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Definite and Indefinite Articles: Using A, An,The in English

Definite and Indefinite Articles: Using A, An,The in English

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Definite and Indefinite Articles in English! An article is a word that comes before a noun. There are two kinds of articles: definite articles and indefinite articles. In English, there is just one definite article: “the”. There are two indefinite articles: “a” and “an”.

Definite and Indefinite Articles

Using Article A in English

  • A is used in front of singular countable nouns ( a person, animal or thing ) which are not specific.
  • We don’t use “a before uncountable or plural nouns.
  • If a noun starts with a consonant sound (b, c, d, f, g, h, j, k, etc.), a” comes before the noun.

Examples:

  • A cat
  • A bird
  • A child
  • A doctor
  • A house
  • A bike
  • A boy
  • A table

Using Article An in English

  • An is used in front of singular countable nouns which are not specific.
  • We don’t use “an before uncountable or plural nouns.
  • If the noun starts with a vowel sound (a, e, i, o, u), “an” comes before the noun.

Examples:

  • An apple
  • An egg
  • An Ant
  • An orange
  • An hour
  • An aunt
  • An old man
  • An uncle

Using Article The in English

  • We use the article ‘the’ in front of all nouns ( It does not matter whether the nouns are singular, plural countable or uncountable ) to describe someone or something specific or unique.

Examples:

  • The earth
  • The world
  • The sky
  • The air
  • the weather
  • The moon
  • The President
  • The CEO
  • The sun

Definite and Indefinite Articles | Infographic

How to use Article a, Article an, Article the in English | Image

Definite and Indefinite Articles

Ela

Thursday 23rd of September 2021

Thanks to this infomations! Thanks! I love this informations so thanks!

Firdaus

Monday 20th of September 2021

simple yet usefull. thanks!

Toni

Thursday 24th of June 2021

Sorry! I was not able to read the examples, where there is AN HOUR. In my opinion, though, it would be clearer to group the four words into one bullet and point it out as an exception to the general rule.

Toni

Thursday 24th of June 2021

In the chart you did not mention the four words that have a silent H (an Hour, an Hono(u)r, an Heir, an Honest (person). Apart from that, it is clear and very approachable for starters. Thank you.

Tyoakosu

Tuesday 23rd of March 2021

I love your definitions thanks