An article is a word that adds a shade of certainty or uncertainty to the meaning of a noun: “After the long conference, the mug of hot chocolate is especially good.” / “After a long conference, a mug of hot chocolate is especially good.” In the first case, we transmit information about a specific conference and a mug of hot chocolate. In the second, they formulated a general statement, implying that any mug will be in place after any long conference. English has several ways of conveying this certainty, or lack thereof. Let's take a closer look.

Definite article

Definite article ( definite article) is the English word " the" It seems to limit the semantic meaning of the noun. For example, your friend might ask: “Are you planning to visit the party this Monday? - “Are you planning to attend the party this Monday?” The definite article in English communicates that a friend is referring to a particular party that is well known about. The article “the” is used with plural and singular nouns, as well as with uncountable nouns. Below are some examples of the use of the definite article in context:

• Could you give me the screwdriver, please?- Could you give me a screwdriver, please?
• Give me the orange screwdriver, please. The green one is too big.- Give me an orange screwdriver, please. The green one is too big.
• Could you give me the chisel, please?- Could you give me a chisel, please?
• Could you give me the small chisel, please? That"s the only one convenient enough to make holes in this plank.- Could you please give me a small chisel? This is the only tool that is convenient for drilling holes in this board.
• Give me the screwdriver and the chisel then, please.- Give me a screwdriver and a chisel then, please.

Indefinite article

The indefinite article ( indefinite article) there are two main forms. Firstly, this is a service part of speech " a", preceding a word that begins with a consonant. Secondly, this is the article " an", used with a word that begins with a vowel. The indefinite article in English “a/an” indicates that the noun is used in a general sense rather than a specific one. For example, you ask a friend: “Should I take a present then? “Should I bring a gift then?” The friend understands that you are not asking about a specific type of gift or a specific item. "I would like to bring an almond cake “I would like to bring some almond cake.” Again, the indefinite article indicates that no particular almond cake is being referred to. Whether it is homemade or bought at a local confectionery shop does not matter. The indefinite article is characterized by monogamy, so it can only be found with singular nouns. Consider the following examples of the indefinite article in context:

• Could you fetch me a smartphone, please? Any of them will be fine.- Could you please hand me a smartphone? Any of them will do.
• Gimme a bottle of wine real quick now, ok? Any is good.- Give me a bottle of wine quickly, okay? Any will do.

NOTA BENE: Uncountable nouns are nouns that are difficult or impossible to count. They include intangibles(information, air), liquids(beer, rum) and things, that are too large or numerous to count(equipment, sand, wood). Since these things cannot be taken into account, never use"a" or "an". Remember that the indefinite article in English is only for singular nouns. However, uncountable nouns can be used without problems with the word some.

"A" vs "an". Exceptions to use

There are a number of exceptions to the general rule of using the indefinite article before words that begin with a consonant and a vowel.

• The first letter of the word “honourable ["ɔn(ə)rəbl] - generous”, for example, the consonant “h”, however, it is silent (unpronounceable). Despite the spelling, the word “honourable” begins with vowel sound[ɔ]. That's why the choice of article falls on « an" Consider the example below for illustration:

WRONG
Thomas is a honorable person

RIGHT
Thomas is an honorable person

Translation: Thomas is a generous person.

• In the same way, when the first letter of a word vowel, But pronounced with a consonant sound, use " a", as in the example below:

WRONG
Elizabeth was an

RIGHT
Elizabeth was a United States prime minister.

Translation: Elizabeth was Prime Minister of the United States.

• Acronyms, initial abbreviations And reductions the first letters also obey this rule: a UK-based corporation, an HR management etc.

Zero article

Sometimes before some nouns the articles are omitted altogether. In these cases, the article is implied, but not actually present. This article is sometimes called zero ( zero article). Often there is no article before nouns that refer to abstract ideas. Look at the following examples:

WRONG
Let's have a dinner today.

RIGHT
Let's have dinner today.

Translation: Let's have dinner today.

WRONG
The enthusiasm is my strong point.

