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Articles
A vs. An vs. No Article (Uses 1 - 11)
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.

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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.

Examples:

 She gives a good advice. Not Correct

 She gives good advice. Correct

USE 9

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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.

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  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.

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 Advanced Articles (Uses 12 - 25)
USE 12

A(AN) can be used like the word "per".

Examples:

 Apples currently cost $1.30 a pound.

 Cheetahs can run 60 miles an hour.
 You want $150 a person for the tour?

USE 13

Use THE with nouns modified by ranking or ordering expressions such as "the first", "the
second", "the third", "the next", "the last", "the previous", "the following", "the penultimate",
etc.

Examples:

 This is the fifth day of our conference.

 I'll pay the next time we have dinner.
 Don't forget the following rule.

USE 14

Use THE with superlatives such as "the best", "the biggest", "the most important", "the least
interesting", etc.

Examples:

 This is the best day ever.

 That is the most expensive hotel room I've ever heard of in my life.
 He told the funniest joke!

Comparative forms, such as "bigger", "better", "more" can be used with

both A(AN) and THE and follow general article usage.

Examples:

 I like the bigger roller coaster.

 He has a more expensive car than I do.

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HOWEVER: THE is often used with comparative forms (bigger) rather than superlative forms
(biggest) when comparing only two things. This is commonly used in phrases such as "the
bigger of the two".

Examples:

 Jessie and Shauna are both smart. But I think Shauna is the smarter of the two.
 Between Jason's son and his daughter, his daughter is the better athlete.

USE 15

Do not use articles when generalizing about uncountable nouns and plural countable nouns.

Examples:

 Curiosity is a great trait. Uncountable

 Water is an important resource. Uncountable
 Vegetables are good for you. Plural countable

USE 16

English speakers often use THE plus a singular noun when they talk about or make
generalizations about certain topics, including:

 musical instruments (the piano, the guitar, the flute)

 plants (the coconut palm, the saguaro, the baobab)
 animals (the leopard, the elephant, the lowland gorilla)
 inventions (the steam engine, the plane, the light bulb)
 currencies (the dollar, the euro, the yen)
 body parts (the head, the eye, the ear)

Examples:

 I play the piano.

 The sequoia tree is native to California.
 The dolphin is a very intelligent animal.
 The Wright brothers invented the airplane.
 Right now, the euro is stronger than the dollar.
 Cheryl got poked in the eye.

In general, English speakers choose to use THE in this way to give the noun a more abstract
or conceptual sound. We choose to say "the piano" to make it sound more like an abstract
art form. Similarly, "the dolphin" sounds more like we are referring to the species. Moreover,

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"the plane" has a more conceptual sound that conveys the idea of invention. But remember,
you can also make generalizations about these topics using plurals as in USE 15.

USE 17

The expressions "a few" and "a little" mean "some" and express the idea that you have more
than expected.

Examples:

 He always carries a few dollars for emergencies.

 He had a little difficulty with his homework.
 She has a few friends who can help her move.

HOWEVER: The expressions "few" and "little" (without an article) mean "not much" and
express the idea that you have less than expected.

Examples:

 Unfortunately, I had little time to enjoy New York because I had to work so much.
 Sadly, he has few people in his life.
 They have little money, so their daughter cannot pay her tuition.

BUT REMEMBER: When the words "only" or "just" are used, "a few" and "a little" also
emphasize the meaning "not much".

Examples:

 Unfortunately, I only had a little time to enjoy New York because I had to work so
much.
 Sadly, he just has a few people in his life.
 They only have a little money, so their daughter cannot pay her tuition.

USE 18

Generally, articles are not used with the names of illnesses or diseases.

Examples:

 Dr. Smith visits schools and universities to educate students on AIDS.

 Oncologists are doctors who specialize in treating cancer.
 There are several medications that can be used to treat malaria.

HOWEVER: There are some illnesses which require THE.

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  the measles
 the flu
 the mumps
 the bubonic plague

MOREOVER: There are a few health conditions or illnesses which can be used with
both A(AN) as well as THE and follow general article use. This category includes most
aches, pains, growths, and attacks.

 a cold
 a heart attack
 a stroke
 a wart / tumor / growth / etc.
 a sore throat / sore back/ sore foot / etc.
 a headache / toothache / backache / etc.

REMEMBER: This last category follows general article use. Study the examples below.

Examples:

 John has a cold. The cold was pretty bad.

 Nancy had a heart attack. The heart attack seriously weakened her heart.
 Deb had a sore throat. The sore throat made it hard to talk.

USE 19

If a direction (north, west, southeast, left, right) directly follows a verb, do not use an article
with the direction.

Examples:

 We need to walk south.

 They drove north all day.
 At the stop sign, turn left and walk three blocks.

HOWEVER: If a direction follows a preposition, you must use THE.

Examples:

 We need to walk to the south.

 Our house is in the north.
 The grocery store is on the right.

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MOREOVER: Use THE with compass directions when referring to them as special
geographic or cultural regions.

Examples:

 We love the South.

 Have you ever visited the East?
 The West has better national parks.

USE 20

THE can be used with plural family names to refer to the family as a group.

Examples:

 The Robinsons love to vacation in Florida.

 The Shinoharas are originally from Japan.
 My brother lives next door to the Jacksons.

USE 21

THE can be combined with certain adjectives to refer to a group of people such as "the
blind", "the elderly", "the rich", "the French", "the Sioux", etc.

Examples:

 He is elderly. Adjective
 The organization helps the elderly. Elderly people

REMEMBER: This is especially important in situations where nationalities or ethnic groups

and their languages might be confused. In such situations, THE is used to specify that we
are talking about the nationality or ethnic group rather than the language.

Examples:

 I like French. Language

 I like the French. The French people

HOWEVER: When generalizing about nationalities or ethnic groups that end in "-ans", such
as "Americans", "Mexicans", and "Hawaiians", THE is not usually used.

Examples:

 Americans watch a lot of TV.

 Germans drink a lot of beer.

