How to Use Articles A, An, The in English with Examples

How to Use Articles in English? Articles are used to introduce a noun. There are two main types of articles in English. In which, “a, an” is an indefinite article; “the” is a definite article.

Here, let's learn how to use these articles with English tivi right now.

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How to Use Indefinite Articles “A” and “An”

1. Use “a” or “an” before a singular countable noun. They mean one. They are used in sentences that are general or refer to a subject that has not been mentioned before.

• A ball is round. (General, generic, all balls)
• I saw a boy in the street. (We don't know which boy, not mentioned before)

2. The article “an” is used before words that begin with a vowel sound (in pronunciation, not in writing). Consists of:

• Words that start with the vowels “a, e, i, o”:

Example: an aircraft, an empty glass, an object

• Some words that start with “u”:

Example: an uncle, an umbrella

• Some words that start with a silent “h”:

Example: an heir, half an hour

• Words that begin with an abbreviation:

Example: an S.O.S/ an M.P

3. Use “a” first:

• Words that start with a consonant. These include the rest of the letters and some cases start with “u, y, h“.

Example: a house, a university, a home party, a heavy load, a uniform, a union, a year income, etc.

• Before a noun that begins with “uni…” and “eu”

Example: a university/ a uniform/ universal/ union, Europe, eulogy, euphemism, eucalyptus

• Used in idioms indicating a certain quantity such as: a lot of/a great deal of/a couple of/a dozen of.
• Use before certain numbers, usually thousands, hundreds like: a/one hundred – a/one thousand.
• Use before “half” when it follows a whole unit: a kilo or a half, or when it is combined with another noun to indicate a half (when written with a hyphen): a half – share, a half – holiday.
• Used with fractional units such as: 1/3 (a/one-third), 1/5 (a/one -fifth).
• Used in idioms indicating price, speed, rate: a dollar, a kilometer, an hour, 4 times a day.

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How to Use the Definite Article “The”

1. Use “the” in front of a noun that has been specifically identified in terms of its properties, characteristics, position, or has been mentioned before, or common, well-known concepts.

• The boy in the corner is my friend.
• The earth is round.

2. With uncountable nouns, use “the” if referring to a specific thing, not “the” if speaking in general.

• Sugar is sweet.
• The sugar on the table is from Cuba.

3. With plural countable nouns, when they mean to represent a class of things of the same type, do not use “the”.

• Oranges are green until they ripen.
• Athletes should follow a well-balanced diet.

4. Some common cases of using “The” according to the above rule:

• The + noun + preposition + noun:

– The girl in blue, the Gulf of Mexico.

• Use before superlative or only comparative adjectives:

– The only way, the best day.

• Used for specified time periods:

– In the 1990s

• The + noun + relative pronoun + subordinate clause:

– The man to whom you have just spoken is the chairman.

• The + singular noun represents a group of animals or things:

– The whale = whales, the deep-freeze

• For “man” when it means “human” absolutely do not use “the”:

– Since man lived on the earth…

• Used before a singular noun to refer to a certain group or class of people in society:

– The small shopkeeper, The top official.

• The + adj: Symbolizes a group of people, they are never allowed in the plural but are considered plural nouns. Therefore, verbs and pronouns that go with them must be in the 3rd person plural:

– The old = The old people (The old are often very hard in their moving)

• The + name of the choir/classical orchestra/popular band:

– The Back Choir/The Philharmonique Philadelphia Orchestra/The Beatles.

• The + names of newspapers (not magazines) / ships / hot air balloons:

– The Times/ The Titanic/ The Hindenberg

• The + family surname in the plural = home family:

– The Smiths = Mr. Smith, Mrs. Smith, and their children

• Usually do not use “the” before a given name unless there are many people or things with the same name and the speaker wants to refer to a particular person among them.

– There are three Sunsan Parkers in the telephone directory. The Sunsan Parker that I know lives on the First Avenue.

• Similarly, do not use “the” before meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

– We ate breakfast at 8a.m this morning.

• Unless to refer to a specific meal:

– The dinner that you invited me last week was delicious.

• Do not use “the” before some nouns such as: home, bed, church, court, jail, prison, hospital, school, class, college, university etc… when it goes with verbs and prepositions of motion indicating only go there for the main purpose or get out there for the main purpose:

– Students go to school everyday.

