By Juliana Moriones
TOTAL ENGLISH SITE
THE ARTICLE
The articles in English are invariable, they do not change according to the gender or number of the noun, they refer to, e.g. the boy, the woman, the children.
There are only three articles in English: a, an and the.
DEFINITE
INDEFINITE
"The" is known as the definite article because it indicates something specific or known by both the speaker or writer and the listener.
Ex: The boy is tall
(A particular boy)
THE
A
AN
It is used before a noun to describe it as something non-specific.
Ex: In that house there is a boy.
(Any boy, no one in particular)
-
To talk about something in particular or specific
The guy who lives next door is very handsome
-
For something that has been previously mentioned
Yesterday I went to a party. The party was great!
-
​With family names in plural
The Garcias live in Cali
-
​With groups of people
Not always the rich have a good life
-
​When there is only one
The pope lives in Rome
-
​With well known places, organizations or institutions
The Empire State building is beautiful, the United Nations work for the human rights
A
An
"A" is used before a consonant sound
Ex: A car
A house
"An" is used before a vowel sound or "h" mute
Ex: An apple
An hour
​The article a, an is used to:
-
Talk about something in general, not specific
I need a bicycle (any bicycle)
-
Refer to something for the first time
We live in a small apartment
-
​Name jobs
She is a great doctor
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The definite article is used with singular or plural nouns
The indefinite article is ONLY used with singular count nouns or non-count nouns.
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