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USE 22

Do not use THE with the names of most countries unless the name contains a word such as
"States", "Kingdom", "Republic", "Emirates", "Union", "Coast", etc.

Examples:

 I love Italy.
 John used to live in Japan.
 He lives in the United States.

SIMILARLY: Don't use THE with states, provinces, and cities unless THE is specifically part
of the name or contains a word such as "Territory" or "Coast".

Examples:

 He lives in California.
 Ladakh is in India.
 The Northwest Territories is a province in Canada.

EXCEPTIONS: THE is used with "the Netherlands" as well as with many nations which are
island chains, such as "the Philippines", "the Maldives", "the Bahamas", etc. Additionally, in
the past, THE was used with certain countries such as "the Sudan", "the Gambia", and "the
Congo"; this usage is becoming less common.

Examples:

 He lives in the Netherlands.

 I visited the Bahamas last year.

USE 23

Use THE with the names of:

 oceans
 seas
 coasts
 rivers
 swamps
 archipelagos
 collections of lakes (such as the Great Lakes)
 mountain chains
 deserts
 references on the globe (such as the Equator, the North Pole)

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  geographic regions (such as the Northwest, the Middle East)
 bridges (except Tower Bridge)
 pagodas
 hotels
 theaters
 museums
 institutes
 skyscrapers
 the Sun, the Moon
 extraordinary works of art or architecture (such as the Mona Lisa, the Colosseum, the
Great Wall of China, and the Taj Mahal)

Examples:

 James visited the Hermitage, a famous museum in St. Petersburg.

 I would love to visit the North Pole.
 Nina walked over the Rialto Bridge.

USE 24

Do not use an article with:

 individual lakes
 individual islands
 beaches
 waterfalls
 individual mountains (except the Matterhorn)
 canyons (except the Grand Canyon)
 people's first names
 streets (except the High Street)
 public squares
 hospitals
 stadiums
 malls
 parks
 churches
 temples
 universities
 colleges
 languages
 religions
 days

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  months
 holidays

Examples:

 Have you ever visited Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris?

 Kenta is Buddhist.
 We went camping in King's Canyon.

HOWEVER: There are additional exceptions to some of the above categories. For
example, THE is often used in the pattern "the ... of ...".

Examples:

 The University of Colorado

 The Temple of Ranakpur
 The Cathedral of Siena

USE 25

Time expressions can be especially confusing. THE is used in some time expressions such
as:

 in the morning
 in the afternoon
 in the evening
 during the night
 during the day
 the day before yesterday
 the day after tomorrow
 the fall
 the summer

Examples:

 We'll meet in the afternoon.

 Jake loves to go camping in the fall.
 There was a small earthquake during the night.

HOWEVER: In other time expressions, no article is used:

 at night
 at noon
 at midnight

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  all day
 all night
 all month
 every month
 every year
 last night
 last Friday
 yesterday
 tomorrow

Examples:

 Did you sleep well last night?

 I'll see you tomorrow.
 We are meeting for lunch at noon.

MOREOVER: There are some expressions which can take both A(AN) and THE such as:

 a/the whole day

 a/the whole month
 an/the entire year
 an/the entire decade

Examples:

 He spent a whole month in Hawaii. I wish I could do that.

 I took last Friday off to go to the doctor. I spent the whole day sitting in his office.
 When she first moved to Germany, it took an entire year for her to learn enough
German to go shopping.
 Phil hated the '90s. He spent the whole decade in a dead-end job struggling to pay his
rent.

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https://www.englishpage.com/articles/index.htm

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Articles Exercise 1

Choose A, AN or (/) for "no article" for each blank below.

1. a bed

2. a chair

3. an egg

4. a fish

5. an answer

6. a song

7. a vacation

8. an investigation

9. (/) computers

10. an old letter

11. a very sad story

12. a web site

13. an Internet conference

14. an extremely large dog

15. a light meal

16. a fantastic answer

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17. an unusually small head

18. a funny joke

19. an expensive purse

20. (/) hard lessons

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Articles Exercise 2
Choose A, AN or (/) for "no article" for each blank below.

1. I have (/) two sisters and a brother. My brother has a son. That makes me an uncle.
2. Would you like an orange? Or would you prefer a banana? We also have (/) strawberries.
3. Does anyone have a cell phone? I need to make an emergency phone call.
4. Larry doesn't own a car. He rides a motorcycle to work.
5. Today, you ate an ice cream cone, a piece of pizza, a burrito and (/) doughnuts. That's not
exactly a healthy diet.

6. Let's go see a movie. There's an adventure film that I have really been wanting to see.
7. Is there an Internet cafe around here? I need to send an important email.
8. Instead of making a traditional turkey for Thanksgiving dinner, she baked an enormous
chicken.
9. It looks like it is going to be a rainy day. You should take an umbrella.
10. Phil and Debbie took an amazing vacation to Switzerland last year. They even climbed a
mountain near Lucerne.
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Articles Exercise 3
Choose A, AN or (/) for "no article" for each blank below.
1. a heavy suitcase
2. a hamburger

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3. an honest mistake
4. a hungry man
5. an hourly wage
6. an H
7. an S
8. a B
9. an R
10. a Z

11. an unhappy person

12. a university student
13. a union
14. an underground garage
15. a European hotel
16. an experienced teacher
17. (/) educated men
18. an 8
19. a 4
20. an 84
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Articles Exercise 4
Choose A, AN or (/) for "no article" for each blank below.
1. Because there was a huge rainstorm, the flight was delayed for more than an hour. The
airport was full of (/) angry passengers.
2. You said that he was a well known player on a European football team, his name started
with an "E", and his jersey had an "18" on it. I don't know who you are talking about.
3. That company makes an app to let you instantly translate (/) things with an iPhone. That's
a useful tool for a frequent traveler.

