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” refers to a specific apple.
Indefinite Article
The indefinite article of English takes the two forms a and an, usually meaning “one,” without emphasis.
Distinction between a and an
You’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:
- 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. . . “)
Now examples 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.
Definite Article
The definite article the is used when the referent of the noun or 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.
Articles and 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.
Note: Articles are not always needed in a noun phrase:
- 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.
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