Three choices: a/an, the, or nothing
Articles come before a noun. A / an mean “one, any, not special”. The means “this particular one that we both know”. Sometimes we use no article (the “zero article”).
a / an
- First time we mention it.
- “I saw a dog.”
- One of many; it doesn’t matter which.
the
- We both know which one.
- “The dog was big.”
- There is only one: the sun, the moon.
a or an? Listen to the sound
Use a before a consonant sound and an before a vowel sound. It is about the sound, not the spelling: an hour (silent h), a university (sounds like “you”).
- a cakeconsonant sound
- an umbrellavowel sound
- an hoursilent h
- a bookconsonant sound
Rule
Quick rules
- a / an only with singular, countable nouns: a pen, an idea. Not with plurals (pens) or uncountables (water).
- the with singular, plural and uncountable nouns when it is clear which one.
- No article for general plurals and uncountables: Dogs are loyal. I like music.
- Often no article with meals, languages, sports and most countries: have breakfast, speak Spanish, play tennis, live in France.
- the with unique things (the sun), rivers/oceans/mountain ranges (the Nile, the Alps), and countries with “republic/kingdom/states” (the UK, the USA).
Lots of examples
- I have a brother and a sister.First mention, singular.
- The brother is older than the sister.Now we know which ones.
- She is an engineer.Jobs take a/an.
- Can you close the door, please?We both know which door.
- The sun is very bright today.Unique.
- I love music, but I don’t like the music in this café.General vs. specific.
- He plays football on Sundays.Sports: no article.
- We had dinner at eight.Meals: no article.
- London is the capital of England.Only one capital.
- She bought an orange and a banana.Vowel and consonant sounds.
- He works for an NGO, and his wife works at a university.Sound rule: “en” and “you”.
- The Nile is the longest river in Africa.Rivers and superlatives take the.
Don’t say / Say
Don’t sayShe is teacher.
SayShe is a teacher.Why: Singular jobs need a/an.
Don’t sayI need an advice.
SayI need some advice.Why: Advice is uncountable: no a/an.
Don’t sayHe is an university student.
SayHe is a university student.Why: University starts with a “y” sound.
Don’t sayThe life is beautiful.
SayLife is beautiful.Why: General ideas take no article.
Don’t sayI go to the school by bus. (as a student)
SayI go to school by bus.Why: Institutions used for their main purpose take no article.