Articles
a, an, the and the zero article.
We use the indefinite articles a and an before a singular countable noun when we talk about it for the first time or when it is not a special, known one (I have a dog; She is a teacher). The choice between a and an depends on the SOUND at the start of the next word, not the spelling: we use a before a consonant sound (a book, a university, a European country, because 'university' begins with a /yu/ sound) and an before a vowel sound (an apple, an hour, an honest girl, because the 'h' in 'hour' and 'honest' is silent). We use the definite article the when both the speaker and the listener know exactly which thing we mean, for the second mention of something, or for things that are unique in the world (the sun, the moon, the Earth, the President of Azerbaijan). We use no article at all (the zero article) when we talk in general about plural countable nouns (Dogs are friendly; Children like games) and about uncountable nouns (Water is important; I like music). We also usually use no article before most names of people, languages, meals and sports (We play football; She speaks English; I have breakfast at seven). For example: 'I saw a cat in the garden. The cat was black, and now I love cats.'
Key terms
| Article | When to use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| a / an | Singular countable noun, first mention or not specific (a/an by sound) | I have a cat. She is an artist. |
| the | Specific thing both people know, second mention, or unique thing | Close the door. The sun is bright. |
| zero article | General plural and uncountable nouns; most names, languages, meals, sports | Dogs are friendly. I speak English. |
| Rule | Example |
|---|---|
| Consonant sound takes a (even if spelled with a vowel letter) | a book, a university, a European country |
| Vowel sound takes an (even if spelled with a consonant letter) | an apple, an hour, an honest man |
- 1Sentence: I saw ___ cat in the garden. ___ cat was black.
- 2First blank: The cat is mentioned for the first time and is singular countable, so use the indefinite article. 'Cat' starts with a consonant sound, so choose a: I saw a cat.
- 3Second blank: Now both people know which cat we mean (second mention), so use the definite article: The cat was black.
- 1Sentence: We waited ___ hour for ___ bus, but ___ bus was late.
- 2First blank: 'Hour' has a silent h, so it begins with a vowel sound: use an hour.
- 3Second blank: First mention of a singular countable noun with a consonant sound: a bus.
- 4Third blank: Second mention of the same bus, now known to both people: the bus.
Choose a or an by the SOUND, not the spelling. 'Hour' and 'honest' have a silent h, so they take an (an hour, an honest man). 'University' and 'European' begin with a /yu/ consonant sound, so they take a (a university, a European country).
Use the for the second mention of something and for unique things. On the first mention say 'a film'; on the second mention say 'the film'. Unique things always take the: the sun, the moon, the Earth.
Use no article with general plural nouns and uncountable nouns. Say 'Dogs are friendly' and 'Water is important', not 'The dogs' or 'a water'. 'A' can never go before a plural or an uncountable noun.
Use no article before most names, languages, meals and sports: I speak English, we have breakfast at seven, they play tennis. But superlatives always take the: the best teacher.
Rules
- 1Use a/an for a singular countable noun mentioned for the first time or not specific: 'I bought a pen.', 'She is an artist.'
- 2Choose a or an by the SOUND, not the spelling: a before a consonant sound (a house, a university), an before a vowel sound (an egg, an hour, an honest man).
- 3Use the for something specific that both people know, for the second mention, and for unique things: 'the sun', 'the book on the table', 'Close the door.'
- 4Use no article (zero article) with general plural nouns and uncountable nouns: 'Dogs are loyal.', 'Water is healthy.', 'I like music.'
- 5Use no article before most names, languages, meals and sports: 'I speak English.', 'We have lunch at noon.', 'They play tennis.'
Practice
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