RIGHT
Enthusiasm is my strong point

Translation: Enthusiasm is my strong point.

Many languages ​​and nationalities are not preceded by an article:

WRONG
Mary is fluent in the Korean and the Japanese.

RIGHT
Mary is fluent in Korean and Japanese.

Translation: Mary speaks fluent Korean and Japanese.

Athletic activities, sports and academic subjects do not require an English article before them. For comparison, take a look at the offers below:

WRONG
Bobby is keen on the soccer.

RIGHT
Bobby is keen on soccer.

Translation: Bobby loves to play football.

WRONG
The literature isn't my favorite subject.

RIGHT
Literature isn't my favorite subject.

Translation: Literature is my least favorite subject.

Article + pronoun

Possessive pronouns help determine whether you are talking about a specific or indefinite subject. And although, as you already know, articles in English are used to indicate definiteness, nevertheless, if you use both a possessive pronoun and articles at the same time, the recipient will definitely be stunned. Possessive pronouns are words such as: my, his, her, its, their And our. Articles of the English language cannot be used in tandem with pronouns. " The" And " my” are not used together because both are intended for a similar purpose. The differences lie in the nuances of conveying the required meaning. Consider the following examples:

WRONG
Dexter is using the my tablet right now.

RIGHT
Dexter is using the tablet right now.

RIGHT
Dexter is using my tablet right now.

Translation: Dexter is currently using (my) tablet.

Article + adjective

In most cases, the article determines not only the noun, but also the adjective that comes before it. Usual word order: article + adjective + noun. If you mean the indefinite article, then the choice is between “ a" And " an" is based on the letter that begins the word that follows it.

WRONG
What a interesting magazine!

RIGHT
What an interesting magazine!

Translation: What an interesting magazine!

WRONG
Merriam will cook an banana cupcake.

RIGHT
Merriam will cook a banana cupcake.

Translation: Merriam will make banana cake.

Set expressions with articles

• Useful phrases with definite articles in English.

• Useful phrases with indefinite articles in English.

• Useful phrases with the zero article

So, today your knowledge bank has been replenished with the rules for using articles in English. We hope that the article was useful and to your liking and, in the future, you will no longer experience discomfort when recognizing, and, most importantly, understanding the use of this or that article in various situations. You're welcome!

Big and friendly EnglishDom family

The indefinite article is used when you mention something for the first time or want to say: “any one”, “any”, “one of”.

Using the indefinite article a (an)

Article a (an) is only used before singular countable nouns - i.e. in front of those where you can mentally say one.

Countable nouns are those that can be counted. For example, books, trees, dogs, etc.

In the plural, the indefinite article is not used.

1. At first mention

I've seen a new film. The film is called Slumdog Millionaire. - I watched a new film. It's called Slumdog Millionaire.

This is a classic example: the first mention uses the article a, when repeated - article the.

2. General situation (some one, some, any)

We are talking about something in general, and not about something specific.

Example

I'd like to buy a dress. - I want to buy a dress.
We are not talking about a specific dress, but about some kind of dress.

What if you said:
I’d like to buy the dress - this would mean that you do not mean some unknown dress, but a specific dress, this.

3. We are talking about a representative isolated from a number of similar

Example

Ludwig van Beethoven was a great composer. - Ludwig van Beethoven was a great composer.

Those. one of the great composers. If we put here instead of the article a article the, this would mean that Beethoven - the only one great composer in the world. But that's not true. There are many great composers, and Beethoven is only one of them.

The difference between the article a and an

Article a used before words that begin with a consonant, and the article an- from a vowel.

Examples

A book - the word begins with a consonant sound.
An apple - the word begins with a vowel sound.

It seems that everything is simple and clear? Yes, but there are also more complex situations. Please note - from a consonant (vowel) sound, not letters.

Examples

A house - the word begins with a consonant sound.
An hour - the word begins with a vowel sound.
A university - the word begins with a consonant sound.
An umbrella - the word begins with a vowel sound.

