Articles 2

What Are Articles?
ARTICLES
Articles are words “a”, “an” and “the” that define a noun as specific or unspecific. The main
things to consider when choosing an article are whether or not the noun is countable, and
whether it is definite. Consider the following examples:

EXAMPLE: After the long day, the cup of tea tasted particularly good.
By using the article “the”, we’ve shown that it was one specific day that was long and one
specific cup of tea that tasted good.
EXAMPLE: After a long day, a cup of tea tastes particularly good
.
By using the article “a”, we’ve created a general statement, implying that any cup of tea would
taste good after any long day.

Choosing the right article

Is the noun singular and countable? → YES → Is it definite? →If, YES →The, If, NO →a, an.

Is the noun plural or uncountable? →YES →Is it definite? →If, YES →The, If ,NO → No article

English has two types of articles: definite and indefinite. Let’s discuss them now in more detail.

The Definite Article(The)

The definite article is the word “the”. It limits the meaning of a noun to one particular thing. For example, your friend might ask, “Are you going to the party this weekend?” The definite article tells you that your friend is referring to a specific party that both of you know about.
The definite article can be used with singular, plural, or uncountable nouns.

Below are some examples of the definite article “the” used in context:
Please give me the hammer.
Please give me the red hammer; the blue one is too small. Please give me the nail.
Please give me the large nail; it’s the only one strong enough to hold this painting. Please give me the hammer and the nail.

The Indefinite Article(A/An)

The indefinite article takes two forms. It’s the word “a” when it precedes a word that begins with a consonant. It’s the word “an” when it precedes a word that begins with a vowel. The indefinite article indicates that a noun refers to a general idea rather than a particular thing.

For example,
you might ask your friend, “Should I bring a gift to the party?” Your friend will understand that you are not asking about a specific type of gift or a specific item. “I am going to bring an apple pie,” your friend tells you. Again, the indefinite article indicates that she is not talking about a
specific apple pie. Your friend probably doesn’t even have any pie yet. The indefinite article only appears with singular nouns.
Consider the following examples of indefinite articles used in context:
Please hand me a book; any book will do.
Please hand me an autobiography; any autobiography will do.

Exceptions: Choosing A or An

There are a few exceptions to the general rule of using a before words that start with consonants and an before words that begin with vowels. The first letter of the word honor, for example, is a consonant, but it’s unpronounced. In spite of its spelling, the word honor begins
with a vowel sound. Therefore, we use “an”.

Consider the example sentence below for an illustration of this concept.

Incorrect: My mother is a honest woman.

Correct: My mother is an honest woman.

Similarly, when the first letter of a word is a vowel but is pronounced with a consonant sound, use “a”, as in the sample sentence below:    

Incorrect: She is an United States senator.

Correct: She is a United States senator.  

This holds true with acronyms and initialisms, too: an LCD display, a UK-based company, an HR department, a URL.   

Article Before an Adjective  

Sometimes an article modifies a noun that is also modified by an adjective. The usual word order is article + adjective + noun. If the article is indefinite, choose “a” or “an” based on the word that immediately follows it. Consider the following examples for reference:

Correct: Eliza will bring a small gift to Sophie’s party.

Correct: I heard an interesting story yesterday.

Indefinite Articles with Uncountable Nouns

Uncountable nouns are nouns that are either difficult or impossible to count. Uncountable nouns include intangible things (e.g., information, air), liquids (e.g., milk, wine), and things that are too large or numerous to count (e.g., equipment, sand, wood). Because these things can’t be
counted, you should never use a or an with them—remember, the indefinite article is only for singular nouns. Uncountable nouns can be modified by words like some, however. Consider the examples below for reference:

Incorrect: Please give me a water.

Water is an uncountable noun and should not be used with the indefinite article.

Correct: Please give me some water.