DEFINITE AND INDEFINITE ARTICLES

In English there are three articles: a, an, and the. Articles are used before nouns or noun
equivalents and are a type of adjective. The definite article (the) is used before a noun to indicate
that the identity of the noun is known to the reader. The indefinite article (a, an) is used before a
noun that is general or when its identity is not known. There are certain situations in which a
noun takes no article.

As a guide, the following definitions and table summarize the basic use of articles. Continue
reading for a more detailed explanation of the rules and for examples of how and when to apply
them.

Definite article

the (before a singular or plural noun)

Indefinite article

a (before a singular noun beginning with a consonant sound)

an (before a singular noun beginning with a vowel sound)

Count nouns - refers to items that can be counted and are either singular or plural

Non-count nouns - refers to items that are not counted and are always singular

COUNT NON-COUNT
NOUNS NOUNS

Rule #1 a, an (no article)

Specific identity not
known

Rule #2 the the

Specific identity known

Rule #3 (no article) (no article)

All things or things in
general
For the purposes of understanding how articles are used, it is important to know that nouns can
be either count (can be counted) or noncount (indefinite in quantity and cannot be counted). In
addition, count nouns are either singular (one) or plural (more than one). Noncount nouns are
always in singular form.

For example, if we are speaking of water that has been spilled on the table, there can be one drop
(singular) or two or more drops (plural) of water on the table. The word drop in this example is
a count noun because we can count the number of drops. Therefore, according to the rules
applying to count nouns, the word drop would use the articles a or the.

However, if we are speaking of water in general spilled on the table, it would not be appropriate
to count one water or two waters -- there would simply be water on the table. Water is
a noncount noun. Therefore, according to the rules applying to noncount nouns, the
word water would use no article or the, but not a.

Following are the three specific rules which explain the use of definite and indefinite articles.

Rule #1 - Specific identity not known: Use the indefinite article a or an only with a singular
count noun whose specific identity is not known to the reader. Use a before nouns that
begin with a consonant sound, and use an before nouns that begin with a vowel sound.

 Use the article a or an to indicate any non-specified member of a group or category.

I think an animal is in the garage
That man is a scoundrel.
We are looking for an apartment.

 Use the article a or an to indicate one in number (as opposed to more than one).
I own a cat and two dogs.

 Use the article a before a consonant sound, and use an before a vowel sound.
a boy, an apple

◊ Sometimes an adjective comes between the article and noun:

an unhappy boy, a red apple

 The plural form of a or an is some. Use some to indicate an unspecified, limited amount (but
more than one).
an apple, some apples
Rule #2 - Specific identity known: Use the definite article the with any noun (whether
singular or plural, count or noncount) when the specific identity of the noun is known to
the reader, as in the following situations:

 Use the article the when a particular noun has already been mentioned previously.
I ate an apple yesterday. The apple was juicy and delicious.

 Use the article the when an adjective, phrase, or clause describing the noun clarifies or
restricts its identity.
The boy sitting next to me raised his hand.
Thank you for the advice you gave me.

 Use the article the when the noun refers to something or someone that is unique.
the theory of relativity
the 2003 federal budget

Rule #3 - All things or things in general: Use no article with plural count nouns or any
noncount nouns used to mean all or in general.

Trees are beautiful in the fall. (All trees are beautiful in the fall.)
He was asking for advice. (He was asking for advice in general.)
I do not like coffee. (I do not like all coffee in general.)

Additional Information Regarding the Use of Articles

 When indicating an unspecified, limited amount of a count or noncount noun, use some.
My cousin was seeking some advice from a counselor (not advice in general or advice about
everything, but a limited amount of advice).

I would love some coffee right now (not coffee in general, but a limited amount of coffee).

We might get rain tomorrow. Some rain would be good for the crops (a certain amount of rain, as
opposed to rain in general).

There are some drops of water on the table (a limited number, but more than one drop).

 Noncount nouns are those which usually cannot be counted. Following are some common
examples:
◊ Certain food and drink items: bacon, beef, bread, broccoli, butter, cabbage, candy,
cauliflower, celery, cereal, cheese, chicken, chocolate, coffee, corn, cream, fish, flour, fruit, ice
cream, lettuce, meat, milk, oil, pasta, rice, salt, spinach, sugar, tea, water, wine, yogurt

◊ Certain nonfood substances: air, cement, coal, dirt, gasoline, gold, paper, petroleum, plastic,
rain, silver, snow, soap, steel, wood, wool

◊ Most abstract nouns: advice, anger, beauty, confidence, courage, employment, fun,
happiness, health, honesty, information, intelligence, knowledge, love, poverty, satisfaction,
truth, wealth

◊ Areas of study: history, math, biology, etc.

◊ Sports: soccer, football, baseball, hockey, etc.

