ESL Blogs

Something that seems as easy as an article can cause confusion for English learners.  Often the rules for articles are quite different than those of the learner's native tongue.  So today, I decided to start with the basics.  Believe it or not, these are often the ones that cause the most confusion.

We have three articles in English:  a; an; and the.  How and when do you use them?

Let's start with the indefinite articles.

a/an

The rules:

-use before a singular countable noun

-use an before a word that starts with a vowel sound (an apple, an ugly bike)

-use a before a word that starts with a consonant sound (a pear, a green apple)

The usage:

-Use the indefinite article when we say what someone is.  

She is a student.

-Use the indefinite article when we say what something is.

It is an ugly bike.

-Use the indefinite article the first time we mention something.

I saw an old woman driving a car.

-Use the indefinite article in exclamations.

What a beautiful day!

-Use the indefinite article in "expressions of frequency."

twice a day, once a week, three times a year

Now let's look at the definite article.

the

The rules:

-We can use the definite article before singular, plural, and uncountable nouns. (the apple, the cars, the rice).

The usage:

-Use the definite article when you talk about something you have already mentioned.

I saw an old woman driving a car, and the car was blue.

-Use the definite article when it is clear what you are talking about.

Close the window.  Turn off the television.

-Use the definite article with places in a town.

She went to the bank.

-Use the definite article with superlatives (unless a possessive adjective precedes them).

That is the tallest building in town.

but

He is my best friend. 
(No article as the possessive adjective "my" precedes the superlative).

-Use the definite article if there is only one of something.

The moon is exceptionally beautiful tonight.