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4. Is this a phone number? It's really hard to read. Is that a "1" or a "7"?
5. With gas prices at an all-time high, I wish I didn't drive an SUV. I think a small compact car
would be a much more cost-effective way to get around.
6. "Photo" doesn't start with an "F"; it starts with a "P". And "write" starts with a "W", not an
"R".
7. He's quite a unique salesman. He has an unusual gift for keeping (/) customers happy,
and he has an honest face which convinces (/) people to buy things.
8. I buy my music from an online music store. They charge Americans a dollar for a song
and Europeans a euro. You can choose to download the song as an MP3 or in several other
formats. If you purchase ten songs, they will even send you a CD.
9. No, no, Margaret isn't a secretary; her husband is. In fact, he is quite an efficient
secretary. He works for a well known law firm downtown.
10. Dr. Perez is a professor at Stanford University. She has a Ph.D. in biology from Yale and
an MBA from Harvard. She is quite an educated lady.
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Articles Exercise 5
Choose A, AN or (/) for "no article" for each blank below.
1. an elephant
2. (/) milk
3. (/) trouble
4. a magazine
5. (/) information
6. (/) biology
7. a passport
8. a flower
9. (/) flour
10. (/) sleep
11. (/) police
12. a pencil

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13. a vitamin
14. (/) advice
15. (/) violence
16. a table
17. (/) furniture
18. a computer
19. (/) weather
20. an idea
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Articles Exercise 6
Choose A, AN or (/) for "no article" for each blank below.
1. This is an amazing dance club, but you don't look like you are enjoying yourself. Aren't
you having (/) fun? Is there a problem?
2. Vegetarians don't eat (/) meat, they eat (/) vegetables and (/) fruit. Don't make him a
greasy hamburger; make him a healthy salad instead.
3. We finally found an apartment, but we don't have (/) furniture yet. There is a furniture store
just around the corner and they have a pretty good selection of beds. I think we'll start there.
4. Samir works for an Egyptian company which specializes in (/) information technology. He
is going to a European conference next month to discuss (/) research on online sales in
North Africa.
5. I love (/) chocolate, but my husband doesn't. I want to get a cat, but he hates (/) cats. We
don't agree on anything, but I still think we make a great couple.
6. While I was in Japan, I stayed in a hotel with walls made of (/) paper. We ate (/) rice with
every meal. It was quite a unique experience.
7. I wanted to buy a new smartphone, but the salesman didn't have (/) information on the
model I wanted. I need (/) help making a decision before I buy anything.
8. How much does a ticket cost? Unfortunately, I don't have (/) money with me right now.
Can I pay with an ATM card? What about a credit card?
9. He won an award for his new science fiction novel called "Launch". Evidently, it's about an
astronaut who gets trapped in (/) space for more than a year. It sounds like an incredible
book.

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10. He loves (/) classical music, so he went to a university where he could study the violin.
That's an unusual major, but he is so good I'm sure he'll find (/) work as a concert violinist.
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Articles Exercise 7
Choose A, AN or THE for each blank below.
1. My mother is a doctor and my father is an author.
2. Cindy recommended a good dentist, but the dentist doesn't have any openings for two
months.
3. Mt. Hood is a volcano in Oregon. It's a very beautiful mountain.
4. Sam recommended a book to Lisa. She didn't like the book at all.
5. Do you have a vacuum? I dropped a piece of cake, and I need to clean it up.

6. Honey, where's the vacuum? I can't find it. It was in the closet, but now it's not there.
7. Do you have a dictionary? I don't have one, and I need to look up a word.
8. Do you have a passport? You need a passport to travel outside of the country.
9. There's a big bear in the backyard. I think the bear is looking for something to eat.
10. Do you have a computer? I have a laptop and an iPad.
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Articles Exercise 8
Choose A, AN or THE for each blank below.
1. A: What's wrong?
B: I have a bad headache.

2. A: Why was today's class cancelled?

B: Because the teacher is sick.

3. A: What does he do?

B: He's an engineer.

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4. A: What did Tom buy?
B: He bought a new camera.

5. A: How long does it take to get there?

B: It takes about an hour.

6. A: I want to change the channel.

B: OK, the remote control is over there.

7. A: Why can't Shelly travel?

B: She doesn't have a passport.

8. A: Where does Barbara live?

B: In an apartment on 5th Avenue.

9. A: Oh no, where is it?

B: Don't worry, the key is in my pocket.

10. A: I don't understand what this word means.

B: You need to buy a dictionary.
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Articles Exercise 9
Choose A, AN or THE for each blank below.
1. Did you see the movie about Dian Fossey's work with mountain gorillas? It was an
amazing film.
2. I love a good movie about historical figures or historical events. I thought "Lincoln" was
fantastic. And Daniel Day-Lewis was great in the film.

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3. I would love to take a luxury cruise next year to an exotic location such as Indonesia or
Panama.
4. Jimmy did not enjoy the cruise to Alaska because it was too cold and rainy. The weather
ruined the entire trip.
5. Let's find a place where we can just sit for a couple of hours, drink some coffee, and have
a good chat.

6. That is the place where Sidney proposed to Meryl. Isn't that a beautiful location?
7. Suddenly, the password Sandra always used to log in to her email didn't work anymore.
Somebody had hacked in and changed the password.
8. When Nick was on safari in Tanzania, he saw a cheetah hunting prey. He took some
beautiful video of the cheetah.
9. Did you enjoy the book I recommended to you? Wasn't that an exciting novel?
10. I need a smartphone which allows me to check my email and use Facebook. I really
want a phone with good battery life.
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Articles Exercise 10
Choose A, AN, THE or (/) for "no article" for each blank below.
1. John bought a new car last week. Unfortunately, the car broke down after just two days.
2. We went to a movie yesterday. Even though it got (/) good reviews, the movie was
absolutely terrible. I was so mad, I went to the box office and asked for my money back.
3. Our teacher gave us a test today. It was really a hard test. There were (/) questions on
there which I didn't even understand.
4. Excuse me, is there a post office around here? I need to buy a stamp.
5. We have a beautiful lake behind our house. Every winter, the lake freezes over and we
can go ice skating. When I was a kid, I used to spend (/) hours skating back and forth across
the ice.

6. Carrie works for an amazing organization; the organization provides (/) food and (/)
supplies for children in the developing world.
7. A: Is there (/) water on the Moon?

