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Articles

December 13, 2013 by Bret Tutor

Articles

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A, An or The?

Unlike many other languages, we use articles in front of different nouns. Keep in mind that an article is not always required. The three main articles are the, a and an. They are divided into “definite” or “indefinite” forms.

Definite Indefinite
the a, an

Definite articles are used to refer to a particular subject that is known. Indefinite articles refer to a general subject.

For example, when you are referring to a certain or specific dog, you might say, “I nearly hit the dog with my car.” If you are referring to dog in general, you’d say, “I almost hit a dog with my car.”

Here are a few more examples:

the (definite) a, an (indefinite)
  • She did not like the meal.
  • Jenny cleaned the house.
  • There is ice cream in the freezer.
  • Can you hand me the scissors?
  • The man was in the road.
  • I would like a meal right now.
  • I hired a maid.
  • I need to buy a freezer.
  • I don’t have an ice cream cone.
  • A man was standing in the road.

The use of the, a and an is dependant on the situation, not the word. For example:

  • I am going to get a car today. “A” means any car, not a particular one.
  • We are going to get the car today. “The” means that we are going to get a certain car. It is probably the one that is owned by the people referring to it.

Articles With Count(Countable) and Non-Count Nouns

There are various rules for using articles based on count and non-count nouns. Just follow the rules when deciding which one of the three to use.

Count Nouns

  • All three articles the, a and an can be used for count nouns.
  • All singular count nouns require an article.
  • Most of the time use a or an the first time a count noun is used or introduced.
  • Use the with count nouns the second and following times after the count noun has been used.

Non-Count Nouns

  • All three articles a and an cannot be used for non-count nouns unless there is a container word in front.
  • Do not use an article if referring to a non-count noun in general or when it is first introduced.
  • Use the with non-count nouns when the subject is known.

Here are a few examples of how to use articles with count and non-count nouns:

  • I would like a bike.
  • I like the bike in the window.
  • Hand me the food on the table.
  • Give me an apple to eat.

One of the exceptions is when a non-count noun is being used as a count noun. Here are a few examples:

  • She would like to drink the coffee. The is used since the coffee is known. Coffee is a non-count noun in this example.
  • I would like a coffee. A is used since it is referring to “a cup of coffee”. The container word cup is implied, making it a count noun. It is better to use container words, but in informal English people do use non-count nouns as count nouns.

A Or An Based On Sound Of The Word

Many students studying English accidently follow the rule that you use a in front of a noun starting with a consonant and an in front of a noun starting with vowel. The rule is:

  • Use a in front of words with a consonant sound.
  • Use an in front of words with a vowel sound.

The reason the rule states words instead of nouns is due to adjectives or container words that might be placed in front of the noun. Here are a few examples of how to use a or an based on the beginning sound of the word:

  • I would like an apple.
  • He is a monk.
  • She has an unusual nose. An is used since the adjective unusual is in front of the noun nose.
  • I visited a European country last year. A is used due to the beginning sound of European, even though it starts with a vowel.
[slickquiz id=14]

Filed Under: Adjectives Tagged With: Articles, Grammar

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