TIP Sheet

DEFINITE AND INDEFINITE ARTICLES

In English there are three articles: a, an, and the. Articles are used before nouns or noun
equivalents and are a type of adjective. The definite article ( the) is used before a noun to
indicate that the identity of the noun is known to the reader. The indefinite article ( a, an) is
used before a noun that is general or when its identity is not known. There are certain
situations in which a noun takes no article.

As a guide, the following definitions and table summarize the basic use of articles. Continue
reading for a more detailed explanation of the rules and for examples of how and when to
apply them.

Definite article

the (before a singular or plural noun)

Indefinite article

a (before a singular noun beginning with a consonant sound)

an (before a singular noun beginning with a vowel sound)

Count nouns - refers to items that can be counted and are either singular or plural

Non-count nouns - refers to items that are not counted and are always singular

COUNT NON-COUNT
NOUNS NOUNS

Rule #1 a, an (no article)

Specific identity not known

Rule #2 the the

Specific identity known

Rule #3 (no article) (no article)

All things or  things in
general

For the purposes of understanding how articles are used, it is important to know that nouns can
be either count (can be counted) or noncount (indefinite in quantity and cannot be counted).
In addition, count nouns are either singular (one) or plural (more than
one). Noncount nouns are always in singular form.
For example, if we are speaking of water that has been spilled on the table, there can be one
drop (singular) or two or more drops (plural) of water on the table. The word drop in this
example is a count noun because we can count the number of drops. Therefore, according to
the rules applying to count nouns, the word drop would use the articles a  or the.

However, if we are speaking of water in general spilled on the table, it would not be
appropriate to count one water or two waters -- there would simply be water on the table.
Water is a noncount noun. Therefore, according to the rules applying to noncount nouns, the
word water would use no article or the, but not a.

Following are the three specific rules which explain the use of definite and indefinite articles.

Rule #1 - Specific identity not known: Use the indefinite article a or an only with a

singular count noun whose specific identity is not known to the reader. Use a before
nouns that begin with a consonant sound, and use an before nouns that begin with
a vowel sound.

 Use the article a  or an to indicate any non-specified member of a group or category.
I think  an  animal is in the garage
That man is  a scoundrel.
We are looking for  an  apartment.

 Use the article a or an to indicate one in number (as opposed to more than one).
I own  a cat and two dogs.

 Use the article a before a consonant sound, and use an before a vowel sound.

a  boy,  an  apple

◊ Sometimes an adjective comes between the article and noun:

an unhappy boy, a  red apple

 The plural form of a or an is some. Use some to indicate an unspecified, limited

amount (but more than one).
an apple,  some apples

Rule #2 - Specific identity known: Use the definite article the with any noun

(whether singular or plural, count or noncount) when the specific identity of the
noun is known to the reader, as in the following situations:

 Use the article the when a particular noun has already been mentioned previously.
I ate  an  apple yesterday. The  apple was juicy and delicious.
  Use the article the when an adjective, phrase, or clause describing the noun clarifies
or restricts its identity.
The  boy sitting next to me raised his hand.
Thank you for the advice you gave me.

 Use the article the when the noun refers to something or someone that is unique.
the theory of relativity
the 2003 federal budget

Rule #3 - All things or things in general: Use no article with plural count nouns or

any noncount nouns used to mean all or in general.

Trees are beautiful in the fall. (All trees are beautiful in the fall.)
He was asking for advice. (He was asking for advice in general.)
I do not like coffee. (I do not like all coffee in general.)

Additional Information Regarding the Use of Articles

 When indicating an unspecified, limited amount of a count or noncount noun,

use some.
My cousin was seeking some advice from a counselor  (not advice in general or advice about
everything, but a limited amount of advice).

I would love some coffee right now  (not coffee in general, but a limited amount of coffee).

We might get rain tomorrow. Some rain would be good for the crops (a certain amount of rain,
as opposed to rain in general).

There are some drops of water on the table (a limited number, but more than one drop).

 Noncount nouns are those which usually cannot be counted. Following are some
common examples:
◊ Certain food and drink items: bacon, beef, bread, broccoli, butter, cabbage, candy,
cauliflower, celery, cereal, cheese, chicken, chocolate, coffee, corn, cream, fish, flour, fruit, ice
cream, lettuce, meat, milk, oil, pasta, rice, salt, spinach, sugar, tea, water, wine, yogurt

◊ Certain nonfood substances: air, cement, coal, dirt, gasoline, gold, paper, petroleum,
plastic, rain, silver, snow, soap, steel, wood, wool
◊ Most abstract nouns: advice, anger, beauty, confidence, courage, employment, fun,
happiness, health, honesty, information, intelligence, knowledge, love, poverty, satisfaction,
truth, wealth

◊ Areas of study: history, math, biology, etc.

◊ Sports: soccer, football, baseball, hockey, etc.

◊ Languages: Chinese, Spanish, Russian, English, etc.

◊ Other: clothing, equipment, furniture, homework, jewelry, luggage, lumber, machinery, mail,
money, news, poetry, pollution, research, scenery, traffic, transportation, violence, weather,
work

 Geographical names are confusing because some require the and some do not.
◊ Use the with: united countries, large regions, deserts, peninsulas, oceans, seas, gulfs,
canals, rivers, mountain ranges, groups of islands

the Gobi Desert

the United Arab Emirates
the Sacramento River
the Aleutians

◊ Do not use the with: streets, parks, cities, states, counties, most countries, continents,

bays, single lakes, single mountains, islands

Japan
Chico
Mt. Everest
San Francisco Bay

Examples of the Use of Articles

I do not want a  gun in my house (any gun).

The  gun is in his closet  (implies there is a specific gun).
I am afraid of guns (all guns in general).

She sent me  a postcard from Italy (an unspecific postcard - not a letter, not an e-mail).
It's  the  postcard that I have in my office (one specific postcard).
Getting postcards makes me want to travel (any postcard in general).
I have  a dog (one dog).
The  dog is very friendly (the dog that I have already mentioned).
Dogs make great pets (dogs in general).

Greta needs furniture in her apartment  (furniture is a noncount noun).

She is going to select the furniture that she needs (the specific furniture that she needs).
She hopes to find some  furniture this weekend (an unspecified, limited amount of furniture).

We are going to see the Statue of Liberty this weekend (the only Statue of Liberty).