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B: Yes, scientists have discovered (/) ice there.
8. When I turned on my new laptop, the screen exploded! Luckily, it has a good warranty.
Either they will replace the broken screen or send me a brand new laptop.
9. A: I know a great new restaurant called Mumbai on 8th Avenue. It's an Indian restaurant
with (/) incredible food.
B: Oh yeah, I know that restaurant; the chef is a good friend of mine.
10. Wow, I can't believe how much a gallon of gas costs these days. If the price keeps going
up, I'm going to buy an electric car.
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Articles Exercise 11
Choose A, AN, THE or (/) for "no article" for each blank below.
1. They are building a new mall downtown. I heard that the mall will house a movie theater,
(/) great restaurants, and an ice skating rink.
2. We went to an awful party last night. Ugh, the music was bad, the people were boring,
and the food was terrible. I had a terrible time.
3. A: Excuse me, do you have the time? I'm supposed to meet a friend here at 8 PM but the
friend hasn't arrived yet.
B: I'm sorry, I'm not wearing a watch, but I think there is a clock at the entrance to this
building.
4. I didn't know you had a tattoo. Is that a spider? That's a weird thing to have tattooed on
your arm. Did it hurt when you got the tattoo?
5. I have an awesome recipe for chocolate cake. My grandmother gave me the recipe, and it
goes great with a big scoop of (/) vanilla ice cream.

6. A: Hello, I'd like to mail a postcard.

B: OK, that will be 33 cents. Oh! You forgot to address the postcard.
A: Oh my gosh, I'm so glad you noticed that. Can I borrow a pen?
7. I'm reading such an interesting book. It's about a man who decides to leave society and
walk into the wilderness in Alaska. It's called "Into The Wild", and they made the book into a
movie. I love (/) stories like that.
8. A: What is a "capital city"?

23
B: Well, a "capital city" is the political center of a country.
9. A: What is the capital city of Canada?
B: Ummm, I think the capital is Ottawa.
10. We stayed in an extraordinary hotel room in Las Vegas. Not only did the hotel room have
a Jacuzzi and a huge flat-screen TV, it also had a large terrace with an unbelievable view
over the city.
======================================================================
Articles Exercise 12
Choose A, AN or THE for each blank below.
1. Do you have a bigger room in the hotel? In fact, I'd like the biggest room you have
available. How much would that cost a night?
2. Honestly, this is the last time I am going to tell you to clean up your room. You are the
messiest kid on the planet.
3. He's a much fitter person than I am; he jogs at least five times a week.
4. Fred always says dogs make the best pets. But between his cat and his dog, his cat is the
more loyal of the two.
5. I think this is the worst idea you have ever had. We need to find a better way to do this.
6. Tomorrow, we will take the second train from Suzhou to Shanghai, and the following day,
we will fly to Beijing.
7. That brand of organic coffee costs $85 a pound! That's the most outrageous price I've
ever seen. I think I need to look for a cheaper brand.
8. The computer science instructor thought Fikret was a more gifted programmer than most
professionals she had worked with. In fact, she told me he was the most gifted programmer
she had taught in many years.
9. I bought the lightest backpacking tent the company makes. It's made of a much stronger
material than my last tent.
10. Last week was the first time that I had ever played golf, and I really felt like I was the
worst player ever. But this week, I played with my boss and he's an even worse player than I
am. It may be shocking, but between me and my boss, I think I am actually the better player.
======================================================================

24
Articles Exercise 13
Choose A, AN, THE or (/) for "no article" for each blank below.
1. Can you play a musical instrument? I play the piano and the guitar.
2. Do you own a guitar? Someone left an old guitar sitting on the table.
3. These days, (/) apples are really expensive. And (/) lettuce costs a fortune! Why do (/) fruit
and (/) vegetables cost so much?
4. Diana thinks (/) creativity and (/) innovation are something you can't teach, but I disagree.
5. Dr. Preston told me that the pronghorn is the fastest land animal on the planet, but I think
he was wrong. I'm pretty sure (/) cheetahs are faster.

6. The environmentalist argued that (/) clean air should be a universal "human right". He
discussed the effects of (/) pollution on (/) human health.
7. Cheryl thinks (/) cats make the best pets, but I think (/) dogs have more personality.
8. The documentary discussed whether the cat was domesticated in ancient Egypt or in an
earlier period. I have a cat, so I was very interested in the program.
9. I wish I could play the violin. I love string instruments like (/) violins and (/) cellos.
10. I read that the bristlecone pine is the longest living tree in the world. And I also read (/)
sequoias are the biggest trees in the world. Amazingly, both trees are found in California!
======================================================================
Articles Exercise 14
Choose A or (/) for "no article" for each blank below.
1. If you need to borrow a couple of dollars, I have a little money in my wallet.
2. The family is so poor that they have (/) little money for food or education.
3. I'm sorry, I can't lend you any money. I just have a little left, and I still need to pay for this
dinner.
4. Clarence has (/) few friends. He needs to get out and start meeting more people.
5. Mr. Jackson is a VERY busy man. He has (/) little time for such distractions.

6. Cindy is not creative at all. She has (/) few ideas which could really change this company.

25
7. Laura is really creative. She has a few ideas which could really change this company.
8. Tom's business is not doing very well. He just has a few clients, and he isn't earning very
much.
9. Do you have a little time to help me translate this letter?
10. Ned has (/) little interest in running his family's hotel business. He would much rather
move to Hollywood and pursue an acting career. He has already made a few contacts in the
movie industry who might be able to help him get started.
======================================================================
Articles Exercise 15
Choose A, AN, THE or (/) for "no article" for each blank below.
1. Laurelle had a cold for several days last week. She said she cured the cold by drinking
ginger tea.
2. Michael J. Fox, the famous actor from "Back to the Future", is a well known advocate for
people with (/) Parkinson's disease.
3. Many childhood diseases, including the measles, (/) chickenpox, and the mumps, are
becoming less common due to widespread immunization.
4. Scientists all over the world are studying the causes of (/) cancer. A friend of mine
researches (/) lymphoma, which is a type of (/) blood cancer.
5. Jed had a stroke last year. Although he lived, the stroke did affect his speech and
movement on the left side of his body.
6. During the Middle Ages, the bubonic plague swept through Europe killing millions of
people.
7. Did you know that (/) malaria is one of the leading causes of death in the developing
world?
8. Whenever I go swimming, I end up with an earache, which always causes me to get a
headache!
9. Every winter, the flu sweeps across the United States. That's why many doctors
recommend immunization shots to prevent the flu.
10. The medical conference included lectures on a range of diseases from (/) Down
syndrome to (/) encephalitis to (/) heart disease.
======================================================================

