There are 2 types of articles: indefinite and definite.
INDEFINITE ARTICLES: a and an
A is placed before a singular countable noun that begins with consonant sound. The consonants are b c d f g h j k l m n p q r s t v w x y z
Examples:
a cabinet
a soldier
a horse
a stadium
A is also used if there is an adjective which begins with a consonant sound before a singular countable noun.
Examples:
a filling cabinet
a brave soldier
a rocking horse
a hockey stadium
An is placed before a singular countable noun that begins with a vowel sound. The vowels are a e i o u
Examples:
an ant
an egg
an igloo
an ostrich
an umbrella
It is important to note an is also used if
=>There is an adjective which begins with a vowel sound before the singular countable noun.
Examples:
an industrious worker
an active participant
an old building
an eloquent speaker
=>The adjective or noun after the article begins with a silent h.
Examples:
an hour - sounds like ‘our’
an heir - sounds like ‘air’
an honest guide - sounds like ‘on-est’
an honorable man - sounds like ‘onourable’
Note: not all words begin with a e i o u are spoken with the vowel sound.
Examples:
a European - sounds like ‘yu-ropean’
a unicorn - sounds like ‘yu-nicorn’
a university - sounds like ‘yu-niversity’
a one-sided match - sounds like ‘won-sided match’
DEFINITE ARTICLE: the
=) used before singular countable nouns, plural countable nouns and uncountable nouns
Uses of THE | Examples |
To refer to a particular person (or persons) or thing (or things) | The policeman who caught the robber was given a special award. |
To refer to the person (or persons) or thing (or things) that has been mentioned earlier | The KL Tower has a revolving restaurant. Jane has been to restaurant many times. |
Before nouns of which there is only one | The moon revolves around the earth every thirty-one days. |
Before a title, a post or a position | The Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Teknologi MARA. |
Before the names of - Rivers - Seas - Oceans - Groups of island - Mountain ranges - Deserts - Important building - Organizations - Special events - Countries which have the form of government as part of their name | The Klang River, the River Nile The Dead Sea, the Caspian Sea The Atlantic Ocean, the Indian Ocean The Andes, the Alps The Bahamas, the Maldives The Gobi Desert, the Atacama Desert The Putra World Trade Centre The Red Crescent Society The Special Olympics The United States of America |
Before a superlative | The best, the smartest, the most beautiful |
Before ordinals (first, second, etc.) and the word last when it is not followed by a day or a month | The first man to step on the moon The tenth caller to the radio show The last visitor to the museum |
Before specific public places | The bus station, the public toilet |
Before certain expressions of time | In the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening, during the night |
Before the name of a musical instrument when we refer to a specific instrument that a person plays | Jack sings beautifully and plays the Spanish guitar. Mei Ling’s favourite hobby is playing the clarinet. |
