Articles

There are three articles in the English language: the, a, and an. These are divided into two types of articles: definite (the) and indefinite (a, an). The definite article indicates a level of specificity that the indefinite does not. “An apple” could refer to any apple; however “the apple” is referring back to a specific apple. There are also cases where no article is required:

  • with generic nouns (plural or uncountable): cars have accelerators, happiness is contagious, referring to cars and happiness in general (compare the happiness I felt yesterday, specifying particular happiness)
  • with most proper names: Sabrina, France, London, etc.

Indefinite Article

The indefinite article of English takes the two forms a and an. These can be regarded as meaning “one,” usually without emphasis.

Distinction between a and an

an icon showing the article aYou’ve probably learned the rule that an comes before a vowel, and that a comes before a consonant. While this is generally true, it’s more accurate to say that an comes before a vowel sound, and a comes before a consonant sound. Let’s look at a couple of examples with a:

  • a box
  • a HEPA filter (HEPA is pronounced as a word rather than as letters)
  • a one-armed bandit (pronounced “won. . . “)
  • a unicorn (pronounced “yoo. . . “)

an icon showing the article anLet’s try it again with an:

  • an apple
  • an EPA policy (the letter E read as a letter still starts with a vowel sound)
  • an SSO (pronounced “es-es-oh”)
  • an hour (the h is silent)
  • an heir (pronounced “air”)
Note: Some speakers and writers use an before a word beginning with the sound h in an unstressed syllable: an historical novel, an hotel. However, where the h is clearly pronounced, this usage is now less common, and a is preferred.

Practice

Look at the following words. When they require an indefinite article, should it be a or an? Explain your answers.

  1. ewe
  2. SEO specialist
  3. apple
  4. URL
  5. herb

Definite Article

an icon showing the article the

The definite article the is used when the referent of the noun phrase is assumed to be unique or known from the context. For example, in the sentence “The boy with glasses was looking at the moon,” it is assumed that in the context the reference can only be to one boy and one moon.

The can be used with both singular and plural nouns, with nouns of any gender, and with nouns that start with any letter. This is different from many other languages which have different articles for different genders or numbers. The is the most commonly used word in the English language.

Practice

Choose the article that should go in each sentence and explain your reasoning.

  1. Every day, I eat (a / an / the) egg salad sandwich.
  2. I love looking at (a / an / the) stars with you.
  3. Dani was planning to buy (a / an / the) book she had been eyeing as soon as she got paid.
  4. (A / An / The) brain like that will get you far in life.

Word Order

In most cases, the article is the first word of its noun phrase, preceding all other adjectives and modifiers.

The little old red bag held a very big surprise.

There are a few exceptions, however:

  • Certain determiners, such as all, both, half, double, precede the definite article when used in combination (all the team, both the girls, half the time, double the amount).
  • Such and what precede the indefinite article (such an idiot, what a day!).
  • Adjectives qualified by too, so, as and how generally precede the indefinite article: too great a loss, so hard a problem, as delicious an apple as I have ever tasted, I know how pretty a girl she is.
  • When adjectives are qualified by quite (particularly when it means “fairly”), the word quite (but not the adjective itself) often precedes the indefinite article: quite a long letter. Note: the phrase a quite long letter is also a correct construction. However the two have different meanings:
    • In quite a long letter, quite modifies letter: it’s quite a letter.
    • In a quite long letter, quite modifies long: the letter is quite long.

Practice

Read the following passage and make any necessary changes. Explain your reasoning for each change.

A Hubble Space Telescope (HST) is a space telescope that was launched into low Earth orbit in 1990, and remains in operation. Although not the first space telescope, Hubble is one of the largest and most versatile, and is well known as both an vital research tool and an public relations boon for astronomy. The HST is named after the astronomer Edwin Hubble.

Hubble’s orbit outside the distortion of Earth’s atmosphere allows it to take extremely high-resolution images. Hubble has recorded the some of most detailed visible-light images ever, allowing the deep view into space and time.