When to Use the Articles A, AN and THE

 

The determiners "a, an" and "the" are called "articles". They are the most common of all determiners. They come at the very beginning of a noun phrase.

We use the indefinite articles a and an when we are referring to an unspecified thing or quantity.

Many people have learned the rule that places an "a" before words that begin with consonants and an "an" before words that begin with a vowel, but it's actually more complicated than that.

In English, some nouns are uncountable such as information, air, advice, salt and fun. We do not use a or an

• She gives a good advice. Not Correct
• She gives good advice. Correct

 

So let us see when do we use the articles "a, an" and "the"?

 

When to use the article "the"?

 

The article "the" identifies the word that follows it. 

If you and I are sitting together now and I say "I'm going to buy the house" to you, that means we know the house, we've seen or talked about it before, so you mentioned the word "the house".

• I bought the house with a big backyard.

It is the opposite of the particle "a", which does not specify the word that follows it.

If I say "I'm going to buy a house" this means that you hear from me for the first time about my intention to buy a house, so you and I do not know the house I intend to buy, only a house, so select the word "a house".

• I bought a house with a big backyard.

 

But the article "a" has many uses.

 

When to use the article "A"?

 

Here are 4 uses to article a:

1. The definite article a comes with a singular noun and consonants and is not specific, examples:

• By a man.
• I need a phone.

 

See: Definite of the article THE

 

2. It comes before the adjective followed by a noun when describing something, examples:

• He wants a good bicycle.
• I have a Mercedescar.
• I have a cars. (we doesn't say a in plural)

 

3. If the first letter of some words that start with the letter “U” and some numbers, such as 1 and 9 preceded by the letter “A” are not pronounced, these words are pronounced as if they were constant sounds, examples:

• A uniformed man entered the vicinity.
• The girl pushed aEuropean man onto the ground.
• A union was formed from varying opinions
• She has a euro.
• That number is a "1".

 

4. The rule of some words such as "herb" or "hospital" is somewhat complicated because they have different pronunciations, 

• In American the letter H for the word herb is not pronounced so in the American it is said "an herb" and they also say "a hospital"
• In the British the letter H for the word herb is pronounced "a herb" and they also say "an hospital".

See: Give Directions Inside a Building in English

When to use the article "an"?

 

Here are 4 uses to article an:

1. The form of the indefinite article used before words beginning with a vowel sound (a, e, o, u, i), examples:

• I have an iPhone.
• This scene needs an elf.

 

2. It comes with a singular noun and is not specific, examples:

• I need an Umbrella.

 

3. It comes before the adjective followed by a noun when describing something, examples:

• That is an excellent book.

 

4. Use an before words like "hour" that sound like they start with a vowel, even if the first letter is a consonant or a number like "F" or "8", examples:

• I only have an hour for lunch. (H is silent)
• Does his name begin with an "F"?

  

See: 100+ English Questions and Answers

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References

dictionary.cambridge - britishcouncil - grammarly