ArticlesVersión en línea When to use a/an, the or no article. por Paloma Barriga Olarte 1 a/an 2 The 3 No article when you mention something for the first time when you say what somebody or something is with general singular nouns when it's clear who or what somebody is when there's only one of something with specific nouns with buildings in a town mountain ranges, rivers, seas, canals, deserts, and island groups names of theatres, cinemas, hotels, galleries and museums with general plural or uncountable nouns with phrases like: at home/at work, go home/to bed/to work, next/last (week, month, etc.) with prison, church, school, hospital, university if you're thinking about the institution and its purpose most countries, continents, regions, states, islands, provinces, towns, cities individual mountains and lakes roads, streets, parks, bridges, shops and restaurants