English grammar: Articles

What this grammar point covers

Articles are small words used before nouns. In English, the articles are 'a', 'an', and 'the'. They help show if we talk about something specific or general.

When to use it

Use 'a' or 'an' when talking about something for the first time or something not specific. Use 'the' when talking about something specific or already mentioned.

Key forms

• 'a' + singular noun (e.g., a cat)
• 'an' + singular noun (e.g., an apple)
• 'the' + singular or plural noun (e.g., the dog, the apples)

Examples

Tips

• Use 'a' before words that start with a consonant sound, and 'an' before words that start with a vowel sound.
• Do not use 'a' or 'an' with plural nouns.
• Do not use 'the' when talking about things in general (e.g., 'Books are fun', not 'The books are fun').

Exceptions and edge cases

• Do not use an article with most proper names (e.g., 'I live in London').
• Some expressions do not use articles (e.g., 'go to bed', 'at home').