​Grammar

A, An, The – Articles in English

Englishstudy 3 Years Ago 3 Comments

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ARTICLES:

While we are using nouns in English, we sometimes feel the need to use some additions to them/ before them.

​

These additions are called “Articles” which is any of the English words “a“, “an“, and “the“. They identify whether a noun is definite (specific or particular) or indefinite (general or unspecific).

​Articles are divided into two categories:

• 1) The Definite Article – ‘the’

• 2) The Indefinite Articles ­– ‘a and an’

Note:

When we are talking about a noun, we have to ask ourselves the following question.

‘ What Kind of a Noun Am I Describing?’. And then We can choose one of the articles according to our answer.

If our answer is nonspecific noun, we use “a” or “an”.

If our answer is specific noun, we use “the”.

​1) INDEFINITE ARTICLES  A / AN

For much more information about A & An

a. “a/an” is used in front of singular countable nouns ( a person, animal or thing ) which are not specific.

Examples:

• a vehicle

• a man

• a dog

• an apple

• an umbrella

• There is

• She is

• It is

• There is

​b. We don’t use “a/an” before uncountable or plural nouns.

Examples:

• Can you give me a tea? (

• A weather is rainy. (

• There are a books on the table. (

c. The only one difference between A and AN;

If a noun starts with a consonant sound (b, c, d, f, g, h, j, k, etc.), “a” comes before the noun.

Examples:

• a chair

• a bird

• a child

​If the noun starts with a vowel sound (a, e, i, o, u), “an” comes before the noun.

Examples:

• an orange

• an egg

• an ant

Attention!!

In english, sounds of the words are important for using articles “a/an”.

Some nouns can start with a vowel letter. However, if its pronunciation ( the sound of the word ) starts with a consonant sound, “a” is used.

Examples:

• a university ( “u” sound like yu )

• a European ( “e” sound like y )

Some nouns can start with a consonant sound. However, if its pronunciation ( the sound of the word ) starts with a vowel sound, “an” is used.

Examples:

• an hour ( “h” is silent )

• an honest man ( “h” is silent )

​Grammar

A, An, The – Articles in English

Englishstudy 3 Years Ago 3 Comments

• FACEBOOK

• ​

• ​

• ​

• ​

• ​

PREV ARTICLE NEXT ARTICLE

​

ARTICLES:

While we are using nouns in English, we sometimes feel the need to use some additions to them/ before them.

​

These additions are called “Articles” which is any of the English words “a“, “an“, and “the“. They identify whether a noun is definite (specific or particular) or indefinite (general or unspecific).

​

Articles are divided into two categories:

• 1) The Definite Article – ‘the’

• 2) The Indefinite Articles ­– ‘a and an’

Note:

When we are talking about a noun, we have to ask ourselves the following question.

‘ What Kind of a Noun Am I Describing?’. And then We can choose one of the articles according to our answer.

If our answer is nonspecific noun, we use “a” or “an”.

If our answer is specific noun, we use “the”.

​

1) INDEFINITE ARTICLES  A / AN

For much more information about A & An

a. “a/an” is used in front of singular countable nouns ( a person, animal or thing ) which are not specific.

Examples:

• a vehicle

• a man

• a dog

• an apple

• an umbrella

• There is

• She is

• It is

• There is

​

b. We don’t use “a/an” before uncountable or plural nouns.

Examples:

• Can you give me a tea? (

• A weather is rainy. (

• There are a books on the table. (

c. The only one difference between A and AN;

If a noun starts with a consonant sound (b, c, d, f, g, h, j, k, etc.), “a” comes before the noun.

Examples:

• a chair

• a bird

• a child

​

If the noun starts with a vowel sound (a, e, i, o, u), “an” comes before the noun.

Examples:

• an orange

• an egg

• an ant

Attention!!

In english, sounds of the words are important for using articles “a/an”.

Some nouns can start with a vowel letter. However, if its pronunciation ( the sound of the word ) starts with a consonant sound, “a” is used.

Examples:

• a university ( “u” sound like yu )

• a European ( “e” sound like y )

Some nouns can start with a consonant sound. However, if its pronunciation ( the sound of the word ) starts with a vowel sound, “an” is used.

Examples:

• an hour ( “h” is silent )

• an honest man ( “h” is silent )

​

2) DEFINITE ARTICLE ( THE )

We use ‘the’ in front of all nouns ( It does not matter whether the nouns are singular, plural countable or uncountable ) to describe someone or something specific or unique.

Examples:

• Can you give me

• You should put

• The shop is next to

• Last week I watched

• The soup was really delicious

​2) DEFINITE ARTICLE ( THE )

We use ‘the’ in front of all nouns ( It does not matter whether the nouns are singular, plural countable or uncountable ) to describe someone or something specific or unique.

Examples:

• Can you give me

• You should put

• The shop is next to

• Last week I watched

• The soup was really delicious.

​NO ARTICLES

a. Plural countable or uncountable nouns ( as a generalization ) do not get ‘the’

Examples:

• Curiosity is a major feature for discoveries. ( NOT The Curiosity )

• Mexican food is spicy. ( NOT The Mexican food )

• Water is an indispensible need for all living things. ( NOT The Water )

• Religion is a very important concept for many people .  ( NOT The Religion )

• Privacy is needed in all areas. ( NOT The Privacy )

b. Names of people do not get “the”

Examples:

• The John (

• The Susan (

• The Steven (

• The Margaret (