Learn English Grammer Articles

Articles

There are only three articles: the, a and an. They are very small words which cause very large problems if used incorrectly. If, for example, you wanted someone to hand you the book, but you accidentally said a book, the other person might take some time to go shopping for a book they thought you’d like. While one can never have too many books, work doesn’t get done if we go book shopping every time we need to look up a word in the dictionary. Use of an article can also change the meaning of the noun:

dinner = the evening meal

a dinner = an evening meal held for some kind of event

the dinner = a specific evening meal which was held for some kind of event

Uses of Articles

Articles are used to differentiate between things or ideas – usually expressed by nouns. The speaker/writer may be referring to a specific thing or idea, or a general one.
We use the to refer to specific nouns, either singular or plural.

Please hand me the book that’s on the table.

Please hand me all the books that are on the tables.

A and an are used to refer non-specific nouns.

Please hand me a book; any book will do.

Please hand me an autobiography; any autobiography will do.

Articles should be placed just in front of the noun they’re modifying. However, if the noun is also being modified by one or more adjectives, the article should go in front of the adjective(s).

Please fetch me a sweater.

Please fetch me the brown sweater.

Please fetch me the fuzzy blue sweater.

An should be used before any noun – or any adjective modifying the noun – which begins with a vowel or a voiceless H.

He is a man.

He is an ugly man.

He is an honest man.

Articles can also be used when emphasizing a point.

He had a hard time with the exam.

He had the hardest time with the exam.

Obviously, using the definite article the makes the point very clear.

Definite Article: The

The definite article refers to a noun, either in the singular or plural. It can be used with uncountable nouns. The refers to a specific thing or quantity. It should be placed before the noun, or before the adjective which directly modifies the noun.

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 up this painting.

Please give me the hammer and the nail.

Indefinite Articles: A and An

The indefinite articles are used when we are referring to an unspecified thing or quantity. We use them when we don’t know (or don’t care) which thing we’re talking about.

There once was a sheep.

I don’t know which sheep it was – don’t know its name or where it’s from, or anything about it – so I can’t say the sheep.
We use a before nouns or adjectives which begin with a consonant, or when U sounds like a Y, or O sounds like a W.

A cat

A dog

A university

A young puppy

A one-eyed pirate

We use an before words which begin with a vowel sound or a soft H sound.

An egg

An hour-glass

An antique necklace

This rule also applies to acronyms.

A Society of Writers member was quoted in the article.

A S.O.W. member was quoted in the article.

An S.O.W. member was quoted in the article.

Because S sounds like it begins with a vowel (ess), an should be used in front of it.

The Used With All

In English, the should not come before the word all. They may be used separately, or combined into all the.

At the all birthday parties, food and drinks are served to the guests.

This could be written as: at birthday parties…, at all birthday parties…, or at all the birthday parties….

My father asked me to take the all books off the dining room table.

My father asked me to take all the books off the dining room table.

Unnecessary Definite Article

If the noun is general, an indefinite article – or possibly no article – may be used.

Use the utensil when eating the dinner.

Use the fork when eating your dinner.

Use a utensil when eating dinner.

Give me the liberty or give me the death.

Give me liberty or give me death.

Remember that a noun which has been previously mentioned must be modified by a direct article; however, if the noun is just popping up for the first time, an indirect article should be used.

A child is riding a bicycle along a sidewalk; the child is wearing the helmet.

The first the (in the second clause) is correct because child has already been mentioned; we know the writer is talking specifically about the child who is riding a bicycle. The second the should be replaced by an indefinite article (a) because we don’t know which helmet the child is wearing.
N.B. Sometimes the article will change the meaning of the sentence. For instance, if I wrote “I need to buy a new pen for the school”, it might imply that I have broken one of the school’s pens and need to replace it. However, if I am buying it for myself to use in school, “the” should be removed from the sentence: “I need to buy a new pen for school.”

Most/Some/All Of + Plural Noun Without The

When using the phrases most of, some of, and all of, put the definite article the before the plural noun which is being modified by the phrase.

I want to clean all of rooms in the house before the guests arrive.

The phrase all of should be followed by the article the.

I want to clean all of the rooms in the house before the guests arrive.

Most of people are careful of their health in the winter.

Most of the people are careful of their health in the winter.

Some of vegetables are fresh, but some are frozen.

Some of the vegetables are fresh, but some are frozen.

Using Articles With Pronouns

A pronoun is used to modify a noun; an article is also used to modify a noun. If both are used to modify the same noun, the reader will become confused. Pronouns are words like he, I, we, our, it, her, and their. Articles should not be used to modify pronouns.

Why are you reading the my book?