How can this be, you ask? Why before the word university there is an article a? After all, this is a vowel sound! Remember, it's not about spelling, it's about pronunciation. Look at the transcription of the word university: it starts with . And this is a consonant sound! By the way, in Russian th- this is a consonant sound.

Examples

The words in the table below begin with a consonant, so they are preceded by Always the article is put a.

The words in the table below begin with a vowel sound, so they are preceded by Always the article is put an.

Note

Choice of article a or an affects the first sound of the word that immediately follows the article. Please note - the first word will not always be a noun!

Example

An umbrella is the vowel sound in the word umbrella
A black umbrella - consonant sound in the word black
An hour - vowel sound in the word hour
A whole hour - consonant sound in the word whole

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Indefinite article a/an in English (the indefinite article) has two forms:

a[ə] - used before consonants. That is, if a word begins with a consonant, use a:

a b ook, a t able, a m an a g irl a c computer, a t omato, a yacht [ jɒt], a unit [ ˈj uːnɪt]

an[ən] - used before vowels. That is, if a word begins with a vowel sound, use an:

an a pple, an e ngineer, an i dea, an o range an a nswer, an hour [ˈ aʊə(r)]

For example, the word hour starts with a vowel sound, so we use the article an (an hour), although the first letter in writing is a consonant h. Or, for example, the word yacht (yacht) written with a vowel y, but the consonant sound [j] is pronounced, so we choose a (a yacht). Using different forms of the same article helps make speech harmonious, easy, and natural. Try to pronounce an apple or an book, and you will feel how difficult and uncomfortable it is.

Remember:

a pen(pen), a story(story), a chair(chair), a child(child), a flower(flower)

If the noun is used in the plural form, then there is no indefinite article. The absence of an article before a noun is usually called the "zero article".

pens(pens), stories(stories), chairs(chairs), children(children), flowers(flowers)

When to use the indefinite article a/an

Below you will find a description of the main uses of the indefinite article a/an in English.

№1

Indefinite article a/an used when we first mention an object or person. In this case, we assume that our interlocutor does not know what or who exactly we are talking about.

Yesterday I bought a handbag. — Yesterday I bought a handbag.
Up until this point, I hadn’t even talked about how I was going to buy a bag. That is, I mention this for the first time (my interlocutor knows nothing about this bag), hence the indefinite article a/an.

If you continue to talk about this bag, then the noun handbag (bag) will already be used with the definite article the, since this time the interlocutor knows which specific bag we are talking about:

Yesterday I bought a handbag. The handbag is very beautiful. — Yesterday I bought a handbag. The handbag is very beautiful.

Although most often a personal pronoun is used instead of a noun, it sounds more natural and avoids repetition:

Yesterday I bought a handbag. It is very beautiful. — Yesterday I bought a handbag. She is very beautiful.

№2

Indefinite article a/an is used when we are not talking about a given (specific) object or person, but simply about any, some, one of a group of the same objects or people. In other words, when we talk about an object or person in general, without having a specific one in mind skirt, work, handle or dog:

I want to buy a skirt. — I want to buy a skirt. (some kind of skirt, I don’t know which one yet; I only know that I want a skirt, not a dress)
He refused to look for a job. — He refused to look for work. (some kind of work)
Give me a pen, please. - Give me a pen, please. (any, any)
It is a dog. - This is a dog. (some dog, any dog)

When we are not talking about a specific object or person, but about anyone, then further, if we need to re-designate it, we do not use personal pronouns or the definite article the. And again we use the indefinite article a/an or pronoun one.

She wants a car but he says they don’t need one. “She wants a car, but he says they don’t need it.”
or
She wants a car but he says they don’t need a car. — She wants a car, but he says they don’t need a car.
She wants to have a car (not a motorcycle, not a bicycle, but some kind of car, so a car), but he says that they don’t need a car (they don’t need any car at all, not just a specific one). Since in the second part of the sentence we are again talking about any / indefinite machine, we again use a car.

