Articles: a, an and the
Learn when to use a, an and the in English, when to use no article, and which place names need the, with examples and a quiz.
In this lesson
Articles are the small words a, an and the that come before nouns. Use a or an for one thing that is not specific, such as a book or an apple. Use the when the listener knows exactly which thing you mean, such as the sun or the book on the table. Sometimes we use no article at all.
Key point
Use a or an with a singular countable noun when you mention it for the first time or it is one of many. Use the when it is clear which one you mean, and use no article for most names and for plural or uncountable nouns in general.
What are articles in English?
English has two kinds of article. The definite article is the. The indefinite articles are a and an. When we use no article, grammar books call it the zero article.
| Article | When to use it | Example |
|---|---|---|
| a | One singular countable noun, before a consonant sound | a car, a university |
| an | One singular countable noun, before a vowel sound | an egg, an hour |
| the | Any noun, when the listener knows which one you mean | the moon, the books on my desk |
| no article | Plural and uncountable nouns in general, and most names | Cats like fish. Nimal lives in Kandy. |
When do you use a or an?
Use a or an with a singular countable noun when the listener does not know which one you mean, or when it does not matter. It often means “one” or “any one”.
Examples
- I have a brother and a sister.
- There is a bank on Galle Road.
- We need an umbrella today.
- Sanduni eats an apple every morning.
Jobs and descriptions
Use a or an to say what job someone does or what kind of thing something is.
Examples
- My father is an engineer.
- Nimal wants to be a teacher.
- Kandy is a beautiful city.
Common mistake
She is doctor. → She is a doctor. A singular countable noun needs an article, so do not leave it out.
A or an? Listen to the sound, not the letter
Choose a or an by the first sound of the next word, not the first letter. Use a before a consonant sound and an before a vowel sound.
| Rule | Why | Example |
|---|---|---|
| a + consonant sound | The word starts with a sound like b, d, k or s | a book, a dog, a cup of tea |
| an + vowel sound | The word starts with a sound like a, e, i, o or u | an apple, an egg, an orange |
| an + silent h | We do not say the h, so the first sound is a vowel | an hour, an honest answer |
| a + “you” sound | The letters u and eu can sound like “you”, a consonant sound | a university, a uniform, a European city |
| a + “w” sound | The letter o in one sounds like “w” | a one-way ticket |
The article goes with the word straight after it, so an adjective can change it: an egg but a boiled egg, a house but an old house.
Tip
Say the word aloud before you choose. If it starts with a vowel sound, use an: an hour, an MP3 file. If it starts with a consonant sound, use a: a university, a horse.
When do you use the?
Use the when the speaker and the listener both know which person or thing you mean. The works with singular, plural and uncountable nouns.
Second mention
Use a or an the first time you mention something, then use the.
Examples
- Nimal saw a dog in the garden. The dog was very friendly.
- We stayed at a hotel in Galle. The hotel had a lovely garden.
Unique things
Use the with things there is only one of.
Examples
- The sun rises in the east.
- The moon is very bright tonight.
- I often read the news on the internet.
When the situation makes it clear
Use the when the situation or the rest of the sentence shows which one.
Examples
- Can you close the door, please?
- The bus to Kandy leaves at nine o’clock.
- The girl in the red dress is my cousin.
Superlatives and words like first and only
Use the before superlatives such as the best and the tallest, and before first, last, next and only. You can learn more in our lesson on comparatives and superlatives.
Examples
- Pidurutalagala is the highest mountain in Sri Lanka.
- Sanduni was the first student to finish the test.
- This is the only bus to Galle today.
Musical instruments and fixed phrases
We usually use the with musical instruments and in phrases such as in the morning and go to the cinema: She plays the piano.
When do you use no article?
We use no article, the zero article, when we talk about things in general and with most names.
- Plural nouns in general: Dogs are loyal animals. I like bananas.
- Uncountable nouns in general: Water is important for good health. Rice is a staple food in Sri Lanka.
- Names of people: Nimal, Sanduni, Emma, Mr Perera.
- Meals, days and months: We have breakfast at seven. See you on Monday. My birthday is in May.
- Languages and school subjects: She speaks Sinhala and Tamil. I am good at maths.
- Some places after go to, at or in: go to school, go to work, go to bed, at home.
Compare a general meaning with a specific one: I like music (all music) but I like the music in this film (that music). To see which nouns you can count, read our lesson on countable and uncountable nouns.
Common mistake
The life is beautiful. → Life is beautiful. When you talk about something in general, do not use the.
Note
In British English a sick person is in hospital and a student is at university. American English usually says in the hospital and in college.
Do you use the with country and place names?
Most place names have no article, but some groups of names always take the. We say Sri Lanka, but the full official name is the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, because it contains the word Republic.
| Type of name | No article | With the |
|---|---|---|
| Countries | Sri Lanka, India, Japan, France | the United Kingdom, the United States, the Maldives, the Philippines |
| Cities, towns and continents | Colombo, Kandy, Galle, London, Asia, Europe | a few exceptions, such as the Hague |
| Mountains | single mountains: Mount Everest, Adam’s Peak | mountain ranges: the Himalayas, the Alps |
| Water | most lakes: Lake Victoria | oceans, seas and rivers: the Indian Ocean, the Red Sea, the Mahaweli River |
Tip
Look for a word like Kingdom, States, Republic or Islands, or a plural -s at the end of the name. These names usually need the: the Republic of Ireland, the Canary Islands.
Practise articles
Check what you have learnt. You will see the answer after each question.
Articles often come before nouns with the verb be, as in She is a nurse, so it helps to revise the verb ‘be’: am, is and are. Plural nouns also change the verb, as you can see in singular and plural verbs. For more exercises on every topic, visit the Practice hub. You can also read the Cambridge Dictionary grammar guide to a, an and the or try the British Council A1 to A2 exercises on articles.
Summary
- Use a or an with one singular countable noun that is not specific: a pen, an orange.
- Choose a or an by sound: a university, an hour.
- Use the when the listener knows which one: second mention, unique things and superlatives.
- Use no article for most names and for plural or uncountable nouns in general.
- Use the with names like the United Kingdom, the Maldives, the Indian Ocean and the Himalayas.
Frequently asked questions
Why do we say “an hour” but “a house”?
The h in hour is silent, so the word starts with a vowel sound and takes an. In house we pronounce the h, which is a consonant sound, so we use a.
Is it “a university” or “an university”?
It is a university. The word begins with a “you” sound, which is a consonant sound, so we use a even though the first letter is a vowel.
Do we say “Sri Lanka” or “the Sri Lanka”?
Say Sri Lanka, with no article. Most country names have no article. We only use the with names such as the United Kingdom, the United States or the Maldives.
What is the difference between a and the?
A means one of many, and the listener does not know which one: I saw a film. The means a particular one that the listener knows about: The film was very funny.
Practise this lesson
11 questions