The and my should not be used together.

Why are you reading my book?

Getting on the train, she gave her ticket to a him.

Getting on the train, she gave her ticket to him.

Getting on the train, she gave her ticket to a ticket man.

Indefinite Article With Uncountable Noun

Uncountable nouns are nouns which are difficult or impossible to count. Uncountable nouns include untouchable things (information, air), things like liquids (milk, wine), and things which are too large or numerous to count (equipment, sand, wood). Because these things can’t be counted, singular articles like a or an should not be used to modify them. Uncountable nouns can be modified by words like some. Alternately, the uncountable noun can be changed to a countable noun.

Please give me a water.

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

Please give me some water.

Please give me a bottle of water.

Please give me an ice.

Please give me an ice cube.

Please give me some ice.

N.B. Depending on the context, some nouns can be countable or uncountable (e.g. hair, noise, time)

We need a light in this room.

We need some light in this room.

Indefinite Article With A Plural Noun

The indefinite articles, a and an, are used to modify singular nouns. When using a plural noun, these two articles are unnecessary.

I have a books in my locker.

I have books in my locker.

I have a book in my locker.

It is also unnecessary to use an indefinite article if there is an adjective in front of a plural noun.

When he is in public, he does an embarrassing things.

When he is in public, he does embarrassing things.

When he is in public, he does an embarrassing thing.

N.B.

When selecting courses, there are a many options to choose from.

A is not necessary in this sentence and should be removed. However, should you want to refer to the specific quantity of options, the sentence can be rephrased to use the definite article the:

You may select courses from the many options.

Unnecessary article

Articles are generally used to refer to specific plural or singular nouns. Plural countable nouns and mass nouns (words which are used as general terms – e.g. animals, people, sadness) do not always require an article. There are no rules to clearly identify when to use an article and when not to; the meaning of the word demonstrates the need for an article.

Cows like to bask in the sun.

Cows is a mass noun; all the cows like to bask in the sun. Sun requires a definite article because there is only one sun.

The cows in the field like to bask in the sun.

Here, we’re talking about a specific group of cows.

All over the world, humans are searching for the happiness.

The article before happiness is not required because happiness is used as a mass noun.

All over the world, humans are searching for happiness.

All over the world, humans are searching for the happiness they believe they deserve.

Because happiness in this sentence is a specific kind of happiness – the kind they believe they deserve – the article is required before happiness.

Farmers would do well to arrange for extra the stores of cattle feed this winter.

Because extra is already modifying the mass noun stores, the article is not required before stores.

Geographical Use of Definite Article The

English uses the definite article the in front of some geographical names but not in front of others. If in doubt, your best bet is to look it up in a dictionary or online. Here’s a general list of guidelines:
Do not use the before the name of:

• most countries or territories (e.g. Canada, China, New Zealand)
• towns, cities or states (e.g. Ottawa, Paris, California/
• streets (e.g. Front Street, Lakeview Avenue, Dogwood Crescent)
• lakes (e.g. Lake Ontario, Lake Placid, Bear Lake)
• bays, where the term bay comes after the name (e.g. the Bay of Fundy)
• mountains (e.g. Mount Everest, Mount Kilimanjaro)
• continents (e.g. North America, Africa)
• islands (e.g. Fiji Islands, Prince Edward Island)

Do use the before the name of:

• rivers, oceans, seas (e.g. the Mississippi River, the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean)
• bays, where the term bay comes first (e.g. the Bay of Fundy, the Bay of Bengal)
• gulfs and peninsulas (e.g. the Persian Gulf, the Arabian Peninsula)
• mountain ranges (e.g. the Rockies, the Dolomites, the Laurentians)
• points on the globe (e.g. the Equator, the North Pole)
• geographical areas (e.g. the Middle East, the South)
• deserts and forests (e.g. the Gobi Desert, the Black Forest)

N.B. Language is always changing. Fifty years ago, Argentina was known as the Argentine, and the Balkan Islands always had the definite article in front of it. In many places, formal writing may accept the use of the word Argentina, and people may say, “I come from Balkan Islands.”

Omission of Articles

Don’t use articles with:

languages and nationalities (e.g. Chinese, English, French, Spanish)

N.B. If you put an article in front of these words, it refers to the people of that country.

sports (e.g. diving, baseball, skiing)

academic subjects (e.g. chemistry, English, philosophy)

I like to play the baseball.

Sports don’t require an article before them.

I like to play baseball.

I like to play with a baseball

Because we’re talking about the actual ball (not the sport), an article is required.

I like to study English.

This sentence refers to the English language.

I like to study the English.

This sentence – because of the article – refers to the English people.