Article why english

Like adjectives, articles modify nouns. For example, if I say, "Let's read the book," I mean a specific book. If I say, "Let's read a book," I mean any book rather than a specific book. Here's another way to explain it: The is used to refer to a specific or particular member of a group. For example, "I just saw the most popular movie of the year.

Therefore, we use the. For example, "I would like to go see a movie. We're talking about any movie. There are many movies, and I want to see any movie. I don't have a specific one in mind.

The definite article can be used with singular, plural , or uncountable nouns. Below are some examples of the definite article the used in context: Please give me the hammer.

Please give me the red hammer; the blue one is too small. Please give me the nail. Please give me the hammer and the nail. The indefinite article takes two forms. The indefinite article indicates that a noun refers to a general idea rather than a particular thing.

Again, the indefinite article indicates that she is not talking about a specific apple pie. The indefinite article only appears with singular nouns. Consider the following examples of indefinite articles used in context: Please hand me a book; any book will do. Please hand me an autobiography; any autobiography will do. There are a few exceptions to the general rule of using a before words that start with consonants and an before words that begin with vowels.

In spite of its spelling, the word honor begins with a vowel sound. Therefore, we use an. Consider the example sentence below for an illustration of this concept. My mother is a honest woman. My mother is an honest woman. Similarly, when the first letter of a word is a vowel but is pronounced with a consonant sound, use a , as in the sample sentence below:.

She is an United States senator. She is a United States senator. Sometimes an article modifies a noun that is also modified by an adjective. If the article is indefinite, choose a or an based on the word that immediately follows it. Consider the following examples for reference:. I heard an interesting story yesterday.

Uncountable nouns are nouns that are either difficult or impossible to count. Uncountable nouns include intangible things e. Trees are beautiful in the fall. All trees are beautiful in the fall. He was asking for advice. He was asking for advice in general. I do not like coffee. I do not like all coffee in general. Additional Information Regarding the Use of Articles.

My cousin was seeking some advice from a counselor not advice in general or advice about everything, but a limited amount of advice. I would love some coffee right now not coffee in general, but a limited amount of coffee. We might get rain tomorrow. Some rain would be good for the crops a certain amount of rain, as opposed to rain in general. There are some drops of water on the table a limited number, but more than one drop.

Examples of the Use of Articles. I do not want a gun in my house any gun. The gun is in his closet implies there is a specific gun. I am afraid of guns all guns in general. She sent me a postcard from Italy an unspecific postcard - not a letter, not an e-mail. It's the postcard that I have in my office one specific postcard. Getting postcards makes me want to travel any postcard in general. I have a dog one dog. The dog is very friendly the dog that I have already mentioned.

Dogs make great pets dogs in general.