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A vs. An
USE 1
The article A is used before singular, countable nouns which begin
with consonant sounds.
Examples:
He is a teacher.
She doesn't own a car.
I saw a bear at the zoo.
USE 2
The article AN is used before singular, countable nouns which begin
with vowel sounds.
Examples:
He is an actor.
She didn't get an invitation.
I saw an eagle at the zoo.
USE 3
Remember that A(AN) means "one" or "a single". You cannot use A(AN) with
plural nouns.
Examples:
I saw a bears in Yellowstone National Park. Not Correct
I saw bears in Yellowstone National Park. Correct
USE 4
If there is an adjective or an adverb-adjective combination before the
noun, A(AN) should agree with the first sound in the adjective or the adverb-
adjective combination.
Examples:
He is an excellent teacher.
I saw a really beautiful eagle at the zoo.
USE 5
Use A before words such as "European" or "university" which sound like they
start with a consonant even if the first letter is a vowel. Also use A before
letters and numbers which sound like they begin with a consonant, such as
"U", "J", "1" or "9". Remember, it is the sound not the spelling which is
important. For example, "1" is spelled O-N-E; however, it is pronounced "won"
like it starts with a "W".
Examples:
She has a euro. SOUNDS LIKE "YU-RO".
That number is a "1". SOUNDS LIKE "WON".
USE 6
Use AN before words such as "hour" which sound like they start with a vowel
even if the first letter is a consonant. Also use AN before letters and numbers
which sound like they begin with a vowel, such as "F" or "8". Remember, it is
the sound not the spelling which is important. For example, "F" is pronounced
"eff" like it starts with an "E".
Examples:
I only have an hour for lunch. SOUNDS LIKE "AU-ER".
Does his name begin with an "F"? SOUNDS LIKE "EFF".
USE 7
Some words such as "herb" or "hospital" are more complicated because they
are pronounced differently in different English accents. In most American
accents, the "h" in "herb" is silent, so Americans usually say "an herb". In
many British accents, the "h" in "herb" is pronounced, so many British say "a
herb". In some British accents, the "h" in hospital is silent, so some British will
say "an hospital" instead of "a hospital".
USE 8
In English, some nouns are considered uncountable such as: information, air,
advice, salt and fun. We do not use A(AN) with these uncountable nouns.
(Learn more about countable and uncountable nouns.)
Examples:
She gives a good advice. Not Correct
She gives good advice. Correct
A(An) vs. The
USE 9
A and AN are called indefinite articles. "Indefinite" means "not specific".
Use A(AN) when you are talking about a thing in general, NOT a specific
thing.
Examples:
I need a phone. NOT A SPECIFIC PHONE, ANY PHONE
Mark wants a bicycle. NOT A PARTICULAR BICYCLE, A BICYCLE IN GENERAL
Do you have a driver's license? IN GENERAL
Use A(AN) when talking about a thing which is new, unknown, or introduced to
a listener for the first time. Also use A(AN) when you are asking about the
existence of something.
Examples:
I have a car. THE CAR IS BEING INTRODUCED FOR THE FIRST TIME.
Tom is a teacher. THIS IS NEW INFORMATION TO THE LISTENER.
Is there a dictionary in your backpack? ASKING ABOUT THE EXISTENCE OF THE
DICTIONARY
Similarly, use A(AN) to introduce what type of thing we are talking about.
Examples:
That is an excellent book. DESCRIBING THE KIND OF BOOK
Do you live in a big house? ASKING ABOUT THE KIND OF HOUSE
I ate a thick, juicy steak. DESCRIBING THE KIND OF STEAK
REMEMBER: You cannot use A(AN) with plural nouns because A(AN) means
"one" or "a single".
Examples:
I saw a bears in Yellowstone National Park. Not Correct
I saw bears in Yellowstone National Park. Correct
USE 10
THE is called a definite article. "Definite" means "specific". Use THE when
talking about something which is already known to the listener or which has
been previously mentioned, introduced, or discussed.
Examples:
I have a cat. The cat is black.
There is a book in my backpack. The book is very heavy.
Do you know where I left the car keys? THE LISTENER KNOWS WHICH SPECIFIC
CAR KEYS YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT.
Do you own a car? Is the car blue? YOU ASSUME THEY DO HAVE A CAR AFTER
ASKING ABOUT IT IN THE FIRST SENTENCE.
Nobody lives on the Moon. THE MOON IS KNOWN TO EVERYONE.
IMPORTANT: You can use THE with both singular nouns and plural nouns.
Examples:
I saw the bear in Yellowstone National Park. Correct
I saw the bears in Yellowstone National Park. Correct
USE 11
Many clauses and phrases make the noun known to the listener by telling the
listener which person or thing we are talking about. Let's look at an example
sentence:
Can you give me the book on the table.
We use THE in this sentence because the phrase "on the table" tells the
listener which book we are referring to. We are not talking about other books,
we are talking about a specific book that the listener can see or already knows
about. Learning to recognize such identifying clauses and phrases will help
you use THE correctly.
Examples:
Did you read the book which I gave you?
He didn't like the movie that you suggested.
He loved the dessert with chocolate and cherries.
The phone on my desk belongs to Ken.
Did you know the man who was talking to Leonie?
HOWEVER: Not all clauses and phrases make the noun known to the listener.
Some are simply descriptive. They add extra information, but they do not tell
the listener which specific thing we are talking about.
Examples:
He bought the house with a big backyard. THIS COMBINATION TELLS THE
LISTENER WHICH SPECIFIC HOUSE HE BOUGHT.
He bought a house with a big backyard. THIS COMBINATION TELLS THE
LISTENER WHAT KIND OF HOUSE HE BOUGHT, BUT NOT THE SPECIFIC HOUSE HE BOUGHT.