Articles
Articles come before a noun. There are 2 types of articles:
- Definite - The is used when we want to refer to a specific noun.
- Indefinite - a and an are used when we want to refer to a non-specific noun.
Definite: The
The article can be used with a single or a plural noun
-
The chair (single noun) was broken.
The chairs (plural noun) were broken.
In the the above two sentences we are not talking about any general chair or chairs. We are talking about the specific chair and chairs.
Indefinite: 'a' and 'an'
The articles a and an are used with a single noun.
A
A chair is broken.
In the above sentence we know a chair is broken but do not know which chair is broken.
An
For words that start with a vowel a, e, i, o, u or a silent h we use the indefinite article an.
- An apple can be green or red.
- An elephant walked passed my house.
- An island in the Indian ocean.
- An oscar for the best film.
- An umbrella for Jane.
- An honour (silent h) to play for your country.
If the word starts with the letter u but sounds like a y than we use the article a instead of an.
- a uniform
- a university
- a unit