Articles in English are a way of defining what we are talking about in a way that is either specific (e.g. the dog) or general (e.g. an ice cream). This article will introduce articles and the different types, explain when and how we use them, and provide plenty of examples.
An article is a type of determiner in English grammar. Determiners modify words placed before a noun or noun phrase to establish (determine) 'who' or 'what' the noun refers to.
There are four types of determiners in English; articles, (the/a/an), possessives (his/her/their), demonstratives (this/that/those), and quantifiers (some/all/none).
There are three articles in the English language;
The
an
an
These are divided into two categories;
Definite articles
Indefinite articles
Articles: examples
Now we have a basic idea of what articles are, take a look at some examples of articles given below:
The dog would not let go of the stick.
Once upon a time, there was a princess who lived in a castle.
The Ritz is a place of luxury that the wealthy frequently visit.
Did you notice a pattern in the examples given above? It is clear that articles always preface (come before) a noun. The article used will determine whether the noun is specific or unspecific.
Fig. 1 - An unspecific princess lives in an unspecific castle.
Articles: synonyms
As mentioned, in the field of English linguistics, articles refer to a specific grammatical category of words that function to indicate a noun's definiteness or indefiniteness. There are no specific synonyms for this sense of 'articles' because it is a technical term with a precise meaning.
However, some related terms that are commonly used in the study of English grammar include determiners, pronouns, and adjectives.
Types of articles
There are two different types of articles, the definite article and the indefinite article.
We've established that an article is a type of determiner that comes before a noun or noun phrase to show whether it is specific or non-specific. For specific nouns, we use the definite article, and for non-specific nouns, we use the indefinite article.
The definite article
The definite article is the word'the'.
This article shows us that the noun being discussed is specific, but what does that mean? The definite article is used when;
The noun in question has been mentioned before and is known to the reader.
The noun is unique or assumed to be the only one (e.g. the sun).
We want to identify or single out a particular noun.
Let's look at some examples of definite articles.
I want a bottle of water. Can you grab the one in the fridge?
When the subject is first mentioned, the speaker uses the indefinite article. Now that the subject has been made clear to the listener, the speaker uses the definite article to refer to the subject.
Excuse me, where is the bathroom?
Here, the definite article has been used as the speaker is assuming there is only one bathroom in the restaurant.
The lorry drove away.
Here, the definite article indicates that the speaker is referring to a specific lorry that drove away, not just any lorry. If the speaker was referring to any lorry, they would use the indefinite article 'a'.
Definite articles can occur before singular or plural nouns. For example, 'The lorries drove away' or 'Can you grab the ones in the fridge?' is grammatically correct.
The indefinite article
There are two words that are classed as indefinite articles: 'a' and 'an'.
Indefinite articles are used to refer to nouns that are non-specific or are being mentioned for the first time. 'A' is placed before nouns beginning with a consonant sound, and 'an' goes before nouns beginning with a vowel sound.
Here are examples of both indefinite articles:
A cat followed me home.
The speaker is referring to 'a' cat, so the indication is that this is the first time this cat is being mentioned and that it has no personal specific connection to the speaker. The indefinite article a was used as the noun cat begins with a consonant sound (/k/).
Can you pass me an apple?
The indefinite article has been used here as the speaker doesn't mind which apple they are given. They are being unspecific. The article an was used as the noun apple begins with a vowel sound (/ˈæ/).
Indefinite articles only occur before singular nouns. To say 'An elephants followed me home' would be grammatically incorrect.
Indefinite articles and plural nouns
The indefinite article a and an can only be used to modify singular nouns. When discussing plural nouns, we either drop the article altogether (e.g. Elephants followed me home) or use the definite article the when appropriate (e.g. The elephants followed me home).
Indefinite articles and the letter H
There are cases when the article an is used before a word that begins with a consonant letter and not a vowel. This is because article use is dependent on the sound of a letter rather than the letter itself. The most common example of this is the letter h.
