How to Use Articles (The/A/An)

Do you know when to use the, a, & an?

Use “the” before a noun when…

• the listener knows the exact thing you are talking about “The speech was really long.” (The listener knows the speech you are talking about.) “The car that drove by was speeding.” (The listener saw the car.)
• there is only one in the whole world. “The Internet has made my life easier.” (There is only one Internet.)
• the noun represents a place in a community that everyone knows or shares. “I went to the bank.” “I went to the grocery store.” “I went to the library.” (Even if you don’t go to the same back, you should still use “the.”)

Don’t use “the”  when…

• the noun is a proper noun (a name, city, company). “I searched for it on Google.” “I live in California.” (However, we DO use “the” when referring to “the United States.”)
• you use a pronoun with the noun. “I washed my car.” “Your pen is on my desk.”

Use “a” or “an” before a noun when…

• you do not define the noun. The noun is general.  “I saw an interesting website today.” (You don’t explain which website.) However, when you talk about this same website again, you will say, “The website was interactive.” (Now, you use an article because the listener knows that you are talking about the website you saw earlier.)
• the noun is one of many. “I ate an apple for lunch.” (There are many apples, and you ate one.)

Use “an” when the noun that follows it starts with a pronounced vowel: we say, “an underachiever” but  “a university.”  The u in underachiever is pronounced as a vowel, but the u in university is pronounced with a “yu” sound.

Don’t use “a” or “an”  when…

• the noun is a plural. “Universities are getting more an more expensive these days.”

Quiz: Add or remove “the” or “a/an” in the sentences below.  (Answers are listed at the end.)

1. Wasn’t speech amazing?

2. Most of banks in America are safe to deposit money in.

3. Did you see the my car?

4. A scuba diving tank is a underwater breathing apparatus.

5. He used to work at Google, but he quit to start the new company.

6. I need to go to a bank before work this morning.

7. The keynote speaker talked about the Web 3.0.

8. I always think a meetings at work are too long.

9. My favorite hobby is watching movies.

10. United States has many national parks.

Answers

1. Wasn’t the speech amazing?

2. Most of the banks in America are safe to deposit money in.

3. Did you see the my car?

4. A scuba diving tank is an underwater breathing apparatus.

5. He used to work at Google, but he quit to start a the new company.

6. I need to go to the bank before work this morning.

7. The keynote speaker talked about the Web 3.0.

8. I always think a the meetings at work are too long.

9. My favorite hobby is watching movies.

10. The United States has many national parks.