Articles

Articles refers to the words a, an and the. They used in different ways with countable and uncountable nouns.

The
The definite article the is used to refer to a specific or particular person, things or place.

Usage

a) Before a singular or plural noun and referring to a thing or person already mentioned
- He read the book that you gave yesterday.
- Is this the boy who stole your pencils?
- She eating the cake her mother bought for her.

To indicate noun that is only one of its kind
- The earth rotates round the sun.
- The moon cannot be seen when it rains.
- The stars twinkled in the sky.

c) Before a word in the superlative degree of comparison
- Aida is the prettiest girl in the group.
- He drives the fastest car in town.
- This is the most comfortable chair in the market.

d) Before names of specific places and some countries
- The Putri Specialist Centre
- The British Council
- The Kuala Lumpur International Airport

e) Before names of rivers, oceans, mountains, deserts and groups of islands
- The Kinta River in Ipoh is polluted.
- Hindus perform their religious ceremony in the Ganges Rivers.
- The Ministers will be visiting the Philippines nest week.
- The Sahara Desert is the largest desert in the world.

A, An

The indefinite articles a and an are used with singular countable nouns.

Usage
a) Before a word beginning with a consonant sound
- a desk
- a yatch
- a drum
- a chimpanzee
- a uniform
- a pencil
- a nurse
- a calendar
- a guitar
- a Eurasian man
- a bag

Before words that begin with vowel sounds
- an arrow
- an heir
- an umbrella
- an hour
- an army
- an orange
- an animal
- an honest boy
- an igloo
- an error
- an aunt

Note
- When you pronounce a word, listen to make sure if the word has a consonant or vowel sound.
- Some words are spelt with eu and u but sound like yu, so you use the article a.
- Some words start with h but when pronounced, the h is silent, so you use the article an.

c) When introducing a noun for the first time
- Hamid has a book about birds.
- She keeps an eagle as a pet.

d) When indicating weight, number or time
- a day/week/month/year
- a hundred students
- an ounce
- a litre of water
- a dozen pencils

e) When describing occupations, religious or nationalities
- Helmy wants to be an architect.
- Majidi is a Muslim.
- William is an American.