26
Articles Exercise 16
Choose THE or (/) for "no article" for each blank below.
1. To get to the train station, walk (/) south until you see the big church, turn (/) left, and walk
until you see the sign. The station is on the right.
2. The hurricane hit Miami from the southeast. From Miami, it moved (/) north towards Fort
Lauderdale.
3. Ali is from the Middle East, so he was used to warm weather. When he first came to
Canada, he hated living in the north because it was so cold.
4. The door on the left leads to the lounge. If you are looking for a toilet, just go (/) right.
5. Many visitors to the U.S. love the South, but I think I prefer the Northwest. I love Seattle.

6. Every spring, the local birds migrate (/) north. In the fall, they fly (/) south again.
7. My Spanish teacher told me that many people in the east speak Catalan; I would love to
go (/) east and experience the region.
8. Do you see the tiger? It's on the left. It's lying to the right of the big boulder.
9. The lost hikers wandered (/) south until they reached a large river. To the east, they saw
high mountains, so they decided to head (/) west.
10. The river flows (/) south and then disappears into the swamplands in the west.
======================================================================
Articles Exercise 17
Choose THE or (/) for "no article" for each blank below.
1. We donated to a charity which provides assistance to the elderly and the poor.
2. Mr. Johnson is (/) elderly and (/) poor, so the government provides him with financial
assistance.
3. There is still some disagreement over the new free trade treaty. According to news
reports, the British and the Dutch supported the treaty, but other nations were undecided.
4. Betty loves (/) Dutch; it's one of her favorite languages.
5. Have you ever met (/) Mr. Henderson? He runs a magazine which caters to the very
wealthy.

27
6. Have you ever met the Wilsons? They are both (/) very wealthy.
7. The school teaches (/) blind people to read.
8. Louis Braille created a writing system to allow the blind to read.
9. Have you ever heard of the Maasai? They are a famous tribe in Kenya.
10. Did you know that (/) Austrians speak (/) German?
======================================================================
Articles Exercise 18
Choose THE or (/) for "no article" for each blank below.
1. Germans love to take beach holidays in countries like the Maldives, the Bahamas and the
Dominican Republic. I think that's because those countries are so much warmer than (/)
Germany.
2. When we visited (/) England, we spent five days in (/) London and then we drove up to (/)
Scotland.
3. I can't wait until we visit the United Arab Emirates. Did you know the tallest building in the
world is in (/) Dubai?
4. Our cruise makes stops in the Netherlands, (/) Belgium, the United Kingdom and (/)
France. It's going to be amazing!
5. In the U.S., there are many immigrants from (/) Mexico, (/) Vietnam, the Philippines and (/)
Ethiopia.
6. A: What did the U.S.S.R. stand for?
B: It stood for the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
7. I have been to (/) Quebec and (/) Alberta, but I haven't been to any other provinces in (/)
Canada.
8. While Sarah was working in the Ivory Coast, she visited (/) Ghana and (/) Liberia as well.
She loves West Africa and hopes to work there again in the future.
9. The good thing about traveling in the E.U. is that you can use the euro almost
everywhere. There are a few countries, such as the U.K. and (/) Sweden, which use their
own currencies.
10. Before Yoshiko moved to the United States, she had heard of (/) Texas and (/) California,
but she didn't realize those were state names.
======================================================================

28
Articles Exercise 19
Choose THE or (/) for "no article" for each blank below.
1. I didn't know that (/) Lake Michigan was one of the Great Lakes until we went there last
year.
2. We stayed at the Plaza, a world famous hotel near (/) Central Park.
3. I always enjoy driving over the Golden Gate Bridge. It has a lovely view over (/) San
Francisco and the Pacific.
4. While we were in (/) Georgia, we went canoeing in the Okefenokee Swamp and camped
along the Suwannee River.
5. On her first day in Paris, Cindy visited (/) Notre Dame Cathedral and the Eiffel Tower.
6. Although she hates museums, on her second day in Paris, Cindy visited the Louvre to see
the Mona Lisa, the most famous painting in the world.
7. A: Have you ever heard of (/) Malta?
B: Yes, it's an island in the Mediterranean.
8. When we went hiking in the Alps, we saw many famous mountains including the
Matterhorn and (/) Mont Blanc.
9. When Stan attended (/) Harvard University, he lived in a small, off-campus apartment on
(/) Newbury Street.
10. Our trip to (/) Namibia was so adventurous! We explored (/) Fish River Canyon, the
Namib Desert, the Skeleton Coast and (/) Etosha National Park.
======================================================================
Articles Exercise 20
Choose THE or (/) for "no article" for each blank below.
1. We visited (/) Niagara Falls while we were crossing the border between (/) Canada and
the United States.
2. Have you ever seen a picture of the Walt Disney Concert Hall? It's not part of (/)
Disneyland, it is an amazing concert hall located in (/) Los Angeles.
3. Dr. Arnold works at the Scripps Research Institute, a non-profit medical research facility.
His wife works at (/) Scripps Memorial Hospital.

29
4. Kathmandu was amazing. Our tour included visits to (/) Durbar Square and (/)
Swayambhunath Temple as well as a bus trip to viewpoints overlooking the Himalayas. The
mountains were beautiful.
5. White water rafting trips down the Colorado River are very popular because they pass
through the Grand Canyon.