◊ Languages: Chinese, Spanish, Russian, English, etc.

◊ Other: clothing, equipment, furniture, homework, jewelry, luggage, lumber, machinery, mail,
money, news, poetry, pollution, research, scenery, traffic, transportation, violence, weather, work

 Geographical names are confusing because some require the and some do not.
◊ Use the with: united countries, large regions, deserts, peninsulas, oceans, seas, gulfs, canals,
rivers, mountain ranges, groups of islands

the Gobi Desert

the United Arab Emirates
the Sacramento River
the Aleutians

◊ Do not use the with: streets, parks, cities, states, counties, most countries, continents, bays,
single lakes, single mountains, islands

Japan
Chico
Mt. Everest
San Francisco Bay

Examples of the Use of Articles

I do not want a gun in my house (any gun).
The gun is in his closet (implies there is a specific gun).
I am afraid of guns (all guns in general).

She sent me a postcard from Italy (an unspecific postcard - not a letter, not an e-mail).
It's the postcard that I have in my office (one specific postcard).
Getting postcards makes me want to travel (any postcard in general).

I have a dog (one dog).

The dog is very friendly (the dog that I have already mentioned).
Dogs make great pets (dogs in general).

Greta needs furniture in her apartment (furniture is a noncount noun).

She is going to select the furniture that she needs (the specific furniture that she needs).
She hopes to find some furniture this weekend (an unspecified, limited amount of furniture).

We are going to see the Statue of Liberty this weekend (the only Statue of Liberty).
What Are Articles?

Articles are words that define a noun as specific or unspecific. Consider the following examples:

After the long day, the cup of tea tasted particularly good.
By using the article the, we’ve shown that it was one specific day that was long and one specific
cup of tea that tasted good.
After a long day, a cup of tea tastes particularly good.
By using the article a, we’ve created a general statement, implying that any cup of tea would
taste good after any long day.

English has two types of articles: definite and indefinite. Let’s discuss them now in more detail.

The Definite Article

The definite article is the word the. It limits the meaning of a noun to one particular thing. For

example, your friend might ask, ―Are you going to the party this weekend?‖ The definite article

tells you that your friend is referring to a specific party that both of you know about. The definite

article can be used with singular, plural, or uncountable nouns. Below are some examples of the

definite article the used in context:

Please give me the hammer.

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

Please give me the nail.

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

Please give me the hammer and the nail.

The Indefinite Article

The indefinite article takes two forms. It’s the word a when it precedes a word that begins with a

consonant. It’s the word an when it precedes a word that begins with a vowel. The indefinite

article indicates that a noun refers to a general idea rather than a particular thing. For example,

you might ask your friend, ―Should I bring a gift to the party?‖ Your friend will understand that

you are not asking about a specific type of gift or a specific item. ―I am going to bring an apple

pie,‖ your friend tells you. Again, the indefinite article indicates that she is not talking about a

specific apple pie. Your friend probably doesn’t even have any pie yet. The indefinite article

only appears with singular nouns. Consider the following examples of indefinite articles used in
context:

Please hand me a book; any book will do.

Please hand me an autobiography; any autobiography will do.

Exceptions: Choosing A or An

There are a few exceptions to the general rule of using a before words that start with consonants

and an before words that begin with vowels. The first letter of the word honor, for example, is a

consonant, but it’s unpronounced. In spite of its spelling, the word honor begins with a vowel

sound. Therefore, we use an. Consider the example sentence below for an illustration of this

concept.

My mother is a honest woman.

My mother is an honest woman.

Similarly, when the first letter of a word is a vowel but is pronounced with a consonant sound,

use a, as in the sample sentence below:

She is an United States senator.

She is a United States senator.

This holds true with acronyms and initialisms, too: an LCD display, a UK-based

company, an HR department, a URL.

Article Before an Adjective

Sometimes an article modifies a noun that is also modified by an adjective. The usual word order

is article + adjective + noun. If the article is indefinite, choose a or an based on the word that

immediately follows it. Consider the following examples for reference:

Eliza will bring a small gift to Sophie’s party.

I heard an interesting story yesterday.

Indefinite Articles with Uncountable Nouns

Uncountable nouns are nouns that are either difficult or impossible to count. Uncountable nouns

include intangible things (e.g., information, air), liquids (e.g., milk, wine), and things that are too

large or numerous to count (e.g., equipment, sand, wood). Because these things can’t be counted,

you should never use a or an with them—remember, the indefinite article is only for singular

nouns. Uncountable nouns can be modified by words like some, however. Consider the examples

below for reference:

Please give me a water.

Water is an uncountable noun and should not be used with the indefinite article.

Please give me some water.

However, if you describe the water in terms of countable units (like bottles), you can use the
indefinite article.
Please give me a bottle of water.

