Practice
Do all languages have articles?
English uses small words before nouns: a, an, and the. They can be difficult when your first language does not use the same system.
Recognize that languages mark meaning in different ways and choose a, an, the, or no article in common English sentences.
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
a, an, and the /ə/, /æn/ or /ən/, and /ðə/ or /ði/
The short answer
English uses a and an for one nonspecific singular countable noun. Use the when the listener can identify the noun. Use no article in many plural, uncountable, and general statements.
I bought a book yesterday. The book is on my desk now.
Why it works: A book introduces one book. The book refers to that same, known book.
5 more examples
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A neighbor left a package at our door.
Neither person nor package is identified for the listener yet.
Not this:
The neighbor returned for the packagelater. What changes: Both nouns are now known from the earlier sentence. -
She wants an umbrella because it is raining.
Umbrella begins with a vowel sound, so English uses an.
Not this:She wants
a uniformfor the new job. What changes: Uniform begins with a consonant sound, /j/, even though it starts with the letter u. -
Please close the window.
The situation tells the listener which window the speaker means.
Not this:Please open
a window. What changes: Any suitable window will do, so the noun is not specific. -
Books can help people learn new ideas.
The sentence talks about books in general, so it has no article.
Not this:
The bookson this shelf belong to the library. What changes: The phrase on this shelf identifies a particular group of books. -
Coffee keeps him awake in the evening.
Coffee is an uncountable noun here and the sentence is general.
Not this:
The coffeein this cup is cold. What changes: The phrase in this cup identifies a particular amount of coffee.
Read the full guide
Do not expect English articles to match the words in your first language one by one. Start with the meaning you want to express in English.
Articles are one English system
An article helps a listener understand how you mean a noun. English uses a, an, and the. Other languages may use a different pattern, so translating one word at a time can cause mistakes.
I saw a dog near the station.
A dog introduces one dog. The station refers to the station that is clear in the situation.
Does English use the same article choice for every noun?
No. The choice depends on whether the noun is singular or plural, countable or uncountable, and specific or general.
Use a or an to introduce one thing
Use a or an with one singular countable noun when the listener does not know exactly which one you mean. Choose by sound: a car, a university, an egg, and an hour.
We need an answer before the meeting ends.
Answer begins with a vowel sound, so an is the natural form.
Choose the article: She is looking for ___ apartment near her office.
Use an. The sentence means one nonspecific apartment, and apartment begins with a vowel sound.
Use the for an identified noun
Use the when the listener can identify the noun. You may have mentioned it before, or a phrase may make it clear. The can work with singular, plural, countable, and uncountable nouns.
The manager who interviewed me sent an email.
The phrase who interviewed me identifies one particular manager.
Choose the article: Could you pass me ___ salt on the table?
Use the. The phrase on the table identifies the salt the speaker means.
Use no article for many general meanings
English often uses no article with plural nouns and uncountable nouns when you mean something in general. Compare general advice with a particular group or amount.
Children need sleep.
The speaker means children in general, not a known group of children.
Choose the article: ___ information on this page is useful.
Use the. The phrase on this page identifies particular information.
Let English meaning guide you
Your first language may make this distinction in another way, or may leave it to context. That is normal. Before choosing an English article, ask whether you mean one new thing, one known thing, or something in general.
I need a pen. Where is the pen I used earlier?
The first sentence introduces any suitable pen. The second identifies the pen from an earlier situation.
Which question helps you choose an article?
Ask whether the noun is new and nonspecific, identified, or general.
Before you go
Remember this
Languages can mark noun meaning in different ways. In English, choose a or an for one nonspecific singular countable noun, the for an identified noun, and no article for many general plural and uncountable nouns.
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 "Do all languages have articles?"
Do all languages have articles like a and the?
No. Languages do not all use separate article words in the same way. Some use other grammar patterns or context to show whether a noun is known, unknown, general, or specific. English uses its own article system, so learn the English meaning rather than trying to translate every article from another language.
A neighbor left a package at our door.
Why does English use a and an?
A and an both introduce one nonspecific singular countable noun. The meaning is the same. The form changes for pronunciation: use an before a vowel sound, as in an apple or an hour, and a before a consonant sound, as in a book or a university.
The neighbor returned for the package later.
When should I use the?
Use the when the listener can identify the noun. You may have mentioned it already, the situation may make it clear, or a phrase may identify it. In The keys on the desk are mine, on the desk tells the listener which keys you mean.
She wants an umbrella because it is raining.
Why can a plural noun have no article?
A plural noun often has no article when you mean all members of a group in general. Dogs need exercise means dogs generally. Add the when you mean a particular group, as in The dogs next door bark at night.
She wants a uniform for the new job.
Can I leave out articles because my first language does not use them?
In English, leaving out an article can change the meaning or make a sentence sound incomplete. Check the noun's job in the sentence. Ask whether you mean one new singular countable thing, a known thing, or a general plural or uncountable idea.
Please close the window.