6. While we were staying in (/) Miami Beach, we drove down to visit the Florida Keys, the
chain of small islands which extends out into the Caribbean. We also explored the
Everglades, the beautiful wetlands which cover the southern half of the state.
7. The linguist specialized in (/) Arabic. She spent years studying local dialects in the Sahara
Desert as well as in remote parts of the Middle East.
8. When I went to (/) Hawaii, my favorite island was (/) Kauai. I spent three days hiking along
the Na Pali Coast and three days lying on (/) Poipu Beach.
9. Explorers first reached the South Pole in 1911, first climbed (/) Mt. Everest in 1953, and
first set foot on the Moon in 1969.
10. While we were in (/) New York, we walked across the Brooklyn Bridge, went to the top of
the Empire State Building, attended a basketball game at (/) Madison Square Garden,
shopped on (/) 5th Avenue, and visited the Museum of Modern Art.
======================================================================
Articles Exercise 21
Choose A, AN, THE or (/) for "no article" for each blank below.
1. Armadillos are animals which are most active at (/) night. Sometimes, you see them
during the day, but that's less common.
2. Unfortunately, (/) yesterday I had to spend the whole day studying for my biology final. I
think I did well on the test, but I won't know until (/) next week.
3. I really loved (/) Christmas when I was a kid. My favorite part was getting up in the
morning and finding all the gifts from Santa under the tree.
4. I'm so stressed out at work; I really need to take a whole month off and just relax on a
tropical beach somewhere. Maybe I can do that (/) next summer.
5. When I was a kid, I spent the summer on a beach in Florida. Now, I have to work (/) every
summer.

30
6. Do you want to meet for dinner on (/) Wednesday? Or if you prefer, we could get together
(/) next Monday.
7. My cable television company has terrible customer service! I was on the phone with them
for an entire hour and nobody could answer my question. I think (/) tomorrow, I'm going to
call them up and cancel my service.
8. The conference started at (/) noon and didn't finish until late in the evening. We spent the
whole time listening to boring speeches.
9. Have you ever heard of (/) Halloween? It's a holiday that Americans celebrate on (/)
October 31.
10. I didn't sleep at all (/) last night. I spent the whole night lying awake. And today, I can
barely keep my eyes open.
======================================================================
Articles Exercise 22
Choose A, AN, THE or (/) for "no article" for each blank below.
Most people outside the United States have never heard of the Great Serpent Mound in (/)
Adams County, Ohio. One of the most mysterious monuments in (/) America, the mound is
an ancient Native American construction built to look like a snake. While there are (/)
mounds built in many parts of the Midwest and the South, not many look like (/) animals.
Researchers refer to this type of mound as an "effigy mound".
Over 1,348 feet long, scientists agree it's a very impressive monument, but there is (/)
disagreement over who built the structure. Some people think the Adena people built the
mound; others think it was the Fort Ancient culture.
======================================================================
Articles Exercise 23
Choose A, AN, THE or (/) for "no article" for each blank below.
Dear Judy,
Sorry that I didn't email you earlier to tell you about the trip, but I've had a bunch of things to
do since we got back. We had a fantastic time in (/) South Africa. Although this is the first
time I've ever traveled to a foreign country, I feel confident saying that it's one of the most
beautiful places on the planet.
We began the trip in (/) Cape Town as you suggested. It's such a beautiful city. And I'm so
glad you recommended that we take the cable car up (/) Table Mountain. While we were

31
taking in the spectacular views, we met a man who runs a lodge just outside (/) Kalahari
National Park. He invited us to stay in the lodge for free, so we rented a car and slowly drove
up the West Coast to the park and spent our time exploring the Kalahari Desert. What an
adventure!
Take care,
Diane
======================================================================
Articles Exercise 24
Choose A, AN, THE or (/) for "no article" for each blank below.
Sometimes, (/) names can be confusing in (/) different languages. Much to the confusion of
many (/) English learners, (/) Europa is not the name of a continent, but rather a moon which
orbits (/) Jupiter. And although many people have never heard of it, it is an especially
important moon. Scientists have discovered that the surface is entirely covered with (/) ice,
but researchers hope that beneath the frozen layer lies an ocean. Nobody knows if the
center of the moon is frozen solid or if it is (/) liquid water.
If some vast, undiscovered ocean does exist, it would be a cold and harsh environment;
however, some scientists believe that (/) life might exist there just like it does at the bottom of
Earth's oceans. Some say that the only way to find out is to send a probe to drill down into
the ice and see what's there. Such a mission would be an expensive project indeed.
======================================================================
Articles Exercise 25
Choose A, AN, THE or (/) for "no article" for each blank below.
A: Excuse me, do you know if there's a subway station around here? I'm supposed to meet a
couple of friends at a restaurant near the Chrysler Building.
B: Actually, the closest subway station is a little far from here. Do you have a map?

A: No, I don't. I just have a smartphone, but unfortunately, the battery is dead. What am I
going to do? I need to be there at (/) noon.
B: Do you know the name of the restaurant?

32
A: No, I don't. I remember it's an Italian restaurant. Oh, wait a minute, I have the name
written down on a piece of paper in my wallet. (Checks wallet.) It's called DeVino's.
B: Oh, I think you're headed in the wrong direction. DeVino's is near (/) Time Square. If you
are in a rush, you should take a taxi.
======================================================================
Articles Exercise 26
Choose A, AN, THE or (/) for "no article" for each blank below.
Welcome to (/) Tuvana Island, your vacation paradise in the South Pacific. Each luxury
bungalow comes fully equipped with a king-size bed, an outdoor shower, and a private
veranda overlooking (/) Kituna Bay.
Tuvana Resort offers a number of excursions to make your stay on the island more
enjoyable. Each day, a list of daily outings will be posted on the information board next to the
reception desk. If you wish to join an outing, please register with the concierge.
Please note the daily excursion to (/) Mt. Kapuhu is highly recommended; the view from the
top of the volcano is breathtaking. We also suggest a visit to (/) Nualani Beach or (/) Kihaha
Canyon, two of the most popular attractions in the Sahini Archipelago.
And for (/) scuba divers, we would like to direct your attention to the resort's dive center, a
five-star facility and the best way to explore the Pihuahani Reef just offshore.
======================================================================
Articles Exercise 27
Choose A, AN, THE or (/) for "no article" for each blank below.
A: I'm a medical researcher. I work for a pharmaceutical company in (/) Chicago. The
company produces low-cost medications for (/) common colds, the flu, (/) hay fever and (/)
asthma. What do you do for a living?
B: I'm a professor at (/) Boston College. I used to work at the University of Arizona, but I
recently decided to relocate back to the East Coast. I grew up in (/) Massachusetts, and I
missed the ocean.
A: I have a friend who is a professor there, Dr. Gina Townsend. Maybe you know her. She's
in the anthropology department.
B: No, the name doesn't ring any bells. But I'm a professor of sociology, and the
anthropology department is in the same building. What does she look like?

