Articles in English – A, An, The

01. Introduction

They are probably the simplest and most used words: a, an, and the. These are called articles. It can be difficult to master their use (especially the) without practice. Let’s cover the rules and see clear examples.

02. Indefinite Article: a / an

Definition: A or an is called the indefinite article because it leaves indefinite the person or thing spoken of.

There shall come a day when everyone will be rich. — The day is not a specific, known day.

Sound-based Choice

Rule: Use an before a word beginning with a vowel sound. Use a before a word beginning with a consonant sound.

Incorrect The English were a enemy of the French.

Correct The English were an enemy of the French. ("enemy" starts with /e/.)

Incorrect He is a MP.

Correct He is an MP. (MP is pronounced “em-pee”.)

Incorrect An girl is waiting for me.

Correct A girl is waiting for me. ("girl" starts with /g/.)

Incorrect She is an university student.

Correct She is a university student. ("university" begins with /juː/.)

Note: There are five vowel letters (a, e, i, o, u), but article choice depends on pronunciation, not spelling.

03. Uses of the Indefinite Article

Numerical “one”: There are hundred centimetres in a metre. (1 m = 100 cm.)
Vague “a certain”: I saw a book on the table. (Not a specific book.)
Proper → common noun: “Will she do a Jayalalitha?” (using the name to mean the person’s traits).
Each / every / per: The doctor said, “Take the pill twice a day.”
Representative of a class: A computer saves time. (Any and every computer.)

04. When Two Roles Refer to One Person

Rule: When two subjects are thought of as a single unit (the same person), use the article before the first only.

Incorrect He introduced me to his friend who is a singer and a scientist.

Correct He introduced me to his friend who is a singer and scientist.

05. Definite Article: the

Definition: Use the when speaking of a particular person/thing, or one already referred to.

Previously Mentioned

Incorrect He has been causing trouble since a day he came.

Correct He has been causing trouble since the day he came.

Represents a Whole Class

The elephant is a huge animal. Exception: Use bare man or woman in the general sense (no article).

Geographical Names

The Gulf of Cambay; the Volga (river); the Arabian Sea; the Indian Ocean; the West Indies (group of islands); the Himalayas (mountain range).

Religious & Mythological Books

Correct The story is there in the Bible.

Reminder When the author’s name precedes the title, the is not used: Virgil’s Aeneid (not Virgil’s the Aeneid).

Unique Things

The earth goes round the sun.

Concrete → Abstract

The devil in him begins its misdeeds now and then. (Here, “devil” = devilish spirit.)

Superlatives, Ordinals, and Comparatives

Incorrect Kumble is best bowler in the country.

Correct Kumble is the best bowler in the country.

Incorrect They won the match in fortieth over.

Correct They won the match in the fortieth over.

Incorrect He is a better of the two boys.

Correct He is the better of the two boys.

Incorrect He is the better than the two boys.

Correct He is better than the two boys. (When using “than” to compare, don’t use “the”.)

Musical Instruments

Amjad Ali Khan plays the sarod.

Adjective Used as a Noun

Let us enter the world of the bold and the beautiful. (Adjectives imply “people who are…”.)

06. Omission of Articles (Zero Article)

General / Widest Sense

Incorrect The science has developed much in the past hundred years.

Correct Science has developed much in the past hundred years.

After “kind of”

Incorrect What kind of a hobby is this?

Correct What kind of hobby is this?

Names of Materials

Incorrect An iron is a useful metal. (material)

Correct Iron is a useful metal.

Correct An iron is a useful gadget. (appliance for clothes)

Proper Nouns

No article before most names of persons, countries, cities, continents: My friend will come from India.
Use the with certain country initialisms: the USA, the UAE.

Abstract Nouns in a General Sense

Incorrect The strength is what makes a man successful.

Correct Strength is what makes a man successful.

Specific The strength of a team lies in its ability to maintain harmony. (Made particular by the phrase that follows.)

Names of Relations

Mother would like to see you. (speaker’s own mother). For someone else’s mother specifically: The mother would like to see you.

Primary-Purpose Places & Fixed Phrases

Go to school/college/church/home/market/bed/court/hospital/prison (for primary purpose → no article).
At home, at fault, at dawn, at night, at noon, at church, at hand, all day, all right.
By road/land/air/train/sea/bus/ship.

Incorrect I went to school to drop my sister.

Correct I went to the school to drop my sister. (Secondary purpose → use the.)

Incorrect I will meet you at the dusk.

Correct I will meet you at dusk.

After Certain Verbs

No article is used after appoint, elect, crown, make before a role.

Incorrect They elected him a chairman.

Correct They elected him chairman.

Time Words (usually no article)

No article before: sunset, sunrise, daybreak, dawn, dusk, night, noon, today, yesterday.

Common Idioms

Zero article in phrases like: in danger, in demand, on fire, by mistake, in difficulty, by bus, in hope, in detail.

Incorrect The house was on a fire.

Correct The house was on fire.