№3

Indefinite article a/an we also use it to describe or give any information about something that has already been mentioned earlier. In this case, an adjective is often used before the noun. Please note that although the article comes before an adjective, it refers to a noun:

It is a beautiful place. - This is a beautiful place. (describe what this place is)
He is a clever boy. - He's a smart boy. (we characterize what kind of boy he is)
Do you live in a big house? — Do you live in a big house? (we ask which house)

When we talk about a person’s profession or work, we also use the indefinite article a/an:

She is a teacher. - She is a teacher.
I am a doctor. - I am a doctor.

№4

Historically indefinite article a/an came from the numeral one (one). Hence the possibility in some cases to replace the article a/an numeral one. Such a replacement is possible when the article a/an essentially means "one". For example, this meaning of the indefinite article is observed in numerals a hundred (one hundred), a thousand (thousand), a million (million) and in the word a dozen (dozen) when they are used independently or before a noun:

This toy costs a thousand roubles. = This toy costs one thousan d roubles. — This toy costs a thousand rubles (one thousand rubles).
Give me a dozen, please. = Give me one dozen, please. - Give me a dozen, please (one dozen).

It is precisely with the origin from the numeral one (one) and the meaning of the singularity of the indefinite article is associated, which is especially evident when expressing measures of time, distance, weight or quantity:

This chocolate bar costs a dollar. — This chocolate bar costs a dollar. (=one dollar, we can replace a dollar on one dollar)
I'll call you in an hour. - I'll call you in an hour. (=in one hour, we can replace an hour on one hour)
Can I have a kilo of tomatoes, please? — Can I have a kilogram of tomatoes, please? (=one kilogram, we can replace a kilo on one kilo)

Please note that the numeral one instead of an article a/an should only be used when you want to emphasize that you are talking about just one thing or person, that is, when you want to be very precise:

I have got one sister. - I have one sister. (not two sisters, not three, but only one)
I have got a sister. - I have a sister. (in this case I just say that I have a sister)

The meaning of the singularity of the indefinite article can be seen in some stable phrases that convey the one-time action:

have a look- take a look
have a snack- have a snack
have a try- try, try
have a rest- relax
have a good time- have a good time
give a chance- give a chance
give a hint- hint
give a lift- give me a ride
make a mistake- make a mistake
play a trick- play a trick

№5

Indefinite article a/an also used when it is necessary to indicate the quantity per unit of measurement. For example, when we talk about the price of oranges per kilogram, the amount of wages per month, the number of classes per week, or the speed of a car per hour. A noun denoting this same unit of measurement will be used with the indefinite article.

The oranges were 80 rubles a kilo. — Oranges cost 80 rubles per kilogram.
She works 8 hours a day. — She works 8 hours a day.
I go to aerobics twice a week. — I go to aerobics twice a week.

№6

Indefinite article a/an can also be used with some uncountable abstract nouns (for example, humor - humor, hatred - hatred, anger - anger, magic - magic) in the case when they have an adjective with them. Typically, such use of the indefinite article is characteristic of book style and expresses the author’s desire to emphasize the individual, special character of this or that abstract concept.

Please note that in the above case, the use of the indefinite article is optional. If you do not want to highlight in a certain way the special character of any emotion, character trait, etc., the article a/an may not be used.

On a note

To learn to use the indefinite article a/an more or less automatically, try to form a rule in your head: use the indefinite article with singular countable nouns when there is no other reason for using the definite article the or some other determiner (possessive or indefinite pronoun).

First of all, thank you so much for your letters and reviews! We are very pleased that our work helps you in learning English! :)

Especially at your request, we have prepared material on the use of the indefinite article A(AN).

What is an article? This is an auxiliary part of speech that is placed before a noun to show the definiteness or uncertainty of the subject. In other words, articles make it clear whether the interlocutors are familiar with the subject or not. The function of articles is to define, therefore the part of speech to which they refer is called Determinants or Determiners.You can learn more about them from this article.

The article A (AN) comes from the numeral ONE (one) and is therefore called indefinite, which does not denote a specific object known to the interlocutors (unlike the), but one of many, some, no matter what, indefinite.

Why does the article A have two forms?