– The patient was released from hospital.

• But if going there or leaving is not for the main purpose, use “the”

– Students go to the school for a class party.

– The doctor left the hospital for lunch.

5. The table uses “the” and does not use “the” in some typical cases

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Articles A, An, The Exercises

1: ……………….. umbrella.

1. A
2. An

2: ……………….. European.

1. A
2. An

3: I read……………….. great book today.

1. a
2. an

4:……………….. ant is……………….. insect.

1. A/ an
2. An/ an
3. The/ an
4. ø

5: The Nile is……………….. river.

1. a
2. an
3. the
4. ø

6: Can you tell me how to get to……………….. bank from here?

1. a
2. an
3. the
4. ø

7: I can’t believe I failed……………….. yesterday’s test!

1. a
2. an
3. the
4. ø

8: ……………….. apple a day keeps……………….. doctor away.

1. A / the
2. An / the
3. The/ a

9: You should evaluate……………….. equipment and make sure fitness machines are modern and in working order.

1. a
2. an
3. the

10: Harold is……………….. most obnoxious person I know.

1. the
2. an
3. a

11: Diana is……………….. very nice person.

1. the
2. a
3. an

12: I’d like to invite him to……………….. dinner next week, if that’s OK with you.

1. the
2. a
3. an
4. ø

13: I saw……………….. man going into the office. I don’t know who……………….. man was.

1. the/a
2. a/the
3. a/a

Question 14: The greatest invention of the 20th century is……………….. computer.

1. the
2. a
3. an

15: A volcano has erupted in……………….. Philippines recently.

1. a
2. the
3. an

16: ……………….. city museum is closed today.

1. A
2. An
3. The
4. ø

17: I’ve noticed that……………….. Spanish eat a lot of vegetables.

1. an
2. a
3. the

18: When you come out the lift, you’ll see two doors,……………….. red one and

……………….. blue one. My door is……………….. red one.

1. the/the/a
2. a/a/the
3. a/a/a
4. the/the/the

19: Could you close……………….. door, please? It’s really cold.

1. an
2. a
3. the

20: She has been playing……………….. flute for ten years.

1. a
2. an
3. the
4. ø

Read more: English Grammar

Articles A, An, The Exercises with Answers

1: ……………….. umbrella.

1. A
2. An

2: ……………….. European.

1. A
2. An

3: I read……………….. great book today.

1. a
2. an

4:……………….. ant is……………….. insect.

1. A/ an
2. An/ an
3. The/ an
4. ø

5: The Nile is……………….. river.

1. a
2. an
3. the
4. ø

6: Can you tell me how to get to……………….. bank from here?

1. a
2. an
3. the
4. ø

7: I can’t believe I failed……………….. yesterday’s test!

1. a
2. an
3. the
4. ø

8: ……………….. apple a day keeps……………….. doctor away.

1. A / the
2. An / the
3. The/ a

9: You should evaluate……………….. equipment and make sure fitness machines are modern and in working order.

1. a
2. an
3. the

10: Harold is……………….. most obnoxious person I know.

1. the
2. an
3. a

11: Diana is……………….. very nice person.

1. the
2. a
3. an

12: I’d like to invite him to……………….. dinner next week, if that’s OK with you.

1. the
2. a
3. an
4. ø

13: I saw……………….. man going into the office. I don’t know who……………….. man was.

1. the/a
2. a/the
3. a/a

Question 14: The greatest invention of the 20th century is……………….. computer.

1. the
2. a
3. an

15: A volcano has erupted in……………….. Philippines recently.

1. a
2. the
3. an

16: ……………….. city museum is closed today.

1. A
2. An
3. The
4. ø

17: I’ve noticed that……………….. Spanish eat a lot of vegetables.

1. an
2. a
3. the

18: When you come out the lift, you’ll see two doors,……………….. red one and

……………….. blue one. My door is……………….. red one.

1. the/the/a
2. a/a/the
3. a/a/a
4. the/the/the

19: Could you close……………….. door, please? It’s really cold.

1. an
2. a
3. the

20: She has been playing……………….. flute for ten years.

1. a
2. an
3. the
4. ø

Download File: Articles A, An, The Exercises PDF

Conclusion

You have learned all about articles in English grammar. Be proactive in doing exercises to get the best results.

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