Articles — Definition, Grammar, and Examples
What's an article?
Articles are words that identify whether a noun is general or specific. The three articles in English (a, an, and the) are divided into two main types – definite and indefinite. A third type, zero article, occurs when a noun or noun phrase does not need an article.
Definite articles indicate a specific noun using “the.”
Indefinite articles indicate a general noun using “a” or “an.”
Zero article refers to a noun or noun phrase that does not need an article.
Article grammar
Definite and indefinite articles follow their own sets of grammatical rules based on how the noun or noun phrase is used within a sentence. Most of the rules focus on the use of articles with common nouns, as most proper nouns do not require the use of an article.
Common nouns are the generic word for a person, place, thing, or idea and do not identify something specific. Because they are general, these nouns should not be capitalized unless they are the first word in a sentence (e.g., city).
Proper nouns are those that reference a specific person, place, thing, or idea. Due to their specificity, these nouns should be capitalized regardless of their placement in a sentence (e.g., Pittsburgh).
How to use definite articles
Definite articles function based on the following grammatical rules:
Rule 1: “The” indicates a specific singular or plural common noun.
“The team won its final game of the season” identifies a specific group (team) and a specific time (season).
“He couldn’t find the ball after it flew into the woods” identifies a specific thing (ball) and location (word).
Rule 2A: Singular proper nouns should not be preceded by “the.”
Incorrect: The Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president.
Correct: Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president.
Rule 2B: Proper nouns may be preceded by “the” under the following conditions:
Proper nouns with “of” or a political word such as “kingdom” or “republic”
The United States of America
The Republic of Korea
Names of organizations
The Disney corporation
The Joint Commission
To emphasize uniqueness
The Elvis Presley
The White House
Rule 3: Use “the” to specify an uncountable noun.
Incorrect: Please return tools I let you borrow last week.
Correct: Please return the tools I let you borrow last week.
Rule 4: “The” precedes certain geographical places.
Oceans, seas, gulfs, and rivers (e.g., the Pacific Ocean, the Mississippi River)
Mountain ranges (e.g., the Rocky Mountains)
Groups of islands (e.g., the Galapagos Islands)
Rule 5: “The” should not precede the following:
Continents, countries, states, cities, and street names
Names of singular lakes, mountains, and islands
Names of languages, sports, and academic subjects
How to use indefinite articles
Indefinite articles function based on the following grammatical rules:
Rule 1: Articles are placed before singular common nouns.
Incorrect: He saw bird in the tree.
Correct: He saw a bird in the tree.
Rule 2A: The use of “a” and “an” are based on sound. Use “a” before nouns that begin with a consonant sound; use “an” before nouns that begin with a vowel sound.
Consonant: She went to a museum.
Vowel: She went to an art exhibit.
Rule 2B: Exceptions for the use of “a” and “an” include the following:
Use "an” before a silent “h.”
It was an honest error.
Use “a” when “u” makes a “y” sound.
She found a useful book.
Use “a” when “o” makes the a “w” sound.
He has a one-track mind.
Rule 3: “A” or “an” can sometimes make a proper noun a common noun.
He was an American author.
Because there is not only one American author, the word functions as a common noun.
Rule 4: If an adjective separates the article from the noun, the use of “a” or “an” is based on the adjective that immediately follows it.
The car had a flat tire.
The car had an empty gas tank.
The car had a broken air conditioner.
How to use zero articles
To use zero articles, follow these rules:
Rule 1: An article is not necessary when referring to all things or things in general; however, one can be included.
No Article: Trees are beautiful in the fall.
Article: The trees are beautiful in the fall.
Rule 2: Do not include an indefinite article for uncountable nouns (nouns that are difficult or impossible to count).
Incorrect: I would like to have an ice cream.
Correct: I would like to have some ice cream.
Rule 3: Articles are not used with pronouns.
Incorrect: Why are you leaving the my house?
Correct: Why are you leaving the house?
Correct: Why are you leaving my house?
Article examples
The following example sentences contain definite articles:
The fish jumped out of the lake and into the boat.
While the family was excited for the trip, it was still three weeks away.
Almost all of the workers received a raise.
The movie was sold out, so we went to the mall instead.
The United States of America rests between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
The following sentences contain indefinite articles:
All James wanted for his birthday was a puppy.
The wing span of an ostrich is over six feet.
Rita wasn’t sure if she wanted a cookie or an ice cream cone.
They really wanted a house by the beach.
A few drops of rain struck his forehead.