You may know that the AN form is used when the noun after the article begins with a vowel:

An apple, an egg, an elephant

But be careful, because the choice of the article form depends not on the letter (what we see in the letter), but on the sound. For example, take the word university. The first letter u conveys two sounds: . The first one, as you can see [j]. It is a consonant, so the article a should be used before the word univercity. In the same way with the words hour or the adjective honest (in combination honest man). In both words, the first h is unreadable, so we start pronouncing the word with a vowel and use the article AN.

There are quite a few words in English that have silent consonants or diphthongs at the beginning, so when choosing an article, be guided by the pronunciation of the word, not its spelling.

Let's take a look at the main cases in which we use the article A. They are all somewhat similar and complement each other in many ways, but if you understand the basic idea of ​​​​using the article, you can always use it correctly.

Article A is used in the following cases:

1. If there is only one subject and it is uncertain. To check, you can substitute the following words instead of the article: some, one of many, one of, any

I work in an office. - I work in an office. (I work in some office / in one of the offices).
She bought a car. - She bought (one) car. (She bought one car / some kind of car).
They passed an exam. - They passed (one) exam. (They passed some kind of exam / one of many exams).
I would like a cup of coffee. - I would like (one) cup of coffee. (Not two, one).

2. If an object belongs to a certain class, it is “one of many” representatives of this class. Therefore, A is always used before the names of professions and nationalities:

I am a teacher. - I'am a teacher. (There are many teachers and I am one of them).
She wants to become a student of this university. - She wants to become a student at this university. (There are many students in this university and she wants to become one of them).
He is a Republican. - He is a Republican. (He is one of the Republicans, belongs to this category).
We want to buy a flat in the center. - We want to buy an apartment in the center. (There are many apartments in the center and we want to buy one of them).

3. When we give a definition, we explain what this or that object is. At the same time, we mean that this definition applies to any representative of this category:

A doctor is a person who treats sick people. - A doctor is a person who treats patients. (Any doctor treats patients).
A penguin is a bird that can’t fly. - A penguin is a bird that cannot fly. (Any penguin cannot fly.
A penguin is one of the birds that cannot fly).
A bear is a wild animal. - A bear is a wild animal. (Any bear is a wild animal / one of the wild animals).

You can object and say that not every doctor treats and not every wild bear, but we are looking at special cases, but general ones.

4. In type descriptions: A + adjective + noun to describe an item. In this case, the choice of article A or AN is determined by the first sound of the adjective, not the noun:

This is an orange ball. - This is an orange ball.
He is a clever student. - He is a smart student.
We saw a very tall tree. - We saw a very tall tree.

5. When we talk about using things. Construction: use something as a ... :

He used a stub as a stool. - He used the tree stump as a stool.
She used a napkin as a note. - They used the napkin as a note.
Don’t use your fork as a pointer. - Don't use your fork as a pointer.

6. In negative and interrogative sentences and after the phrase there is with a singular countable noun:

In this case, we know nothing about the item except that it is one of many.

7. Article A is used in measurements:

Once a day - once a day
Twice a week - twice a day
40 km an hour - 40 kilometers per hour

In words denoting one unit of measurement (for example: hundred, thousand, kilogram), A and one can be interchanged:

One hundred = a hundred
One thousand = a thousand
One kilo = a kilo One mile = a mile

8. In exclamations in combination with what, what a lot and such (to emphasize the severity of the attribute):

What a nice day! - What a wonderful day!
What a lot of books! - How many books!
He is such an intelligent person! - He is such a smart man!

9. We use A with paired nouns. Some nouns are considered in pairs, in which case the article a is placed before the first noun:

A knife and fork - knife and fork
A cup and saucer - cup and saucer

There is no need to confuse pairs with single nouns, which simply stand next to each other in a sentence:

I bought a pen and a book. -I bought a pen and a book.

