A, an, the or no article
Use a or an with a singular countable noun when it is the first mention, when it is one of many, or when we talk about a job: I saw a dog. She wants to be an engineer. Choose a or an by the first sound, not the first letter: an hour (the h is silent), an honest girl, but a university (it starts with the sound /ju/) and a European city. Use the when the listener knows which one: the second mention (I saw a dog. The dog was big), things that are one of their kind (the sun, the moon, the world), superlatives (the tallest boy), musical instruments (play the guitar), rivers, seas and mountain ranges (the Nile, the Red Sea) and some countries with a type of state (the United States). Use no article for plural or uncountable nouns in general (Cats are independent. Water is essential), most country and city names (Egypt, Cairo), languages (English), meals (breakfast), days and months (on Monday, in May), sports (football) and names with Mount (Mount Everest). Common slips: an advice, in the London, on the Monday (as a general day), play guitar.
| Article | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| a / an | first mention, one of many, a job | a dog, an hour, a teacher |
| the | second mention, one of its kind, superlative, river | the sun, the Nile, the tallest |
| no article | general plurals, uncountable, meals, languages | Cats; water; lunch; English |
| Slips | an advice, play guitar | some advice, play the guitar |
Article search. Read half a page of a story and circle every a, an and the. For each one, write the rule (first mention, second mention, one of its kind and so on). Then write six sentences about your day with a, an, the and one noun with no article.