Take a look at the following example:
An hour after I arrived a house fell down.
The first article 'an' comes before the noun 'hour' despite it beginning with a consonant. This is because the word 'hour' (/aʊə/) starts with a vowel sound (/ˈa/).
The second article is 'a' not 'an' because the word 'house' (/haʊs/) begins with a consonant sound (/h/).
Indefinite articles and the letter U
Sometimes the indefinite article 'a' is used before words beginning with the letter u - again, this is to do with the sound of the letter.
Look at the following example:
He is a Ukrainian man.
The article a has been used here because 'Ukrainian' (/juːˈkreɪnjən/) begins with the semivowel sound /ju/, which we treat as a consonant.
Now look at this example:
I need an umbrella.
The article an is used as 'umbrella' (/ʌmˈbrelə/) begins with the vowel sound /ʌ/ (uh).
Fig. 2 - I need an umbrella... any umbrella will do!
Indefinite articles and abbreviations
Sometimes, the use of 'a' or 'an' will depend on the pronunciation of an abbreviated phrase.
Compare this sentence which uses an abbreviated phrase to the following sentence which uses the full phrase:
I saw a UFO outside!
When the phrase is abbreviated, we use 'a' because 'UFO' here begins with the semivowel sound /ju/ (remember, we treat these the same as consonants).
I saw an unidentified flying object outside!
When the phrase is unabbreviated, we use 'an' because 'unidentified' (/ʌn aɪˈdentɪfaɪd/) begins with the vowel sound /ʌ/.
Articles and adjectives
Occasionally, an article will come before an adjective, not a noun. An example of articles with adjectives include:
The tall man looked over the crowd.
She is looking at an elegant lady.
It is a horrible painting.
In these cases, both the article and the adjective 'modify' the nouns and have created noun phrases. In other words, they give contextual information about the noun they are prefacing.
Articles - Key takeaways
An article is a type of determiner that comes before a noun to show whether it is specific or non-specific.
There are three articles in the English language: the/a/an.
The English language has two main types of articles: definite and indefinite.
The definite article theis used before specific, unique, or known nouns. The indefinite articles a/an are used before unspecific and general nouns.
The article a comes before nouns beginning with a consonant sound and an before a noun beginning with a vowel sound. Articles can also come before adjectives in a noun phrase.
How we ensure our content is accurate and trustworthy?
At StudySmarter, we have created a learning platform that serves millions of students. Meet
the people who work hard to deliver fact based content as well as making sure it is verified.
Content Creation Process:
Lily Hulatt
Digital Content Specialist
Lily Hulatt is a Digital Content Specialist with over three years of experience in content strategy and curriculum design. She gained her PhD in English Literature from Durham University in 2022, taught in Durham University’s English Studies Department, and has contributed to a number of publications. Lily specialises in English Literature, English Language, History, and Philosophy.
Gabriel Freitas is an AI Engineer with a solid experience in software development, machine learning algorithms, and generative AI, including large language models’ (LLMs) applications. Graduated in Electrical Engineering at the University of São Paulo, he is currently pursuing an MSc in Computer Engineering at the University of Campinas, specializing in machine learning topics. Gabriel has a strong background in software engineering and has worked on projects involving computer vision, embedded AI, and LLM applications.
Vaia is a globally recognized educational technology company, offering a holistic learning platform designed for students of all ages and educational levels. Our platform provides learning support for a wide range of subjects, including STEM, Social Sciences, and Languages and also helps students to successfully master various tests and exams worldwide, such as GCSE, A Level, SAT, ACT, Abitur, and more. We offer an extensive library of learning materials, including interactive flashcards, comprehensive textbook solutions, and detailed explanations. The cutting-edge technology and tools we provide help students create their own learning materials. StudySmarter’s content is not only expert-verified but also regularly updated to ensure accuracy and relevance.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Accept
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.