the Painted Desert
Names of Lakes	Non-specific a lake		Don't Use "a," "an," or "the" Lake Ontario Lake Geneva
Names of Monuments, Memorials, Parks, and National Shrines	Use a/an if you write about a non-specific building or monument. a building a museum an institution	Use "the" the Capitol the White House the Senate Office Building the Sam Rayburn Building the National Archives the Library of Congress the National Gallery of Art the Smithsonian Institute
Names of Colleges, Universities, and Other Schools	Use a/an for non-specific colleges or schools. a school a university	Use "the" if the title of the school has "of" or "for" in it. the University of Maryland the Catholic University of America the Maryland School for the Deaf The Model Secondary School for the Deaf	Don't Use "a," "an," or "the" if the school is named for a person or place. Gallaudet University Harvard University George Washinton University Georgetown University Maryland University Catholic University
Names of Buildings on Gallaudet University Campus	Use a/an for non-specific buildings a dorm an office	Use the with specific places that have no names. the infirmary the library the dorm the cafeteria the bookstore	Don't Use "a," "an," or "the" if a building on campus is named for a person. Peet Hall Ely Center Dawes House Krug Hall Hall Memorial Building Hughes Gymnasium Merrill Learning Center Kendall School