How to Use Articles (a/an/the) Purdue OWL® (2024)

How to Use Articles (a/an/the) Purdue OWL® (1)

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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

For example, if I say, "Let's read the book," I mean a specific book. If I say, "Let's read a book," I mean any book rather than a specific book.

Here's another way to explain it: The is used to refer to a specific or particular member of a group. For example, "I just saw the most popular movie of the year." There are many movies, but only one particular movie is the most popular. Therefore, we use the.

"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.

Let's look at each kind of article a little more closely.

Indefinite Articles: a and an

"A" and "an" signal that the noun modified is indefinite, referring to any member of a group. For example:

  • "My daughter really wants a dog for Christmas." This refers to any dog. We don't know which dog because we haven't found the dog yet.
  • "Somebody call a policeman!" This refers to any policeman. We don't need a specific policeman; we need any policeman who is available.
  • "When I was at the zoo, I saw an elephant!" Here, we're talking about a single, non-specific thing, in this case an elephant. There are probably several elephants at the zoo, but there's only one we're talking about here.

Remember, using a or an depends on the sound that begins the next word. So...

  • a + singular noun beginning with a consonant: a boy; a car; a bike; a zoo; a dog
  • an + singular noun beginning with a vowel: an elephant; an egg; an apple; an idiot; an orphan
  • a + singular noun beginning with a consonant sound: a user (sounds like 'yoo-zer,' i.e. begins with a consonant 'y' sound, so 'a' is used); a university; a unicycle
  • an + nouns starting with silent "h": an hour
  • a + nouns starting with a pronounced "h": a horse
    • In some cases where "h" is pronounced, such as "historical," you can use an. However, a is more commonly used and preferred.

      A historical event is worth recording.

Remember that these rules also apply when you use acronyms:

Introductory Composition at Purdue (ICaP) handles first-year writing at the University. Therefore, an ICaP memo generally discusses issues concerning English 106 instructors.

Another case where this rule applies is when acronyms or initialisms start with consonant letters but have vowel sounds:

An MSDS (material safety data sheet) was used to record the data. An SPCC plan (Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures plan) will help us prepare for the worst.

If the noun is modified by an adjective, the choice between a and an depends on the initial sound of the adjective that immediately follows the article:

  • a broken egg
  • an unusual problem
  • a European country (sounds like 'yer-o-pi-an,' i.e. begins with consonant 'y' sound)

Remember, too, that in English, the indefinite articles are used to indicate membership in a group:

  • I am a teacher. (I am a member of a large group known as teachers.)
  • Brian is an Irishman. (Brian is a member of the people known as Irish.)
  • Seiko is a practicing Buddhist. (Seiko is a member of the group of people known as Buddhists.)

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. For example:

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

"I was happy to see the policeman who saved my cat!" Here, we're talking about a particular policeman. Even if we don't know the policeman's name, it's still a particular policeman because it is the one who saved the cat.

"I saw the elephant at the zoo." Here, we're talking about a specific noun. Probably there is only one elephant at the zoo.

Count and Noncount Nouns

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).
  • "He spilled the milk all over the floor" (some specific milk, perhaps the milk you bought earlier that day) or "He spilled milk all over the floor" (any milk).

"A/an" can be used only with count nouns.

  • "I need a bottle of water."
  • "I need a new glass of milk."

Most of the time, you can't say, "She wants a water," unless you're implying, say, a bottle of water.

Geographical use of the

There are some specific rules for using the with geographical nouns.

Do not use the before:

  • names of most countries/territories: Italy, Mexico, Bolivia; however, the Netherlands, the Dominican Republic, the Philippines, the United States
  • names of cities, towns, or states: Seoul, Manitoba, Miami
  • names of streets: Washington Blvd., Main St.
  • names of lakes and bays: Lake Titicaca, Lake Erie 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, the Hebrides, or the Canary Islands

Do use the before:

  • 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

Omission of Articles

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
How to Use Articles (a/an/the) 
			 Purdue OWL® (2024)

FAQs

How to Use Articles (a/an/the) Purdue OWL®? ›

Rule #1 - Specific identity not known: Use the indefinite article a or an only with a singular count noun whose specific identity is not known to the reader. Use a before nouns that begin with a consonant sound, and use an before nouns that begin with a vowel sound.

How to use article A or an? ›

Rule #1 - Specific identity not known: Use the indefinite article a or an only with a singular count noun whose specific identity is not known to the reader. Use a before nouns that begin with a consonant sound, and use an before nouns that begin with a vowel sound.

How to use articles a an the pdf? ›

  1. There are three articles in the English language: a, an, and the. ...
  2. When you want to speak generally about a singular noun, use a or an before it. ...
  3. While a and an are used for nouns that are general, the is used for nouns that are known by you and the person you are speaking to. ...
  4. Examples of the before Superlatives.

