Articles | a, an and the

 Articles

There are three articles in English- a, an and the. A and an are called indefinite articles. The is the definite article. An article is placed before a noun. If there is an adjective before a noun the article is placed before the adjective:

Examples:-
a train

a fast train

an incident

an unusual incident

Note. We can never use a singular count noun alone, that is, without a/an/the/my/some/any, etc.

* A/an:-

Singular count nouns take the indefinite article a/an with them:

Examples:-
a ball
a bat
an egg
a cat
an elephant

Uncount nouns do not generally take any article with them.
We do not generally say:-

a milk

a beauty

a wisdom

for milk. beauty, wisdom cannot be counted.

*A:-

A is used with singular count nouns beginning with a consonant sound:

a girl

a university

a map

a union

a car



*An:-

An is used before words beginning with a vowel sound.

an umbrella

an opportunity

an honest boy

an honourable guest



*The Definite Article 'the':-

The, the definite article, is a weakened form of that. Instead of pointing out, it defines, particularises or singles out:

I have read the book you are talking of. (not any book but a particular book that is being referred to)

The artists who came to see me today are quite accomplished. (not any artists but the ones who came to see me today)


The is pronounced as di : before a vowel sound and as d before a consonant sound:

The (di) umbrella you need

The (d) book you need