IELTS Grammar: Articles (a / an / the)

Articles are one of the most common error areas for Bangla speakers, and fixing them can lift your writing by half a band.

The rules with examples

• Use a/an for a singular countable noun mentioned for the first time: “I read a book.”
• Use the for something specific or already mentioned: “The book was excellent.”
• Use no article for general plurals and uncountables: “Books are expensive”, “Information is power”.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Dropping “the”: “Government should act” → “The government should act”.
• Adding “the” to generalisations: “The pollution is a problem” → “Pollution is a problem”.