Articles

What are Articles?

Articles defines noun as specific or unspecific.  Articles are the word a, an, the use to modify the noun.

The articles in English are the (definite article), a, and an (indefinite articles).

Articles define a noun as specific or unspecific.

After the long day, the cup of tea tastes particularly good.

By using the, we’ve shown that it was one specific day that was long, and one specific cup of tea that tasted good.

After a long day, a cup of tea tastes particularly good.

By using a, we’ve created a general statement, saying that any cup of tea would taste good after any long day.

The words a or an and the are called articles. Articles come before nouns.

There are two articles – a/an and the

The article a or an is called the indefinite article because it doesn’t state which person or thing we are talking about.

·         For example, a doctor means any doctor.

·         A child means any child.

The article the is called the definite article because it points out a particular person or thing.

Compare:

·         You must consult the doctor. (Which doctor? It could be your family doctor.)

·         You must consult a doctor. (Which doctor? It could be any doctor. Here the speaker does not have a particular doctor in mind.)

The indefinite article (a/an) is used before singular countable nouns. It cannot be used before plural nouns.

·         We can say an apple or a tree, but not an apples or a trees.

The definite article (the) can be used before singular countable nouns, plural countable nouns and uncountable nouns.

·         We can say, the book, the books, the rice or the milk.

A or an

The choice between a and an is determined by sound and not spelling. A is used before words beginning with a consonant sound. Examples are: a boy, a tree, a ball, a flower, a horse, a hole, a European and a university.

An is used before words beginning with a vowel sound. Examples are: an elephant, an egg, an orange, an umbrella, an hour, an heir etc.