How to use articles a an the exercise? ›

Before you start with the exercises, here is something you should remember. The indefinite articles 'a' and 'an' are used before nouns that are singular and common, whereas the definite article 'the' is used before nouns that are plural or proper. . 'The' is also used when you want to specify a particular noun.

When to use a or an example sentences? ›

When to Use A vs. An | Difference & Example Sentences
Examples: A in a sentenceExamples: An in a sentence
He had a dog when he was a child. Oranges are a good source of Vitamin C.She had an aneurysm when she was a child. Many employees of the company owned an iPhone.
1 more row
Oct 2, 2022

How do you know when to say a or an? ›

Use a when the noun or adjective that comes next begins with a consonant sound. Use an when the noun or adjective that comes next begins with a vowel sound. Remember that what matters is the pronunciation, not the spelling.

What are the 10 examples of article A? ›

Article 'A' :
  • I'm a good boy.
  • He's a topper.
  • He was really a genius guy.
  • He wasn't a mad.
  • She is a painter.
  • She is baking a cake.
  • She's preparing a speech.
  • They are going to buy a bugatti.
Jun 20, 2020

What is an example of an article? ›

An article is a word that is used to indicate that a noun is a noun without describing it. For example, in the sentence Nick bought a dog, the article a indicates that the word dog is a noun. Articles can also modify anything that acts as a noun, such as a pronoun or a noun phrase.

What are the 10 uses of definite articles? ›

Below are the different examples in which a Definite Article is used.
  • 'Did he go to the party?'
  • 'I saw a bird on the terrace. ...
  • 'The lily flower has a beautiful color. ...
  • 'Who was the first man to land on the moon. ...
  • 'It was the coldest night of the winter.

When not use article the? ›

Common phrases

We don't usually use an article in expressions with bed, work and home. We also don't normally use an article in expressions with school, university, prison and hospital. But we usually use the if someone is just visiting the place, and not there as a student/prisoner/patient, etc.

What are the rules for articles A? ›

The general rule for when to use a or an is that "a" is used before a word that begins with a consonant or a vowel that sounds like a consonant, while "an" is used before a word that begins with a vowel or a consonant with a vowel sound like the h in hour.

How do you teach articles A and an? ›

“A” is used before a consonant, and “an” is used before vowels and with silent h words. For example – a glass, an apple, or an honest girl. “A” and “an” can precede words beginning with a vowel, which have consonant sounds. For example – I wish to go to a university after school.

Do you see ____ blue sky answer? ›

In Option D 'The' is used as the definite article with a particular noun, Sky in this sentence and is grammatically correct.

What is the rule for using an? ›

A is used before words that begin with a consonant sound, as in I own a dog or She was riding a unicycle. An is used before words with a vowel sound, as in He ate an apple or It has been an honor.

What is the zero article rule? ›

The zero article is also known as the zero determiner. In general, no article is used with proper nouns, mass nouns where the reference is indefinite, or plural count nouns where the reference is indefinite.

What are the exceptional rules of articles? ›

Exceptions. Use "an" before a silent or unsounded "h." Because the "h" does not have any phonetic representation or audible sound, the sound that follows the article is a vowel; consequently, "an" is used. When "u" makes the same sound as the "y" in "you," or "o" makes the same sound as "w" in "won," then a is used.

What is the correct way to write an article? ›

What Is the Format of an Article?
  1. Add a Title. Your title defines the article's topic and gives readers a preview of what they expect to read. ...
  2. Include Your Name. ...
  3. Write the Introduction. ...
  4. Insert Your Body. ...
  5. Write a Conclusion. ...
  6. Define Your Topics. ...
  7. Perform Research. ...
  8. Write a Draft Without Editing It.
Jun 12, 2024

How do you write and or in an article? ›

In conclusion, while the use of “and/or” can be useful in certain contexts, it is generally discouraged in academic writing because it can create ambiguity and weaken the clarity of the message. By doing so, authors can ensure that their writing is clear and easy to understand for their readers.

What are the 10 examples of definite articles? ›

Examples
  • The sun rose at 6:17 this morning.
  • You can go anywhere in the world.
  • Clouds drifted across the sky.
  • The president will be speaking on TV tonight.
  • The CEO of Total is coming to our meeting.

How do you write an article or letter? ›

Follow these 10 article-writing steps to create high-quality content for your audience.
  1. Identify Your Target Audience's Pain Points. ...
  2. Determine Your Target Keywords. ...
  3. Conduct Topic Research. ...
  4. Create an Outline. ...
  5. Write a Compelling Headline. ...
  6. Draft a Strong Introduction. ...
  7. Use Descriptive Subheadings to Organize Content.
Nov 16, 2023

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