By Divya Munjal

For conversing in English proficiently like native English speakers, we should learn the rules for using articles “a”, “an” and “the” correctly. Seems interesting, isn’t it? Indeed, it is interesting provided we master the rules.

Before we dive deeper into the rules for using articles, let’s first understand what is meant by an “article”. An article is a way of letting the listener know whether a noun is indefinite or definite. The words that are used as articles are “a”, “an” and “the”. “A” and “an” are indefinite articles and “the” is the definite article. Now, let’s try to understand the rules for using articles.

Rules for using indefinite articles “a” and “an”

Rule 1

A common noun in the singular number always needs an article before it. However, a plural common noun does not always require an article. A plural common noun can have the article “the” only if we want to specify that particular noun.

Examples:

• I saw a bear. (In this case, we are referring to any random bear.)
• I saw bears in a zoo. (Here, no article is needed, as we are talking about plural common noun.)
• I have seen the bear again. (Here, we are referring to the bear I have already seen earlier.)
• I have seen the bears again before leaving the zoo. (Here, we are referring to the specific bears that I saw earlier in the zoo.)

Rule 2

The choice between the two indefinite articles, “a” and “an”, is made by the sound. The article “a” is used before the words beginning with consonant sounds and the article “an” is used before words beginning with vowel sounds.

Examples:

• an apple, an egg, a girl, a man

However, there are some exceptions too.

Examples:

• a university, a union, a useful book
• a one-dollar note, a one-man army
• an MA, an LLB, a BA, a BSc

Rule 3

The use of “a” or “an” sometimes changes a proper noun to a common noun. Proper nouns generally do not take any article, but when a proper noun needs to be used as a common noun, we need to use “a” or “an” before it.

Examples:

• He thinks he is an Einstein. (Here, the use of “Einstein” does not refer to the scientist Einstein, rather someone whose intelligence can be compared with intelligence of Einstein.)
• He seems to be an Asian. (“Asia” is a proper noun but “Asian” is a common noun, meaning an inhabitant of Asia.)

Rule 4

Sometimes indefinite articles, “a” and “an”, are used to refer to the number, for example, “one”, “each” and “per”.

Examples:

• I earned a thousand dollar in that job. (Here, “a thousand” refers to “one thousand”.)
• I have a car. (i.e. one car)
• It goes 50 km an hour. (i.e. per hour)

Rule 5

Indefinite articles often precede descriptive adjectives.

Examples:

• He is a great man.
• What a nice bracelet!

Rule 6

“A” is sometimes used before determiners, for example, a few, a little, a lot of, a most, and so on. However, in the case of many, “a” or “an” is used after “many”.

Examples:

• I have a few colleagues coming over.
• There is a little water in the jug.
• Many a story was told.

Rules for using definite article “the”

Rule 1:

“The” is used to indicate a particular person or a thing in the case of common nouns. Proper nouns generally do not take an article.

Examples:

• The athlete is running. (Here, we are referring to a particular athlete.)
• I saw the man stealing.
• Where is the planner I gave you last year?
• I gave him a pen, but he lost the pen. (“a pen” became “the pen” in the second clause because that pen was not a random pen anymore.)

Rule 2:

Sometimes, “the” is used to generalize a group/whole class.

Examples:

• The dog is a faithful animal. (Here, we are referring to the whole species of dog.)
• The Brazilians are fun loving. (Here, we are referring to the people of Brazil as a nation.)
• The hardworking are respected. (The + adjectives = plural noun)
• The poor are not always bad. (The + adjectives = plural noun)

Rule 3:

To specify a non-countable noun, “the” is needed before it.

Examples:

• You owe me the money I lent you last year.
• Please return the novel I gave you last week.

Rule 4:

“the” is mandatory before a thing which is only one of its kind in the universe.

Examples:

• The moon is shining tonight.
• The earth is moving around the sun.

Rule 5:

Use of “the” before geographical places

Using “the” with geographical nouns is decided by the size and plurality of the things those nouns refer to. The following instances show whether “the” must or must not precede different geographical places.

Instances where “the” must precede:

• Names of oceans, gulfs, seas, and rivers: the Pacific, the Atlantic, the Coral Sea, the Timor Sea, the Persian Gulf, the Nile, the Murray River, the Darling River, and so on
• Names of countries with united states or islands: the United States of America (the USA), the UK, the UAE, the Philippines, and so on
• Names of mountain ranges: the Himalayas, the Alps, the Andes, and so on
• Names of a group of Islands: the West Indies, the Andamans, and so on
• Names of great lakes: the Great Lakes, the African Great Lakes, and so on

Instances where “the” must not precede:

• Names of continents: Asia, Europe, Australia, Africa, South America, North America, Antarctica
• Names of countries: India, Nepal, France, Spain, and so on
• Names of states, cities, or towns: New Delhi, Kathmandu, Paris, London, and so on
• Names of streets: George Street, Albion Street, New Town Street, and so on
• Names of singular lakes and bays: Lake Carey, Lake Eyre, Lake Hillier, Shark Bay, and so on
• Names of single mountains: Mount Everest, Mount Fuji, Mount Solitary, Mount Bindo, and so on
• Names of single islands: Easter Island, Bare Island, Bird Island, Fatima Island and so on
• Names of languages: Spanish, Russian, English, and so on (When “the” precedes these nouns, they refer to the population of those languages.)
• Names of sports: cricket, football, basketball, and so on
• Names of discipline/subject of studies: biology, history, computer science, mathematics, and so on

Now that we have learnt the rules, the next step is to start applying these rules in our writing and conversation.

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