33
A: She's a tall redhead with an incredibly hilarious sense of humor. She's the funniest
woman you've ever met in your life. We both studied together at (/) Georgetown University.
B: Oh, of course! I met her at a university function (/) last year. She's an amazing woman.
A: Wow, it's a small world, isn't it?
======================================================================
Articles Exercise 28
Choose A, AN, THE or (/) for "no article" for each blank below.
A: What does the word "frontier" mean? Doesn't it mean the line between two countries? I
used the word in a conversation with an American friend yesterday, and he didn't understand
what I was saying.

B: No, most Americans use the word "border" to express that idea. In fact, (/) "frontier" has a
very different meaning for us in the U.S. Actually, the definition is related to the history of our
country. When the English and other European settlers first came to (/) North America, they
built towns and cities on the East Coast. As more colonists came to the new world, towns
were built further west. Colonists called the unexplored wilderness beyond the towns and
cities the "frontier".

A: Oh, that's why Americans call space the "last frontier". It means that space is the last
unexplored place. I've heard the phrase several times, but I never understood it before.
Wow, learning (/) vocabulary in a foreign language is really hard!
======================================================================
Articles Exercise 29
Choose A, AN, THE or (/) for "no article" for each blank below.
I just received a postcard from the Robinsons, a family I met last year. It made me start
thinking: When was the last time I actually sent a letter or a postcard to someone? It's
strange, the postal service has been part of (/) daily life for (/) centuries. And suddenly, within
a single generation, the postal system is on its way to becoming a thing of the past. These
days, (/) few people send (/) letters.
Today, (/) email is a far more common way to communicate with (/) friends and (/) family. It's
also a faster and cheaper way to communicate. When I send an email to a friend in a distant
country, the friend will receive the email almost immediately. What's more, I have the ability

34
to attach a photograph, a video, or an MP3. And I don't even have to buy an expensive
stamp.
But the world is changing quickly. In a decade or two, we might all be using a totally different
kind of technology to communicate.
======================================================================
Articles Exercise 30
Choose A, AN, THE or (/) for "no article" for each blank below.
A: Have you ever thought about buying an electric car? With the price of gas at more than
$4.00 a gallon, it's starting to look like a very good option for people trying to save (/) money.
B: Yes, I have. In fact, I've been doing a little research into (/) electric cars recently. I went to
a car dealer (/) last week and test-drove a couple of electric cars just to get a feeling for what
was out there.
A: So do you think they are a good choice for a person like me who thinks the price of gas
has gotten a bit out of control?
B: That's a hard question to answer. For example, the first car I tried was amazing, but I
almost had a heart attack when I saw the price. And the second car I tested was an
inexpensive model, but it was a relatively slow car, and the battery was too small. You could
only drive the car for a few hours before you had to recharge. And with (/) few public
charging stations, that's not an easy thing to do.
======================================================================
English Articles Final Test
Choose A, AN, THE or (/) for "no article" for each blank below.

PART 1
1. I need an egg for this recipe, but we're out.
2. I need (/) milk for this recipe, but we're out.
3. I need a potato for this recipe, but we're out.
4. Is that an "8" or a "B"? I can't read it.
5. Is that a "U" or an "O"? I can't read it.

35
6. He is from a European country, but I don't know which one.
7. I enjoyed the DVD you gave me for my birthday.
8. If I were rich, I would buy an apartment in Manhattan and a house in Hawaii.
9. Do you know the name of her perfume?
10. This school has (/) great teachers.
-----------------------------
PART 2
11. What's the longest river in the world? Is it the Amazon or the Nile? I'm terrible at (/)
geography.
12. In 1824, Louis Braille developed a system of writing for the blind. Quickly, the system,
known as "Braille" after the inventor, spread from (/) France to dozens of (/) countries.
13. "Travel Magazine" did an extremely interesting article on the world's most amazing
buildings. If I remember correctly, the first building on the list was (/) Angkor Wat, a beautiful
temple in (/) Cambodia. And the second was the Pyramid of Khufu in (/) Egypt.
14. Because she did not speak (/) English, Silke had (/) little chance of advancing her career,
so she applied for a year-long English course at (/) Cambridge University.
15. Burt loves islands. He has been to (/) Cuba, (/) Bali, the Bahamas, and the Philippines.
And (/) next year, he wants to go to (/) Madagascar.

16. Judy always says that (/) patience is a virtue, but she is the least patient person I've ever
met. Don't you think that's a little ironic?
17. Kumiko discovered that there were quite a few cultural differences between the Danish
and (/) Norwegians. She had always assumed (/) Scandinavians were the same.
18. Every year, the Smiths go camping in (/) Yellowstone National Park. But (/) next year,
they are going to visit Mr. Smith's mother in the South instead.
19. We spent the whole day today at (/) Venice Beach, and then we had dinner at a little
restaurant on (/) Hollywood Boulevard. We decided to go to Disneyland (/) tomorrow, and the
day after tomorrow, we are going to (/) Las Vegas.
20. Wow, (/) cheese is getting so expensive! Look, that cheese costs more than $50 a
pound.
======================================================================

36
 Articles
What is an article?
Articles identify whether a noun is definite (specific or particular) or indefinite (general or
unspecific). For this reason, articles are divided into two categories: the definite article, the,
and the indefinite articles, a and an.
The
The definite article the is used to identify a specific person, place, or thing. For instance:

 “I’m looking forward to the game.” (There is a specific game that the speaker is
looking forward to.)
 “Would you pass me the phone?” (There is a specific phone that the speaker is asking
for.)
 “She turned on the lamp next to her bed.” (There is a specific lamp next to her bed
that she turned on.)
 “He’s going to the play later.” (There is a specific play that he is going to see.)

