Choose the right article 5
✓ 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. Do you know how to program in __________________________ Java? ( = a programming language)
Correct answer: NO ARTICLE — No article with programming language names.
2. We're looking to hire someone who speaks __________________________ Russian.
Correct answer: NO ARTICLE — No article with language names.
3. I don't think he's __________________________ good fit ( = well-matched) for our company.
Correct answer: a — A good fit is the fixed expression.
4. Direct selling accounts for about __________________________ 50% of our annual sales.
Correct answer: NO ARTICLE — No article before percentages.
5. The senate passed an important energy bill on Tuesday. __________________________ bill will ensure that companies don't overcharge their customers.
Correct answer: The — The — second mention of a specific known bill.
6. The senator from California spoke out against __________________________ racism. (in general)
Correct answer: NO ARTICLE — No article with abstract uncountable nouns used generally.
7. The senator from California spoke out against __________________________ last week's protests in Los Angeles.
Correct answer: NO ARTICLE — No article with abstract uncountable nouns used generally.
8. The senator from California spoke out against __________________________ protests in Los Angeles that killed 10 people.
Correct answer: the — The — refers to a specific, contextually identified bill.
9. He has __________________________ MBA (Master of Business Administration) from Harvard.
Correct answer: an — An before vowel sound; MBA starts with the vowel sound /ɛm/.
10. He signed up for _________________________ MBA program that I told you about last week.
Correct answer: the — The — specific program previously mentioned.
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