​What is an article?

Basically, an article is an adjective. Like adjectives, articles modify nouns.

• English has two articles: the and a/an. The is used to refer to specific or particular nouns; a/an is used to modify non-specific or non-particular nouns. We call the the definite article and a/an the indefinite article.

the = definite article

a/an = indefinite article

before a singular noun beginning with a vowel sound

An

A

INDEFINITE ARTICLES: A AND AN

​before a singular noun beginning with a consonant sound

​A/an" is used to refer to a non-specific or non-particular member of the group.
For example, "I would like to go see a movie." Here, we're not talking about a specific movie. We're talking about any movie. There are many movies, and I want to see any movie. I don't have a specific one in mind.

​DEFINITE ARTICLE: THE

• The definite article is used before singular and plural nouns when the noun is specific or particular. The signals that the noun is definite, that it refers to a particular member of a group.

​"The dog that bit me ran away." Here, we're talking about a specific dog, the dog that bit me.

• ​The can be used with noncount nouns, or the article can be omitted entirely.
  "I love to sail over the water" (some specific body of water) or "I love to sail over water" (any water).

​*Some common types of nouns that don't take an article are: Names of languages and nationalities: Chinese, English, Spanish, Russian (unless you are referring to the population of the nation: "The Spanish are known for their warm hospitality.") Names of sports: volleyball, hockey, baseball Names of academic subjects: mathematics, biology, history, computer science

• names of rivers, oceans and seas: the Nile, the Pacific

• points on the globe: the Equator, the North Pole

• geographical areas: the Middle East, the West

• deserts, forests, gulfs, and peninsulas: the Sahara, the Persian Gulf, the Black Forest, the Iberian Peninsula

​Do use the before:

• names of most countries/territories: Italy, Mexico, ; BUT the Netherlands, the United States

• names of cities, towns, or states: Seoul, Manitoba, Miami

• names of streets: Washington Blvd.

• names of lakes and bays: Lake Titicaca, except with a group of lakes like the Great Lakes

• names of mountains: Mount Everest, Mount Fuji except with ranges of mountains like the Andes or the Rockies or unusual names like the Matterhorn

• names of continents (Asia, Europe)

• names of islands (Easter Island, Maui, Key West) except with island chains like the Aleutians

​Do not use the before:

GEOGRAPHICAL USE OF THE

QUIZ, PLEASE!

GREAT JOB!