Choose the right article 1
✓ Useful for TOEIC
✓ Useful for Cambridge BEC
💡 Top tips
Use 'the' for specific nouns, 'a/an' for general ones
Use 'the' when both speaker and listener know which specific item is meant: 'Please review the contract.' Use 'a/an' when introducing something for the first time or in general: 'She signed a contract last week.'
No article with most plural and uncountable nouns used generally
Omit the article with generalized plurals and uncountable nouns: 'Businesses need capital.' NOT 'The businesses need the capital.' This is especially common in business writing.
Titles and unique roles: 'the' vs no article
Use 'the' before roles when only one exists: 'the CEO,' 'the president.' But omit the article in apposition: 'He was appointed CEO' or 'She was elected president last year.'
Use 'the' for specific nouns, 'a/an' for general ones
Use 'the' when both speaker and listener know which specific item is meant: 'Please review the contract.' Use 'a/an' when introducing something for the first time or in general: 'She signed a contract last week.'
No article with most plural and uncountable nouns used generally
Omit the article with generalized plurals and uncountable nouns: 'Businesses need capital.' NOT 'The businesses need the capital.' This is especially common in business writing.
Titles and unique roles: 'the' vs no article
Use 'the' before roles when only one exists: 'the CEO,' 'the president.' But omit the article in apposition: 'He was appointed CEO' or 'She was elected president last year.'
READY TO PRACTICE? LET’S GO!
These exercises will help you to practice using English articles in a Business English context. Choose the best response to complete each of the sentences below.
1. Oil prices have risen to __________________________ record levels in the past three years.
Correct answer: NO ARTICLE — No article before abstract plural nouns used generally.
2. Q: Is he a clerk? A: No, he's __________________________ manager. (There's only one manager)
Correct answer: the — Only one manager — use the for a unique role.
3. Q: Is he a clerk? A: No, he's __________________________ manager. (There's more than one manager)
Correct answer: a — More than one manager — use a for a non-specific role.
4. Many of __________________________ programmers that started last year have quit.
Correct answer: the — The refers to a specific group already identified.
5. Many _________________ programmers that started last year have quit.
Correct answer: NO ARTICLE — No article with general plural nouns.
6. We hope to make _________________ big advances during the early stages of this project.
Correct answer: NO ARTICLE — No article with plural abstract nouns used in general terms.
7. Take a look at this report. _________________ findings are really surprising.
Correct answer: The — The refers to the specific findings of a known report.
8. Q: What are you working on? A: I'm trying to finish __________________________ presentation that I told you about this morning.
Correct answer: the — The — both speakers know which specific presentation is meant.
9. Q: What are you working on? A: I'm working on __________________________ presentation for today's meeting. (The person asking the question doesn't know about this presentation)
Correct answer: a — A — the listener doesn't know about this presentation yet.
10. This is _________________________ very challenging task.
Correct answer: a — A introduces a non-specific singular noun.
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