How and when to use articles like A, AN, THE.

In this lesson, we will learn

• How and when to use articles like A, AN, THE.

DEFINITE ARTICLES

Definite Articles (The): Talk about particular person or thing.
For example:
He is the man who broke the window.

In this example, we are talking about a particular man.

INDEFINITE ARTICLES

Indefinite Articles (A, An): Talk about a person or thing in general
(no particular person or thing).
For example:
I want to buy a new shirt.

In this example, we are talking about buying one shirt out of many.
We are not talking about any particular shirt.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DEFINITE AND INDEFINITE ARTICLES

Can you pass me the book?
Used when you want a particular book.
Can you pass me a book?

Used when there are many books and you want one of them.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DEFINITE AND INDEFINITE ARTICLES

I want to watch the movie.
Used when you watch a particular movie.
I want to watch a movie.

Used when there are many movies and you want to watch one of them.

Question and Answers

• ______________ sun is shining.
•  The
•  A

We use ‘The’ (Definite Articles), when we talk about a particular thing. In this case, there is only one Sun so we use ‘The’.

Question and Answers

• Do you have ________ pen?
•  a
•  the

We use ‘A’ (Indefinite Articles), when we are not talking about a particular thing. In this case, we are asking for any pen and not a particular pen.

Question and Answers

• Can I have _________ glass of water?
•  the
•  a

We use ‘A’ (Indefinite Articles), when we are not talking about a particular thing. In this case, we are not asking for a particular glass of water.

Question and Answers

• I am waiting at ________ Plaza mall.
•  the
•  a

We use ‘The’ (Definite Articles), when we talk about a particular thing. In this case, there is only one Plaza mall so we use ‘The’.

USING 'A' AND 'AN'

We use ‘an’ before words starting with vowels (a,e,i,o,u) and ‘a’
before words starting with consonants.
Examples :
AN A An ice cream A bag An orange A car An elephant A telephone

EXCEPTIONS

In some cases, we use ‘an’ before a word starting with a consonant
when the word sounds like it is starting with a vowel.
For example:
An hour (sounds like ‘our’).

An MBA (sounds like ‘embeeay’).

EXCEPTIONS

In some cases, we use ‘a’ before a word starting with a vowel when
the word sounds like it is starting with a consonant.
For example:
A university (sounds like ‘yuniversity’).

A user (sounds like ‘yuser’).

REMEMBER

Do not use articles before names of people, cities, sports or academic subjects.
CORRECT INCORRECT I will talk to Manoj. I will talk to a Manoj.
I will talk to the Manoj. He is going to Bangalore. He is going to a Bangalore.
He is going to the Bangalore. They are playing tennis. They are a playing tennis.
They are playing the tennis. Are you studying Mathematics? Are you studying a Mathematics?
Are you studying the Mathematics?

Question and Answers

• I saw ________ ostrich at the zoo.
•  an
•  a

We use ‘an’ before words starting with vowels.

Question and Answers

• I bought ______ magazine from the market.
•  an
•  a

We use ‘a’ before words starting with consonants.

Question and Answers

• We have been waiting for _______ hour.
•  a
•  an

We use ‘an’ before words starting which start with consonants but sound like vowels.

Question and Answers

• The flight is leaving for _________ Los Angeles.
•  a
•  the
•  No article

We don’t use articles before names of cities.

Question and Answers

• Do you want to play _____ badminton?
•  a
•  the
•  No article

We don’t use articles before names of sports.

Thank you

NOW RE-TEST YOUR CONCEPT
BEST OF LUCK!!