Use no article for serious or chronic diseases and for institutions used for their core purpose, as in he has cancer or she was rushed to hospital, but a/an for minor countable ailments, as in he caught a bad cold, and the for a specific vehicle or an unrelated visit to an institution.
Grammar Rule
No article for serious diseases and for institutions used for their core purpose; a/an for countable ailments; the only for a specific vehicle or an unrelated visit.
Articles with Diseases, Institutions, and Transport: Rules and Examples
| Category | Article | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Serious/chronic diseases | zero article | He has cancer. She has diabetes. |
| Minor countable ailments | a/an | He caught a bad cold on the flight home. |
| Institutions (core purpose) | zero article | She was rushed to hospital after fainting at work. |
| Institutions (unrelated visit) | the | The inspectors visited the prison to review its facilities. |
| Transport (general mode, by) | zero article | They crossed the country by bus. |
| Transport (specific vehicle) | the | We got on the train at platform four. |
Remember: no article for serious diseases and for institutions used for their core purpose, a for countable ailments, and the only for a specific vehicle or a building visited for an unrelated reason.
Practice Test
Instructions
Answer each question in the test below using articles correctly with diseases, institutions, and transport. You will get a new random set of questions every time you retake the test, plus a downloadable results summary with your name and score at the end.
C1-49 Articles with Diseases, Institutions, and Transport
Click «Start the test» to begin right away — no signup required. You can get a personalized certificate with your name and score at the end, if you want one.
Frequently Asked Questions
What article do you use with serious diseases like cancer?
No article, as in he has cancer.
What article do you use with minor countable ailments?
A/an, as in he caught a bad cold on the flight home.
What article do you use when visiting an institution for its core purpose?
No article, as in she was rushed to hospital after fainting at work.
What article do you use for a specific vehicle?
The, as in we got on the train at platform four.