Articles (a, an, the)
Choose a, an, the or no article before a noun.
12 minBeginner
1The grammar
Use 'a' or 'an' with one person or thing when we do not say which one: I have a car. Use 'a' before a consonant sound: a bag, a university. Use 'an' before a vowel sound: an email, an hour.
The sound is important, not the letter. 'University' starts with a 'y' sound, so we say 'a university'. In 'hour', we do not say the 'h', so we say 'an hour'.
Use 'the' when the listener knows which one we mean. For example, we use it when we talk about something for the second time: I have a car and a motorbike. The car is old.
Do not use an article with plural nouns when we talk about things in general: Hotels are expensive in summer. Most names of people, cities and countries have no article: Paris, Japan. But we say 'the USA' and 'the UK'.
2Structure and formation
a
a + consonant sound + singular noun
She has a new job.
an
an + vowel sound + singular noun
He works in an office.
the
the + noun the listener knows
Please close the door.
No article (general)
plural noun with a general meaning
Hotels are expensive in summer.
No article (names)
most names of people, cities and countries
Lisbon is in Portugal.
3Examples
I am a nurse.
Use 'a' or 'an' with jobs.
We need an umbrella today.
'Umbrella' starts with a vowel sound.
The trip takes an hour.
We do not say the 'h' in 'hour'.
He studies at a university in Lisbon.
'University' starts with a 'y' sound.
I have a laptop and a phone. The laptop is new.
Second time: 'the laptop'.
Can you open the window, please?
We both know which window.
Doctors work long hours.
Doctors in general: no article.
4Common mistakes
She is engineer.
She is an engineer.
Use 'a' or 'an' with a job.
I have a umbrella.
I have an umbrella.
'Umbrella' starts with a vowel sound, so use 'an'.
He works at an university.
He works at a university.
'University' starts with a 'y' sound, so use 'a'.
I live in the Spain.
I live in Spain.
Most country names have no article.
5Practical usage
Talking about jobs
Use 'a' or 'an' when you say one person's job: I am a cook. She is an architect. Use 'the' if only one person has that job here: She is the manager.
First time and second time
Use 'a' or 'an' the first time and 'the' the next time: We have a meeting today. The meeting is at ten.
Now practise it
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