Practice
Articles practice: a, an, and the
Compare these two messages: "I need a file," and "I need the file from yesterday." The first sentence means any suitable file. The second points to one file that both people can identify.
Choose a, an, the, or no article by checking whether a noun is singular and countable, how its first sound begins, and whether the listener can identify it.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
an hour /ən ˈaʊər/
The short answer
Use a before a consonant sound and an before a vowel sound. Use the when the listener can identify the noun. Leave the article out for many plural and uncountable nouns used generally.
She booked an appointment for Monday.
Why it works: Appointment is one singular countable thing, and it begins with a vowel sound, so an fits.
5 more examples
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Could you send me a copy of the schedule?
Copy is a singular countable noun. The speaker asks for one copy, without saying which copy at first.
Not this:Could you send me
the copyyou edited? What changes: The listener can identify the copy because the sentence describes it. -
We waited for an hour at the station.
Hour starts with a vowel sound because the h is silent, so an is correct.
Not this:We waited for
a hotel managerat the station. What changes: Hotel begins with a pronounced h sound, so a is correct. -
The printer beside the window is out of paper.
The phrase beside the window identifies one printer in the room.
Not this:
A printercan save time in a small office. What changes: This sentence makes a general statement about any printer. -
I usually read news before work.
News is uncountable in this general meaning, so it does not need a or an.
Not this:I read
the newsabout the transit strike. What changes: The phrase about the transit strike makes the news specific. -
Children need regular sleep.
Children and sleep are used generally, so neither noun needs the article.
Not this:
The childrenneed the sleep they missed last night. What changes: The context identifies a particular group of children and a particular missed period of sleep.
Read the full guide
Check the noun before you choose an article. Ask whether you mean one countable thing, a particular thing, or things in general. Then listen to the sound at the beginning of the next word if you need a or an.
Decide whether the noun is one thing or a general idea
A and an go with one singular countable noun. They help you introduce one thing, person, or idea when its exact identity is not yet important.
I saw a message from the bank.
Message is singular and countable. The speaker has not said which message before this point.
Complete the sentence: We need ___ plan for the event.
Use a: We need a plan for the event.
Listen for the first sound
Choose a before a consonant sound and an before a vowel sound. Pronunciation decides the choice, so spelling alone does not decide it.
They found an empty seat.
Empty starts with a vowel sound, so an comes before it.
Choose a or an: ___ useful website can help you practice.
Use a: A useful website can help you practice. Useful begins with the consonant sound /j/.
Use the for a noun your listener can identify
Use the when the conversation, a description, or the situation makes one noun clear. You can use the after you introduce something with a or an.
I bought a notebook. The notebook is blue.
A notebook introduces one notebook. The notebook refers back to the same one.
Choose the article: Please close ___ door near the stairs.
Use the: Please close the door near the stairs. The description identifies the door.
Use no article for many general plural and uncountable nouns
When you speak about things in general, English often uses no article before plural countable nouns and uncountable nouns. Add the when you mean a particular group or amount.
Coffee helps some people stay awake.
Coffee is uncountable here and means coffee in general.
Complete the general statement: ___ phones can be expensive.
Use no article: Phones can be expensive.
Check the meaning again before you answer
The same noun can take different articles when its meaning changes. Look for a detail that identifies it, and ask whether the sentence means one item, a known item, or something in general.
I need advice about my interview.
Advice is uncountable, so it has no a or an in this meaning.
Choose the article: I need ___ advice you gave me last week.
Use the: I need the advice you gave me last week. The extra words identify one set of advice.
Before you go
Remember this
Choose a or an for one non-specific countable noun. Let the first sound decide between a and an. Choose the when the noun is identifiable to the listener. Use no article for many plural and uncountable nouns when you mean them generally.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Articles practice: a, an, and the"
When do I use a and when do I use an?
Use a before a consonant sound and an before a vowel sound. The first sound matters more than the first letter. For example, use a university because university begins with a /j/ sound, but use an hour because the h is silent.
Could you send me a copy of the schedule?
Why do I use the before some nouns?
Use the when the listener can identify the noun from the conversation, a description, or the situation. You can also use the when you mention the same noun again. Say I bought a notebook, then The notebook is blue.
Could you send me the copy you edited?
Can I use a or an with plural nouns?
No. A and an go with singular countable nouns. Use plural nouns without an article when you mean them in general, as in Cars can be expensive. Use the before a plural noun when you mean a particular group, as in The cars in that garage are for sale.
We waited for an hour at the station.
Why do some uncountable nouns have no article?
Uncountable nouns such as information, advice, and water often have no article when they mean a general substance or idea. Add the when you mean a particular amount or set that the listener can identify, such as the advice from my teacher.
We waited for a hotel manager at the station.
Do jobs and nationalities use a or an?
Use a or an before a singular job or nationality after be: She is a designer. He is an American. The same sound rule applies, so use an before an American because American begins with a vowel sound.
The printer beside the window is out of paper.