The Articles / Los Articulos

The = El, La

a / an = un y una

· a = indefinite article (not a specific object, one of a number of the same objects) with consonants
She has a dog.
I work in a factory.

· an = indefinite article (not a specific object, one of a number of the same objects) with vowels (a,e,i,o,u)
Can I have an apple?
She is an English teacher.

· the = definite article (a specific object that both the person speaking and the listener know)
The car over there is fast.
The teacher is very good, isn't he?

· The first time you speak of something use "a or an", the next time you repeat that object use "the".
I live in a house. The house is quite old and has four bedrooms.
I ate in a Chinese restaurant. The restaurant was very good.

· DO NOT use an article with countries, states, counties or provinces, lakes and mountains except when the country is a collection of states such as "The United States".
He lives in Washington near Mount Rainier.
They live in northern British Columbia.

· Use an article with bodies of water, oceans and seas -
My country borders on the Pacific Ocean

· DO NOT use an article when you are speaking about things in general
I like Russian tea.
She likes reading books.

· DO NOT use an article when you are speaking about meals, places, and transport
He has breakfast at home.
I go to university.
He comes to work by taxi