Please give me an ice.

Please give me an ice cube.

Please give me some ice .

Note that depending on the context, some nouns can be countable or uncountable (e.g., hair,

noise, time):

We need a light in this room.

We need some light in this room.

Using Articles with Pronouns

Possessive pronouns can help identify whether you’re talking about specific or nonspecific

items. As we’ve seen, articles also indicate specificity. But if you use both a possessive pronoun

and an article at the same time, readers will become confused. Possessive pronouns are words

like his, my, our, its, her, and their. Articles should not be used with pronouns. Consider the

examples below.

Why are you reading the my book?

The and my should not be used together since they are both meant to modify the same noun.

Instead, you should use one or the other, depending on the intended meaning:

Why are you reading the book?

Why are you reading my book?

Omission of Articles
Occasionally, articles are omitted altogether before certain nouns. In these cases, the article is

implied but not actually present. This implied article is sometimes called a ―zero article.‖ Often,

the article is omitted before nouns that refer to abstract ideas. Look at the following examples:

Let’s go out for a dinner tonight.

Let’s go out for dinner tonight.

The creativity is a valuable quality in children.

Creativity is a valuable quality in children.

Many languages and nationalities are not preceded by an article. Consider the example below:

I studied the French in high school for four years.

I studied French in high school for four years.

Sports and academic subjects do not require articles. See the sentences below for reference:

I like to play the baseball.

I like to play baseball .

My sister was always good at the math .

My sister was always good at math .

An article is a word that modifies a noun.

In English, there are two different types of articles: the definite article (the) and the indefinite
article (a/an).

In accord with the designations, the indefinite article is used when we speak about something for
the first time, or something non-specific. The definite article is used when we speak about
something specific or something that has already been mentioned in the conversation.

Many languages in the world use articles, but just as many languages don’t have them at all. So
there is no reason to panic if your native language does not use articles.

The following eight rules regarding the use of the articles in English will help you make
fewer mistakes when you speak English.
It is very important to be able to use the articles properly, both when writing and speaking.

1. With the names of countries and continents

In these instances we do not use the articles at all, BUT if the country is made up of different
parts or if the name is taken from common nouns, for example USA, UK, UAE, then we use the
article the and say the USA, the UK, the UAE, the Czech Republic, The Netherlands.

It is the same when speaking of continents and islands. It is not used at all with the continents.
We usually do not use an article when speaking about islands, but if the name is made up of
different parts, then use the definite article.

For example, Africa, Europe, Bermuda, Tasmania, BUT the Virgin Islands, the Bahamas

 She lived in America.

 They live in England.
 My friend is from the Czech Republic.

∙ I will go to the Galapagos Islands next year.

2. With the words breakfast, lunch, dinner

When it comes to eating in general, the article is not used. But if you are speaking about a
particular breakfast, lunch or dinner, use the.

For example:

 I don’t eat breakfast.

 We didn’t like the dinner.

3. With the names of jobs and professions

In these instances, use the indefinite article a/an.

For example:

 I want to be a politician.
 My younger brother wants to be a vet.

4. With compass directions

Compass directions are written with capital letters when they designate definite regions (the
North, the South, the East, the West), but not when they indicate direction or general location.

If the compass direction follows a preposition or if it designates a definite region, use the definite
article the. If it follows a verb, no article is used.
For example:

 They went east.

 Look to the north and you will see the lake.
 The North is cooler than the South.

5. With names of oceans, seas, rivers, and canals

Remember that the definite article is always used with these bodies of water.

For example, the Amazon, the Indian Ocean, the Red Sea, the Suez Canal.

 I would like to swim in the Red Sea, and you?

 The Amazon is the longest river in the world.

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6. With the names of unique objects

This means that only one of the object or thing exists; it is one of a kind. Specifically, the sun,
the moon, the internet, the sky, the earth.

For example:

 The sun is a star.

 We looked up at all the stars in the sky.
 He is always on the internet.

7. With uncountable nouns

Uncountable nouns are nouns that we cannot count. A way to identify these nouns, in most cases,
is that they do not add –s in the plural form.

But remember that for every rule there are many exceptions. If you are speaking about any
uncountable noun in general, do not use the article. But when speaking about something
specific, the is used.

For example:

 I like bread/milk/honey.
 I like the bread/the milk/the honey. (specific bread/milk/honey)
 8. With surnames

When speaking about members of the same family collectively, the article the is used before the
surname. In this way, you designate a group of people –a family – with one word. Remember,
the surname must be in the plural form.

For example:

 The Smiths are coming for dinner today.

 Have you seen the Johnsons recently?

This information does not cover all the uses of the articles in English. However, remember these
rules as a start, and gradually increase your knowledge of English grammar.