Choose the right article 7
✓ 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. I just found out that Citibank is planning __________________________ layoffs.
Correct answer: NO ARTICLE — No article with layoffs used as a general concept.
2. Really? Do you know which workers will be affected by __________________________ layoffs (that they're planning)?
Correct answer: the — The — referring to specific workers already in context.
3. He is a media mogul. He owns __________________________ newspaper and several magazines.
Correct answer: a — A — introducing a non-specific newspaper.
4. We need to get __________________________ accountant to prepare our taxes this year. ("Some" accountant - No particular accountant in mind)
Correct answer: an — An before a vowel sound (accountant).
5. That isn't __________________________ way we do things around here.
Correct answer: the — The — a specific, known way of doing things.
6. Think about __________________________ what I told you.
Correct answer: NO ARTICLE — No article — think about what is a noun clause, not a noun phrase.
7. Are you thinking of staring __________________________ business?
Correct answer: a — A — starting any business, not a specific one.
8. We've been getting a lot of __________________________ business recently.
Correct answer: NO ARTICLE — No article — business here is uncountable (activity/trade).
9. Q: What does John do? A: He's __________________________ financial adviser at Merrill Lynch. (He's not the only financial adviser there)
Correct answer: a — A — non-specific job title introduced for the first time.
10. Well, they made us __________________________ offer, and we accepted it.
Correct answer: an — An — vowel sound; introducing a non-specific offer.
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