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Articles
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The words ‘a’, ‘an’ and ‘the’ are called articles.

These can be divided into two types:

1. Indefinite Articles: a, an

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an - used before singular count nouns beginning with a vowel (a, e,

.i
i, o, u) or vowel sound:

 an apple, an elephant, an issue, an orange

a - used before singular count nouns beginning with consonants

(other than a, e, i, o, u):


ep
a stamp, a desk, a TV, a cup, a book
Pr
Used before singular nouns that are unspecified:

 a pencil
 an orange
t

Used before number collectives and some numbers:

ar

 a dozen
 a gallon

Used before a singular noun followed by a restrictive modifier:

Sm

 a girl who was wearing a yellow hat

Used with nouns to form adverbial phrases of quantity, amount, or

degree:

 I felt a bit depressed.

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Exceptions: Choosing A or An

There are a few exceptions to the general rule of using a before words that
start with consonants and an before words that begin with vowels. The first
letter of the word honor, for example, is a consonant, but it’s unpronounced.
In spite of its spelling, the word honor begins with a vowel sound. Therefore,
we use an. Consider the example sentence below for an illustration of this
concept.

Incorrect: My father is a honest person.

n
Correct: My father is an honest person.

.i
Similarly, when the first letter of a word is a vowel but is pronounced with a
consonant sound, use a, as in the sample sentence below:

Incorrect: He is an United States senator.

Correct: He is a United States senator.

ep
This holds true with acronyms too: an LCD display, a UK-based
company, an HR department, a URL.
Pr
2. Definite Articles: the
t

Can be used before singular and plural, count and non-count nouns
ar

Used to indicate a noun that is definite or has been previously

specified in the context:

 Please close the door.

 I like the clothes you gave me.
Sm

Used to indicate a noun that is unique:

 Praise the Lord!

 The Columbia River is near here.

Used to designate a natural phenomenon:

 The nights get shorter in the summer.

 The wind is blowing so hard.

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Used to refer to a time period:

 I was very nave in the past.

 This song was very popular in the 1980s.

Used to indicate all the members of a family:

 I invited the Bakers for dinner.

 This medicine was invented by the Smiths.

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Practice Questions:

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Choose the correct article in each sentence.

1) Did you bring (a, an, the) umbrella?

2) Are you looking for
3) I checked
4) Can I have
5) I was born into
ep
(a, an, the) shampoo?
(a, an, the) mailbox again.
(a, an, the) spoon please?
(a, an, the) poor family.
Pr
6) She will come back in (a, an, the) hour.
7) Have you been to (a, an, the) Space Needle Tower in
Seattle?
8) I would love to talk to one of (a, an, the) managers.
t

9) What (a, an, the) amazing view!

10) The helicopter landed on (a, an, the) roof of a building.
ar

Answers:

1) an
2) the
Sm

3) the
4) a
5) a
6) an
7) the
8) the
9) an
10) the

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