Choose the right article 8
✓ 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 a lot about __________________________ marketing?
Correct answer: NO ARTICLE — No article — marketing is an uncountable concept.
2. I'm in my car right now, so I can't really talk. I'll call you from __________________________ office.
Correct answer: the — The — the specific office you were at, known in context.
3. This issue could have been avoided with the proper planning. I'm not trying to play __________________________ blame game here. We all have to be more responsible.
Correct answer: the — The — refers to the specific person who made the blame statement.
4. We need to make sure that we're all on __________________________ same page. ( = we all agree)
Correct answer: the — Fixed expression: on the same page.
5. This is a matter of __________________________ great importance to us.
Correct answer: NO ARTICLE — No article — importance is abstract and uncountable here.
6. I'm not sure I agree with all the obligations stipulated in this contract. I'll have to get __________________________ lawyer to look at it. (We don't know which lawyer I'm talking about)
Correct answer: a — A — referring to a contract clause, non-specific obligation.
7. I think this approach might not be aggressive enough. I think we need __________________________ more aggressive approach.
Correct answer: a — A — introducing a non-specific different approach.
8. He gave me two designs: a yellow one and a red one. I like __________________________ red one.
Correct answer: the — The — second mention; the red one is already specified.
9. Trading __________________________ stock can be tricky if you've never done it before.
Correct answer: NO ARTICLE — No article — stock is uncountable when used as a general activity.
10. I want to sell __________________________ stock that I bought last week.
Correct answer: the — The — a specific stock previously purchased.
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