English Articles

Articles

Articles 

Articles are used before noun to describe a noun in some way.

There are three articles “a”, “an” and ”the”.

• I bought a pen
• He is an old man.

Types of Articles

Articles are of two types, definite articles and indefinite articles.

Definite article

“The” is called definite article and is used to refer to a particular person or thing.

• I saw the North Pole star in the sky last night.

The North Pole star is specific so we will use “the” before it. The sky is also one so it is also specific and we will use “the” with it.

Indefinite article

• I met a man yesterday.

• I like to eat an orange.

• I ate an egg.

“A” and “an” are the indefinite articles and they don’t refer to particular person or thing. They are used with general person or thing.

“A” is used with consonants.

Man is common noun so we will use “a”.

“An” is used with vowel sounds.

A, e, I, o, u.

“O” is a vowel so we use article “an” with it.

Rules for articles

1. When you see or mention a noun for the first time, definite article will be used with it.

• I met a girl yesterday.

When you see or mention the same noun again, the indefinite article will be used.

• She is girl boy whom I met yesterday.

2. Don’t use “A” or “An” with a plural uncountable noun.

• The Knowledge
• The music

The knowledge and music are the uncountable nouns so we can’t use “a” or “an” with them.

3. Indefinite articles are always used we common nouns.

• I see a dog.
• I bought an apple.

4. “A” or “An” follow the sounds.

• An hour
• A uniform

An is always used with the vowels but when the noun produces the sound of vowel “an” is used with it. Just like “hour” is producing the sound of vowel “o”.So we will use “an” with it.

5. When there is possessive noun (me, my, their, your, her, his) in the sentence. Then article is not used with the possessive noun.

• This is my pen.

Pen is a common noun and indefinite article should be used with it, but due to possessive case we will not us any article with it.

6. With singular noun, countable noun or common noun giving the constant sound we will use “A”.

• This is a pen.

7. With singular noun, countable noun or common noun giving the vowel sound we will use “An”.

• This is an apple.