Using Articles 2

Plurals

In most cases nouns referred to in the plural do not need an article:

Many people today are concerned about human rights in Burma.
This bridge can't be used by lorries.
Politicians know very little about real life.
I reported only facts.

If, however, additional information is given after the noun to define it and make the reference more specific, an article becomes necessary in most cases:

Many people today are concerned about the human rights of (the) opposition leaders who were arrested last week.
The politicians who voted against this law know very little about real life.
I reported only the facts of the story as she told them to me.

Often the use of 'of' or a relative pronoun like 'who' or 'which' is a good clue.

In some cases, the use of an article is optional but the meaning may alter slightly:

Nurses are going on strike.
The nurses are going on strike.

In the second example 'the' makes the reference sound more like a well-known group of people in society, whereas in the first example it is more general. There is, however, only a thin line of difference between the two uses.

There are some cases where an article is used with a plural noun to refer to a specific well-known group of people or things:

The film director never listened to the critics.
I always read the Sunday papers.
When the players walked off the pitch everyone applauded.

Also look out for nouns which usually need an article only when referred to in a specific way:

Have you seen the news today? (= news programme)
I've got news for you. (= information)

He works in the media. (= media industry)
Media like radio and television have grown enormously in the last ten years. (= forms of media)

In the election on Thursday the people will decide. (= people of a nation)
He gets on well with people. (= anybody)

Quiz

Add articles to these sentences where necessary:

1. Rich countries of the world should cancel debts that they are owed by developing countries.
2. Millions of people have run up personal debts recently.
3. Cars are necessary in this city.
4. Cars sold in July will be taxed at old rates.
5. Internet advertisers are not making profits like they used to.
6. I called paramedics.
7. Exams I prepared for went well.
8. I study languages.
9. Gaelic is now one of official languages of the EU.
10. I told her about cheap holidays which I saw on the TV and she immediately took up offer.