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A, An, The Articles

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19 views4 pages

A, An, The Articles

Uploaded by

mahmoud.adriano.shenawy
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
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When to Use 'A,' 'An,' or 'The'

To use A, AN, and THE properly, you must know whether a noun is a Count or
Non-Count Noun. (A count noun is something that can be counted: one book, two
books, three books. A non-count noun is something that cannot be counted: milk, flour,
freedom, justice).

General Rules

• Use “a” or “an” with a singular-count noun when you mean “one of many,”
“any,” or “in general.”

o Amr is a student (one of many students).

o I like a good movie (one of many movies).

• Use “the” with any noun when the meaning is specific; for example, when the
noun names the only one (or one) of a kind.

o Adam was the first man (the only “first man”).

o New York is the largest city in the United States (only one city can be “the
largest”).

o We live on the earth (the only Earth we know).

o Have you heard the news (specific news)?

• Don’t use “a,” “an,” or “the” with a non-count noun when you mean “any,” “in
general.”

o We believe in love (in general).

o He gave me information (not specific).


More specific rules and examples

Use “a” or “an” Use “the” Don’t Use “a,” “an,”


or “the”

The first time you The second time With a plural-count


use a noun in a you use that same noun when you
paragraph noun in the same mean “some of
paragraph many things,”
• I saw a
“any,” “in general”
movie • I saw a
last night. movie last • Movies are
night. The entertaining
• A man
movie was (some
ran into
entertaining. movies;
the
movies in
street. • A man ran
general).
into the
street. A car • She likes
hit the man. men (in
general).

Title If the title is not a If a specific person If the person’s


specific one has a title or if only name is given
one person has that
• a title • President
president Kennedy
• the
• a doctor president • Dr. Yang

• a queen • the doctor • Queen


Elizabeth
• the Queen
of England
Names of If the usage is If the country’s If the country’s
Countries non-specific name is plural or name doesn’t
indicates a group include “a,” “an,”
• a country (of states, islands, or “the”
etc.
• Russia
• the United
• South Africa
States

• Holland
• the
Netherlands

• the
Philippines

Names of If the usage is If using the specific


•
Continents non-specific name of the
continent
• a
• Africa
continent

• Asia

• North
America

Names of If the usage is If the name doesn’t


If the name
Some non-specific include “a,” “an,”
Geographical includes or “the”
Areas • a city “the”
• Western
• a state
• the South Europe

Pole • Southeast

• the West Asia


• the North
East

Names of If the usage is If the school is


If the school’s
Colleges, non-specific named for a person
Universities, title includes or place
and Other • a school “of” or “for.”
Schools • Gallaudet
• a
• the University
university
University of • Harvard
Maryland University

• the Catholic • Georgetown


University of University
America

• The Model
Secondary
School for
the Deaf

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