Article or No Article?
In the 1950s, on the left, at three o'clock, by train. Learn the rules, then practise.
Show rules
"the" or no article? — Geographic names
| Use "the" | No article |
|---|---|
| rivers, seas, oceans: the Nile, the Pacific | cities: London; continents: Africa |
| mountain ranges: the Alps | single mountains: Everest, Mont Blanc |
| deserts: the Sahara | lakes: Lake Como; countries: France |
| a few countries: the UK, the USA | streets: Oxford Street |
Time expressions
- the: in the morning / afternoon / evening, in the 1990s, at the weekend, the past, the future
- no article: at night, at noon, at midnight, on Monday, in July, last / next week
Transport
by + transport = no article: by car, by bus, by train, by plane; also on foot.
But a specific vehicle takes the: in the car, on the bus.
Directions and position
These all take the: on the left, on the right, in the middle, at the top, at the bottom.
a / an = "per"
Use a / an to mean "per" or "each": twice a day, three times a week, 200 kilometres an hour.
Common mistakes
| ❌ | ✅ |
|---|---|
| I live in the London. | I live in London. |
| Nile is very long. | The Nile is very long. |
| Music from 1990s | Music from the 1990s |
| I go to work by the train. | I go to work by train. |
| The shop is on left. | The shop is on the left. |
Frequently Asked Questions
When do geographic names take 'the'?
Use 'the' with rivers, seas, oceans (the Nile, the Pacific), mountain ranges (the Alps), deserts (the Sahara), and a few countries (the UK, the USA, the Netherlands). Use no article with cities (London), continents (Africa), single mountains (Everest), lakes (Lake Como), and most countries (France).
Which time expressions take 'the'?
Use 'the' in 'in the morning/afternoon/evening', 'in the 1990s', 'at the weekend', and with 'the past' and 'the future'. Use no article with 'at night', 'at noon', 'at midnight', days (on Monday), months (in July), and 'last/next week'.
Why is it 'by train' and not 'by the train'?
'By + means of transport' is a fixed pattern with no article: by car, by bus, by train, by plane, by bike — also 'on foot'. You only add 'the' when you mean a specific vehicle: 'We listened to music in the car' (= our car).
What does 'a' mean in 'twice a day'?
In expressions of frequency or rate, 'a' or 'an' means 'per' or 'each': twice a day, three times a week, 200 kilometres an hour. Use 'an' before a vowel sound, as in 'an hour'.