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The Use and Non-Use of Articles
Brought to you by the Purdue University Online Writing Lab.
Grahpics
for this handout were produced by Michelle Hansard.
Definition of articles
English has two types of articles: definite (the) and indefinite
(a, an.) The use of these articles depends mainly on whether you
are referring to any member of a group, or to a specific member of a
group:
1. Indefinite Articles: a and
an
A and an signal that the noun modified is indefinite,
referring to any member of a group. These indefinite articles are
used with singular nouns when the noun is general; the corresponding
indefinite quantity word some is used for plural general nouns. The
rule is:
- a + singular noun beginning with a consonant: a boy
- an + singular noun beginning with a vowel: an elephant
- a + singular noun beginning with a consonant sound: a user (sounds like 'yoo-zer,' i.e. begins with a consonant 'y'
sound, so 'a' is used)
- some + plural noun: some girls
If the noun is modified by an adjective, the choice between a
and an depends on the initial sound of the adjective that
immedately follows the article:
- a broken egg
- an unusual problem
- a European country
(sounds like 'yer-o-pi-an,' i.e.
begins with consonant 'y' sound)
Note also that in English, the indefinite articles are used to indicate
membership in a profession, nation, or religion.
- I am a teacher.
- Brian is an Irishman.
- Seiko is a practicing Buddhist.
2. Definite Article: the
The definite article is used before singular and plural nouns when the
noun is particular or specific. The signals that the noun is
definite, that it refers to a particular member of a group.
Compare the indefinite and definite articles in the following
examples:
| |
Indefinite (a or an) |
Definite (the) |
| Singular |
a dog (any dog)
an
apple (any apple) |
the dog (that specific
dog)
the apple (that specific apple) |
| Plural |
some dogs (any
dogs)
some apples (any apples) |
the dogs (those specific
dogs)
the apples (those specific
apples) |
The is not used with noncountable nouns referring to
something in a general sense:
[no article] Coffee is a popular drink.
[no article]
Japanese was his native language.
[no article] Intelligence is
difficult to quantify.
The is used with noncountable nouns that are made more
specific by a limiting modifying phrase or clause:
The coffee in my cup is too hot to
drink.
The Japanese he speaks is often heard in the
countryside.
The intelligence of animals is variable
but undeniable.
The is also used when a noun refers to something
unique:
the White House
the theory of
relativity
the 1999 federal budget
Note: Geographical uses of the
Do not use
the before:
- names of countries (Italy, Mexico, Bolivia) except the
Netherlands and the US
- names of cities, towns, or states (Seoul, Manitoba, Miami)
- names of streets (Washington Blvd., Main St.)
- names of lakes and bays (Lake Titicaca, Lake Erie) except
with a group of lakes like the Great Lakes
- names of mountains (Mount Everest, Mount Fuji) except with
ranges of mountains like the Andes or the Rockies or unusual names like
the Matterhorn
- names of continents (Asia, Europe)
- names of islands (Easter Island, Maui, Key West) except with
island chains like the Aleutians, the Hebrides, or the Canary Islands
Do use the before:
- names of rivers, oceans and seas (the Nile, the Pacific)
- points on the globe (the Equator, the North Pole)
- geographical areas (the Middle East, the West)
- deserts, forests, gulfs, and peninsulas (the Sahara, the Persian
Gulf, the Black Forest, the Iberian Peninsula)
Further Uses of Articles
In addition, use of a, an, and the also depends on
whether the noun following the article possesses one of these paired
qualities:
- Countable vs. noncountable
- First vs. subsequent mention
- General vs. specific
1. Countable vs. Noncountable
A and an are used if the noun can be
counted.
| I stepped in a puddle. (How many
puddles did you step in? Just one. Therefore, use
a.) |
 |
| I drank a glass of milk. (Glasses
of milk can be counted) |
 |
| I saw an apple tree. (Apple
trees can be counted) |
 |
The must be used when the noun cannot be counted.
| I dove into the water. (How
many waters did you dive into? The question doesn't make any sense
because water is noncountable. Therefore, use
the.) |
 |
| I saw the milk spill. (How
many milks? Milk cannot be counted) |
 |
| I admired the foliage. (How
many foliages? Foliage cannot be counted) |
 |
2. First vs. Subsequent Mention
A or an is used to introduce a noun when it
is mentioned for the first time in a piece of writing. The
is used afterward each time you mention that same noun.
An awards ceremony at the Kremlin would not
normally have attracted so much attention. But when it was leaked that
Soviet President Konstantin Chernenko would be presenting medals to
three cosmonauts, interest in the ceremony intensified.
Time, Sept. 17, 1984.
Note: There is and there are can be
used to introduce an indefinite noun at the beginning of a paragraph or
essay.
There is a robin in the tree
outside my window. When my cat jumps up on the desk, the
robin flies away.
3. General vs. Specific
A, an, and the can all be
used to indicate that a noun refers to the whole class to which individual
countable nouns belong. This use of articles is called generic,
from the Latin word meaning "class."
A tiger is a dangerous animal. (any individual
tiger)
The tiger is a dangerous animal. (all
tigers: tiger as a generic category)
The difference between the indefinite a and
an and the generic a and an is
that the former means any one member of a class while the latter means all
of the members of a class.
The omission of articles also expresses a generic (or general)
meaning:
no article with a plural noun: Tigers are dangerous
animals. (all tigers)
no article with a noncountable noun:
Anger is a destructive emotion. (any kind of anger)
Omission of Articles
While some nouns combine with one article or the other based on whether
they are countable or noncountable, others simply never take either
article. Some common types of nouns that don't take an article are:
1. Names of languages and nationalities
- Chinese
- English
- Spanish
- Russian
2. Names of sports
- volleyball
- hockey
- baseball
3. Names of academic subjects
- mathematics
- biology
- history
- computer science
After reviewing this handout, try some exercises:
Exercise #1 at
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/print/esl/eslartEX1.html
Exercise #2 at
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/print/esl/eslartEX2.html
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