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The articles ‘a’, ‘an’, and ‘the’, are important words that we use in almost every sentence in English. Articles are words that modify a noun. There are two kinds of articles: definite and indefinite.

 

The Definite Article

Among ‘a’, ‘an’, and ‘the’, the one which belongs to definite articles is ‘the’. It refers directly to a specific object. ‘The’ can be followed by singular, plural, and uncountable nouns.

 

When to Use the Definite Article?

1. When there is the only one.

The sun is a star.

[There is only one sun in this world].

 

This is the reason why we use ‘the’ before superlative adjectives.

She is the prettiest girl in the town.

[There is only one person that has the particular pretty than any other girls in the town].

 

2. When we talk about something certain or specific.

Did you see the umbrella in my bag?

[It is clear that the speaker refers to the specific umbrella that was in her bag before].

 

3. When we have mentioned the object before.

I bought a book yesterday. The book is entitled “The Secrets to be Happy”.

[It is clear that the book entitled “The Secrets to be Happy” is the book that I bought yesterday].

 

4. When we are going to state an ordinal number.

This is the first time I have been here.

 

5. When you are indicating a time period.

Super Mario was one of the most popular video games in the 1990s.

 

6. When you refer to the member of a group of people.

The Robinsons are on a vacation.

[The whole family member of Robinsons is on a vacation].

 

The Quick Rule: If you think the audience knows the specific object you are referring to, use ‘the’.

 

The Indefinite Article

‘A’ and ‘an’ belong to the indefinite article. They indicate a general idea rather than a specific object. If the word begins with a consonant, use ‘a’. On the other hand, if it begins with a vowel, use ‘an’. The indefinite article is limited to singular nouns or a group of noun.

 

When to Use the Definite Article?

1. When we say a job.

Mary is a stewardess.

 

2. When we express unspecified singular nouns.

She invites a man to the party.

[Both of the speaker and listener do not know what kind of man he is].

 

3. When we use collective nouns.

I buy a bunch of bananas.

 

4. When we want to say quantity.

My grandmother gives me a dozen eggs.

 

5. When we mentioned an object for the first time.

I bought a book yesterday. The book is entitled “The Secrets to be Happy”.

[Yes, we use the same example as above to be clear. Note that ‘a’ is used to refer an object when it is mentioned for the first time].

6. When you mean ‘one’.

He sang a song last night.

[He sang one song last night].

The Quick Rule: If you think the audience does not know the specific object you are referring to, use indefinite articles.

 

Read: Understanding the Difference Between Which and That

 

Exceptions

In several cases, the word that started with unpronounced consonant (h) use ‘an’ instead of ‘a’. Examples:

an heir

an honest

an honor

an hour

 

In the same way, when the word is a vowel but pronounced as a consonant sound, use ‘a’. Although those words begin with vowels, they are pronounced as they begin with the letter ‘y’. Examples:

a unique

a useful

a university

a European

 

Zero Articles (Ø)

We do not use articles when we talk about things in general.

Dogs are mammals.

 

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