ARTICLES: Choose the right article 3
✓ 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. That's __________________________ interesting suggestion.
Correct answer: an — An before a vowel sound (interesting).
2. How far have you gotten with __________________________ report?
Correct answer: the — The — both parties know which report is meant.
3. Every company needs __________________________ good project manager.
Correct answer: a — A — any good project manager, not a specific one.
4. Q: Are they reliable? A: Yes, they always deliver on __________________________ time.
Correct answer: NO ARTICLE — Fixed expression: deliver on time — no article.
5. We have to draw up _________________ new business plan. The old one isn't good enough.
Correct answer: a — A — a new, unspecified business plan.
6. If we don't follow these regulations, we'll get in _________________ trouble with the local authorities.
Correct answer: NO ARTICLE — Fixed expression: get in trouble — no article.
7. I've worked on __________________________ similar projects at my last job.
Correct answer: NO ARTICLE — No article with general plural nouns.
8. Q: Is that your boss? A: No, that's __________________________ CEO. (There's only one)
Correct answer: the — The — only one CEO; a unique, known role.
9. I'm not happy with __________________________ logo they designed for us.
Correct answer: the — The — a specific logo both parties know about.
10. That's not _________________________ good strategy. We have to think of something better.
Correct answer: a — A — non-specific singular noun introduced for the first time.
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