We can also use the to refer to specific plural nouns, as in:

 “The dogs next door keep me awake with their barking.”

 “She’s looking for the papers she printed last night.”
 “I see that the students have already arrived.”

A/An
A and an, on the other hand, are used to identify a person or thing that is unspecific or
generic—the speaker is not referring to someone or something in particular, or the person or
thing may not be specifically known to the speaker. Unlike the, a/an can only be used
before singular nouns. For instance:

 “I’m looking for a pen.” (There is not a specific pen that the speaker is looking for.)
 “Would you please turn on a light?” (There is not a specific light the speaker is asking
to be turned on.)
 “There is an angry student waiting to speak with you.” (Although there is a particular
student, he or she is unknown to the speaker.)
 “I’m waiting for an answer.” (There is not one specific answer the speaker is waiting
for.)

Other parts of speech

37
Articles always modify nouns. For this reason, they are often considered a sub-class
of determiners. However, an article can also precede a noun phrase, even if it begins with
an adjective or an adverb. For example:

 “That was an exciting night.” (noun phrase beginning with an adjective)

 “The truly remarkable thing is how long the deal took to happen.” (noun phrase
beginning with an adverb)

Articles can’t precede verbs, however, as verbs are not used to create noun phrases.

Vowel Sounds vs. Consonant Sounds

We use the indefinite article a when it precedes a word beginning with a consonant sound,
and we use an when the article precedes a word beginning with a vowel sound. Note that
this rule applies to the sound of the noun, rather than the specific spelling. For example:

 “What an unusual discovery!” (Correct—the word begins with the vowel “u,” and it
makes the vowel sound “uh.”)
 “What a unusual discovery!” (incorrect)

 “What a unique discovery!” (Correct—the word begins with the vowel “u,” but it makes
the consonant sound “yu.”)
 “What an unique discovery!” (incorrect)

 “It is an honor to meet you.” (Correct—the word begins with the consonant “h,” but it
makes the vowel sound “ah.”)
 “It is a honor to meet you.” (incorrect)

 “There was a heap of food left over.” (Correct—the word begins with the consonant “h,”
and it makes the consonant sound “he.”)
 “There was an heap of food left over.” (incorrect)

Here are a few other examples where a word’s spelling goes against its pronunciation:

 an hour — makes the vowel sound “ow”

 an honest man — makes the vowel sound “awh”
 a university — makes the consonant sound “yu”
 a European citizen — makes the consonant sound “yu”
 a once-in-a-life-time chance — makes the consonant sound “wuh”

Herbs and History

One area of difficulty comes from dialectical differences between different speakers of
English.

38
For example, the word herb is pronounced as “erb” (IPA: ɜːrb) in American English, with a
silent “h,” so we would say “an herb.” However, in British English, herb is pronounced with a
hard consonant “h” as “herb” (IPA: hɜːb), so “a herb” would be correct.
Similarly, some people pronounce the word “historic” and “historically” with a silent “h” in
certain contexts. It is not unusual to read or hear “an historic moment” or “an historically
important event,” for instance. Uniquely, the “h” is never silent if these words are preceded
by anything other than an indefinite article, as in “the moment is historic” or “the historically
significant moment.”
Some writers and grammarians believe it is never correct to
pronounce historic or historically with a silent “h,” though, insisting that it can only take the
indefinite article a, rather than an. In more formal or professional writing, it is advisable to
follow this more strict guideline and always use the indefinite article a.
There are plenty of other oddities regarding spelling and pronunciation in the English
language. To learn more about the various conventions, exceptions, and irregularities, see
the guide on English Spelling and Pronunciation.
Other uses
Identifying a profession
In addition to identifying an unspecific noun, we also use the indefinite article a/an to talk or
inquire about someone’s profession.
For example:

 “Are you a teacher?” (correct)

 “Are you teacher?” (incorrect)

 “John is an engineer.” (correct)

 “John is engineer.” (incorrect)

We only use the definite article the if we are referring to a particular person in that
profession. For instance:

 “Are you a doctor?” (Unspecific—inquires about the person’s profession in general.)

 “Are you the doctor?” (Specific—inquires if this person is a particular doctor that the
speaker was waiting or looking for.)

 “Mary is a technician for the gas company.” (Unspecific—Mary’s general profession is

as a technician for the specific gas company.)

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  “Mary is the technician for the gas company.” (Specific—Mary is either
the sole technician for the gas company, or else she is a specific technician the
speaker is referencing.)

Uncountable nouns
In addition to plural nouns, the indefinite article a/an cannot be used with uncountable
nouns (also known as mass nouns or non-count nouns). These are nouns that cannot be
divided or counted as individual elements or separate parts. They can be tangible objects
(such as substances or collective categories of things), or intangible or abstract things such
as concepts or ideas.
For example:

 “Would you like tea?” (correct)

 “Would you like a tea?” (incorrect)

 “Do you have (some/any) information?” (correct)

 “Do you have an information?” (incorrect)

(We often use the words some or any to indicate an unspecified quantity of uncountable
nouns.)
Uncountable nouns can sometimes take the definite article the, as in:

 “Have you heard the news?”

 “The furniture in my living room is old.”

However, this is only the case if a specific uncountable noun is being described. For
example:

 “I am looking for accommodation.” (correct)

 “I am looking for the accommodation listed in this advertisement.” (correct—references
specific accommodation)
 “I am looking for an accommodation.” (incorrect)
 “I am looking for the accommodation.” (incorrect)

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