A, An and The

Kinds of ArticlesThere are 2 kinds of articles: Indefinite

A, ANARTICLES

INDEFINITE DEFINITE

A AN THE

Definite THE

Indefinite ArticlesIndefinite articles are used to express the most general aspect of a noun. It is always put IN FRONT of the noun. Specific things are never used with indefinite articles.

Example: A bicycle

An exercice

A piece of paper

How to use the article « A »

We use the indefinite article A in front of a noun beginning with a consonant:

A baby

A giant

A grill

A computer

We also use « A » in front of the vowel « U » when it is pronounced like « YOU »

A university

A unicorn

A uniform

A unicycle

Finally, « A » is used in front of the letter « y »

A yellow car

A yacht

A yack

A year

How to use the article « An »

Generally, we use the indefinite article « An » in front of a vowel:

An eraser

An idea

An orange

An advanced skier

We also used « An » in front of the consonant « h » when it is voiceless:

An hour

An honour

An hippopotamus

An heir to the throne

Remember: The indefinite article DOESN’T exist in the plural

A book not A books

An article not An articles

A boy not A boys

Definite article « The »

Use The in front of a specific: PersonPerson

AnimalAnimal

ThingThing

The President

The Doctor

The Principal

The King Penguin

The blue Whale

The red lobster

The Pacific Ocean

The fifth anniversary

The white house

To be used in To be used in front of the noun front of the noun regardless of the regardless of the gender or numbergender or number

Exercise 1 Exercise 2