Using Articles: A, An, and The
In this lesson, you’ll learn how to use the articles a, an, and the.
The words a, an, and the are articles. Using articles correctly in your writing makes your message clear and demonstrates fluency. Let’s learn more about articles.
Function of Articles
Articles are placed before a noun (a person, place, thing, or idea) and they help the reader or listener understand whether a noun is specific or general.
Let’s look at two examples (below). How is the meaning of each sentence different because of the article used?
My coworker took the pen.
My coworker took a pen.
The first sentence uses the article the to indicate that the coworker took a specific pen that the writer and reader know about. The second sentence uses the article a to indicate that the coworker took a pen, some pen, but not a specific pen. Can you see the difference in meaning? Using articles correctly makes a big difference in the meaning of a sentence.
Articles and nouns
To use an article correctly, we must first know what type of noun we are working with. Let’s review some basics about nouns. Remember, a noun is a person, place, thing, or idea.
First, let’s review singular and plural nouns. A singular noun is one of something. A plural noun is more than one of something. Usually, to create a plural noun, we add -s or -es to a singular noun.
Next, let’s discuss countable and uncountable nouns. Countable nouns are those that can be counted, like pens, chairs, and computers. Countable nouns can be made plural.
Uncountable nouns are those that cannot be counted easily, like water, wood, and happiness. Uncountable nouns are not often changed into a plural form.
Keep these noun types in your mind as we discuss specific articles in the remaining parts of this lesson.
Definite Article: The
The article the is a definite article. Definite means specific. The definite article the is used when you and your reader or listener know about the specific noun you are using.
See the example below:
Will you be attending the meeting this afternoon?
In the example above, the writer uses the article the to refer to a specific meeting that both he and the person he is writing or talking to know about.
The article the can be used to refer to specific singular, plural, countable, and uncountable nouns.
See the examples below:
Her students gave her the birthday card. (Birthday card=singular, countable noun)
Her students also gave her the flowers. (Flowers=plural, countable noun)
These gifts gave her the joy she needed. (Joy=uncountable noun)
As you can see, the article the can be used with all types of nouns, but should only be used when referring to a specific noun. Thus, the can be used when both the writer and reader know about a specific noun.
Indefinite Articles: A and An
The articles a and an are indefinite articles. Indefinite means general, or not specific. Indefinite articles are used when you are referring to a noun in a general sense.
We all want a day off of work.
In the example above, the writer uses the article a to refer to a non-specific day off. We know he is not referring to a specific day, because he uses the indefinite article a.
The articles a and an can only be used to refer to non-specific singular, countable nouns.
See the examples below:
Jon’s boss gave him a raise in pay. (Raise=singular, countable noun.)
Jon’s boss also got him a computer. (Computer=singular, countable noun.)
As you can see, the articles a and an can be used with singular, countable nouns. Remember, a and an should only be used when referring to general nouns.
Now let’s learn when to use a and when to use an.
Using A
Use the article a before a noun that starts with a consonant—and before a noun that is pronounced with a consonant sound.
See the examples below:
I work as a waitress. (Waitress starts with a consonant.)
He works as a university professor. (University starts with the sound of a consonant when pronounced.)
Using An
Use the article an to refer to a noun that starts with a vowel—and before a noun that is pronounced with a vowel sound.
See the examples below:
Please give me an opportunity to improve. (Opportunity starts with a vowel.)
I appreciate an honest employee. (Honest starts with the sound of a vowel when pronounced.)
In the examples above, the article an is the correct choice because the nouns start with a vowel or a vowel sound when pronounced.
The Article Some
As we learned in the previous section, a and an can only refer to singular, countable nouns that are not specific. So, what about non-specific nouns that are plural?
This is when the word some can be used as an article. When referring to a plural, countable noun that is not specific, use the article some.
See the examples below:
We need some new tablets. (The writer wants new tablets—not specific tablets—and not all of the tablets in the world.)
Please get some flowers for the lobby. (The writer wants flowers—not specific flowers—and not all of the flowers in the world.)
Also, when you are referring to part of an uncountable noun, use the article some.
See the examples below:
Will you buy some paper? (The writer wants paper, but not all of the paper at the store.)
Please give Lisa some money. (The writer wants Lisa to get money, but not all of the money.)
No Article
Sometimes, nouns do not need an article at all.
When you refer to a general idea, sports, languages, meals, names of people, and names of places, you do not need an article.
See the examples below:
Business owners need creativity to be successful. (Creativity is a general idea, so no article is needed.)
I speak Russian and Hebrew. (Russian and Hebrew are languages, so no articles are needed.)
We play soccer during our lunch break. (Soccer is a sport, so no article is needed.)
Practice Problems
1. True or False: Use the article a to refer to a specific noun that is known to the writer and reader.
2. True or False: Use the article an to refer to a non-specific noun that starts with a vowel.
3. True or False: When referring to someone’s name in a sentence, use the article the.
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