articles

1. Articles define a noun as specific or unspecific. An article is a word used to modify a noun, which is a person, place, object, or idea.

2. The indefinite articles are used when we are referring to an unspecified thing or quantity. We use them when we don’t know (or don’t care) which thing we’re talking about. example: There once was a sheep.

3. We use a before nouns or adjectives which begin with a consonant, or when U sounds like a Y, or O sounds like a W. A cat, a dog, a university, A young puppy.

4. The article A is used before singular, countable nouns which begin with consonant sounds. He is a teacher.

5. The article AN is used before singular, countable nouns which begin with vowel sounds.

6. Remember that A(AN) means "one" or "a single". You cannot use A(AN) with plural nouns. example: I saw bears in Yellowstone National Park.

7. If there is an adjective or an adverb-adjective combination before the noun, A(AN) should agree with the first sound in the adjective or the adverb-adjective combination. example: I saw a really beautiful eagle at the zoo.

8. Use A before words such as "European" or "university" which sound like they start with a consonant even if the first letter is a vowel. Also use A before letters and numbers which sound like they begin with a consonant, such as "U", "J", "1" or "9". Remember, it is the sound not the spelling which is important. example: She has a euro.

9. In English, some nouns are considered uncountable such as: information, air, advice, salt and fun. We do not use A(AN) with these uncountable nouns.

10. USED A, AN

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