Scribd
Upload
35 views13 pages

Articles Grammar Rules

Uploaded by

Patches
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
35 views13 pages

Articles Grammar Rules

Uploaded by

Patches
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 13

Grammarly stands with Ukraine.

Join us

Articles
Grammarly
Updated on September 23, 2022 · Grammar

What are articles?

Articles are words that define a noun as specific or


unspecific. 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.
Here’s a tip: Want to make sure your writing shines?
Grammarly can check your spelling and save you from
grammar and punctuation mistakes. It even proofreads your
text, so your work is extra polished wherever you write.

Your writing, at its best


Grammarly helps you communicate confidently

WRITE WITH GRAMMARLY

English has two types of articles: definite and indefinite. Let’s


discuss them now in more detail.

The definite article

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:

Example

Please give me the hammer.


Example
Please give me the red hammer; the blue one is too small.

Example
Please give me the nail.

Example

Please give me the large nail; it’s the only one strong enough to hold
this painting.

Example

Please give me the hammer and the nail.

The indefinite article

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:
Example

Please hand me a book; any book will do.

Example
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.

However, if you describe the water in terms of countable


units (like bottles), you can use the indefinite article.

Correct

Please give me a bottle of water.

Incorrect
Please give me an ice.

Correct
Please give me an ice cube.

Correct

Please give me some ice .

Note that depending on the context, some nouns can be


countable or uncountable (e.g., hair, noise, time):

Correct

We need a light in this room.

Correct

We need some light in this room.

Using articles with pronouns

Possessive pronouns can help identify whether you’re talking


about specific or nonspecific items. As we’ve seen, articles
also indicate specificity. But if you use both a possessive
pronoun and an article at the same time, readers will become
confused. Possessive pronouns are words like his, my, our, its,
her, and their. Articles should not be used with pronouns.
Consider the examples below.

Incorrect
Why are you reading the my book?

The and my should not be used together since they are both
meant to modify the same noun. Instead, you should use one
or the other, depending on the intended meaning:

Correct

Why are you reading the book?

Correct
Why are you reading my book?

Omission of articles

Occasionally, articles are omitted altogether before certain


nouns. In these cases, the article is implied but not actually
present. This implied article is sometimes called a “zero
article.” Often, the article is omitted before nouns that refer
to abstract ideas. Look at the following examples:

Incorrect
Let’s go out for a dinner tonight.

Correct

Let’s go out for dinner tonight.

Incorrect

The creativity is a valuable quality in children.

Correct

Creativity is a valuable quality in children.

Many languages and nationalities are not preceded by an


article. Consider the example below:

Incorrect

I studied the French in high school for four years.

Correct
I studied French in high school for four years.

Sports and academic subjects do not require articles. See


the sentences below for reference:

Incorrect

I like to play the baseball.

Correct

I like to play baseball .

Incorrect

My sister was always good at the math .

Correct
My sister was always good at math .

Article FAQs

What is an article?

An article is a word that comes before a noun to show if it’s


specific or general. Specific nouns use the article the and
general nouns use the article a (or an if the next word starts
with a vowel sound).

What is an example of an article in grammar?

“The hammer” refers to only one hammer, but “a hammer”


refers to any hammer.
When should we not use articles?

You don’t use articles with uncountable nouns or possessive


pronouns. Certain nouns such as nationalities, school
subjects, and sports don’t need articles, especially if they
refer to abstract ideas.

What are definite and indefinite articles?

Definite and indefinite articles refer to whether they describe


something specific or general. “The” is the definite article
and “a” and “an” are indefinite articles.

Your writing,
at its best.

GET GRAMMARLY

Works on all your favorite websites

Related Articles

Distributives: Definition and Examples


GRAMMAR

Distributives: Definition and Examples

“Was” or “Were” in the “If” Clause/Conditional

GRAMMAR

“Was” or “Were” in the “If” Clause/Conditional

Imperative Verbs in English, Explained

GRAMMAR

Imperative Verbs in English, Explained

Writing, grammar, and communication


tips for your inbox.
Your email... SUBSCRIBE

Get Grammarly Learn More Features Company

Grammarly for Your Desktop Plans Grammar Checker About


Grammarly for Windows Grammarly Premium Plagiarism Checker Careers & Culture
Grammarly for Mac Grammarly Business Citation Generator Press
Grammarly Browser Extension Grammarly for Education Essay Checker Affiliates
Grammarly for Chrome Blog Tone Detector User Trust Guidelines
Grammarly for Safari Tech Blog Style Guide Privacy Policy
Grammarly for Firefox Education Blog Snippets Terms of Service
Grammarly for Edge Business Blog Analytics CA Privacy Notice
Grammarly for MS Office Grammarly API Brand Tones Security
Grammarly for Google Docs
Grammarly for iPhone
Grammarly for iPad
The Grammarly Keyboard

Connect

Help Center
Contact Us
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
LinkedIn

2022 © Grammarly Inc.

You might also like