10. With words indicating health problems:

A headache - headache
a cold - a cold
a sore throat - sore throat
a broken arm/leg - broken arm/leg
a weak heart - weak heart
(a) toothache - toothache (can be without the article)
(an) earache - pain in the ear (can be without the article)

11. Lastly, but perhaps most importantly, the indefinite article A is used when we mention something for the first time, when the interlocutor knows nothing about the subject:

I have got a cat. - I have a cat.
He met a beautiful girl. - He met a beautiful girl.

For further references, the definite article the should be used, but more on that in the next article.

Let's summarize the main points: The indefinite article A is used only with countable nouns in the singular, if the subject we are talking about is mentioned for the first time, is indefinite, one of many of its kind, any.

That is, the absence of an article. Let's consider when the article the is used, which, by the way, is, according to linguists, the most frequently occurring word in the English language, although, of course, it is difficult to call it a word.

How to use the definite article THE - the basic rule

Most of the rules for using the definite article the come down to the fact that the is placed before a noun that means something specific. The article the itself comes from the word that (this, that) - knowing this, it is easier to understand how it is used.

This is the place that we were talking about. - This is the place we were talking about.

You have the file that I need. – You have (the) document that I need.

The article here does not define, of course, but the noun defined by this adjective. The article the is needed because the superlative degree of a feature or person distinguishes it as unique:

This is the most delicious ice-cream in the world. – This is the most delicious ice cream in the world.

He is the smartest student in the university. – He is the smartest student at the university.

5. Before a series of adjectives implying the uniqueness of the subject.

These are words like same(same), only(the only one), left\right(left\right). Like superlative adjectives, they indicate specificity about what is being said.

This is the only way out. - This is the only way out.

Turn the left valve, please. – Turn the right valve, please.

My sister had the same problem. – My sister had the same problem.

6. Before ordinal numbers.

Ordinal – denoting number, not quantity. If an item is “first” or “twentieth,” this implies its relative uniqueness (in the context of the conversation). This also applies to words like the last(last), the previous(previous), which are similar in meaning to ordinal numbers.

Who was the first human in the space? – Who was the first man in space?

I am reading the third chapter now. – I’m reading the third chapter now.

Let's invite the previous candidate again. - Let's invite the previous candidate again.

This is the last warning. - This is the last warning.

7. Before people's names when talking about the family as a whole.

The surname is used in the plural, as in Russian.

I don't know the Allens, but they seem to be nice people. “I don’t know the Allens, but they seem like nice people.”

The Petrovs moved out on Monday. – The Petrovs moved out on Monday.

8. Before wordspast, present, future, winter, spring, summer, autumn (fall).

These words are worth highlighting separately because many tense expressions use the indefinite or zero article, for example: a week ago(a week ago) on Monday- on Monday. When talking about the past, future, present, we use the:

That is my plan for the future. - This is my plan for the future.

Whatever happened in the past, stays in the past. – Whatever happened in the past will remain in the past.

When we talk about seasons, we use the when we mean, say, the autumn of a particular year. When talking about the time of year in general, we use the zero or definite article:

• I moved to London in the autumn of 2010. – I moved to London in the fall of 2010.
• Poets love (the) autumn. – Poets love autumn.

Note: words autumn And fall means “autumn”, but autumn- this is the British version, fall– American.

9. Before some place names

– a rather confusing topic, I’ll highlight the main cases:

• The article the is not needed before names of countries consisting of one word (Russia, Spain), but is needed before names that include words like federation, kingdom, states: the Russian Federation, the Kingdom of Spain, the United Stated of America.
• The is also placed before place names used in the plural: the Netherlands(Netherlands), the Virgin Islands(Virgin Islands), the Urals(Ural Mountains).

The article THE before an adjective and pronoun

Any article, both the and a\an, can be used before an adjective. The article defines the noun, the attribute of which denotes this adjective:

This is the new guy I told you about. - This is the new guy I told you about.

Have a nice day. - Have a nice day.

Neither the article the nor a\an is used before a possessive (my, his, your, etc.) or demonstrative (this, these, that, those) pronoun that defines a noun - it in itself speaks of ownership, and therefore specificity of the subject.

• Wrong: Where is the my car?
• Right: Where is my car?

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