The words a, an, and the are special adjectives called articles.

Indefinite Articles—a, an

an—used before singular count nouns beginning with a vowel (a, e, i, o, u) or vowel sound:

• an apple, an elephant, an issue, an orange

a—used before singular count nouns beginning with consonants (other than a, e, i, o, u):

• a stamp, a desk, a TV, a cup, a book

Definite Article—the

Can be used before singular and plural, count and non-count nouns

1. Indefinite Article (a, an)

Used before singular nouns that are unspecified:

• a pencil
• an orange

Used before number collectives and some numbers:

• a dozen
• a gallon

Used before a singular noun followed by a restrictive modifier:

• a girl who was wearing a yellow hat

Used with nouns to form adverbial phrases of quantity, amount, or degree:

• I felt a bit depressed.

2. Definite Article (the)

Used to indicate a noun that is definite or has been previously specified in the context:

• Please close the door.
• I like the clothes you gave me.

Used to indicate a noun that is unique:

• Praise the Lord!
• The Columbia River is near here.

Used to designate a natural phenomenon:

• The nights get shorter in the summer.
• The wind is blowing so hard.

Used to refer to a time period:

• I was very naïve in the past.
• This song was very popular in the 1980s.

Used to indicate all the members of a family:

• I invited the Bakers for dinner.
• This medicine was invented by the Smiths.

Articles with countable and uncountable nouns

Countable nouns are the names of separate people or objects which we can count. Uncountable nouns are the names of materials, liquids and other things which we do not see as separate objects.

We can use the indefinite article (a/an) with singular countable nouns. A plural countable noun cannot be used with indefinite articles. Countable nouns (both singular and plural) can also be used with numbers.

• A cat
• Two cats
• A boy
• Two boys

We cannot use the indefinite article or numbers with uncountable nouns.

• Water (NOT a water) (NOT two waters)
• Weather (NOT a weather) (NOT two weathers)

A singular countable noun usually has an article or other determiner with it. We say, the cat, my cat or this cat, but not justcat. Plural and uncountable nouns can be used with or without an article or other determiner.

Exceptions

Many nouns which are normally uncountable are treated as countable in some cases.

• Have you got a good shampoo? (Although shampoo is an uncountable noun, it is treated as countable to express the meaning of ‘a type of’.)
• Three coffees, please. (= three cups of coffees)

Some nouns that are countable in other languages are uncountable in English. Examples are: information, advice, news, scenery, accommodation etc.