Articles signal whether a noun is specific or general. English has three articles — a, an, and the — each with distinct rules that even advanced learners sometimes mix up.
Use a or an before singular countable nouns when referring to something for the first time or something non-specific. Use a before consonant sounds (a book, a university) and an before vowel sounds (an apple, an hour). Note: it is the sound, not the letter, that decides which to use.
Practice
She wants to become ___ engineer when she graduates.
I waited forhour before the doctor saw me.
Put the words in the correct order:
Use the when both the speaker and listener know which specific thing is being referred to. This happens on second mention (I have a cat. The cat is friendly.), when there is only one of something (the sun, the president), with superlatives (the best), and with certain places by convention (the gym, the supermarket, the sea).
Practice
Can you closewindow? It's cold.
I usually go to ___ gym on Monday mornings.
Put the words in the correct order:
Do not use an article before plural or uncountable nouns used in a general sense (Dogs are loyal. Water is essential.), before most proper nouns (She lives in France.), before languages, sports, and academic subjects (He studies chemistry. She plays tennis.), and before meals (We had breakfast at 8.).
Practice
___ French is spoken in many African countries.
She playstennis every weekend.
Put the words in the correct order:
Some words are tricky because their first letter does not match their first sound (a university — "you" sound; an honest person — silent H). Others have different meanings with or without an article: "in hospital" (as a patient) vs "in the hospital" (visiting). Practise these with extra care.
Practice
It was ___ once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
My grandfather has been in ___ hospital for a week.
She ishonest woman.