Articles: a, an, the

Introduction

We use indefinite articles for a non-specific singular noun:

a banana
an orange dress

We use the definite article for a specific singular noun, plural nouns and uncountable nouns:

the banana
the orange dresses
the time

Examples:

Indefinite articles:
- Would you like a banana?
- I want to buy an orange dress.
- I have a headache.
Definite article:
- The bananas are very expensive.
- I want to buy the orange dress I saw last week.
- The headache I had yesterday was very bad.

Part 1 - indefinite articles

We use indefinite articles for one of a type, but not one in particular:

a small boat
an interesting story

We use "a" with:

nouns or adjectives beginning with consonants
nouns or adjectives beginning with vowels that make consonant sounds

We use "an" with:

nouns or adjectives beginning with vowels
nouns or adjectives beginning with silent consonants that make a vowel sound

Examples:

a big elephant
a uniform
an animal
an hour

We use indefinite articles with quantifiers, for example:

a few
a little
a lot

Practice

Complete the sentences with "a" or "an":

.

1)

We are buying new car.

2)

Simon saw elephant at the zoo.

3)

I am reading good book at the moment.

4)

Do you drive expensive car?

Part 2 - definite article

We use "the" for:

one specific thing
two or more things
superlatives
uncountable nouns

For example:

I can't find the email you sent me yesterday.
Who are the people you were talking to?
She is the tallest girl in the class.
What is the time?

We use "the" with nouns and adjectives beginning with both vowels and consonants, but the pronunciation of the vowel sound changes:

before a vowel e.g. 'the apples':
before a consonant e.g. 'the big house':

Practice

Complete the sentences with "a", "an" or "the":

.

1)

Where is money I gave you?

2)

I will be there in hour.

3)

This restaurant makes best food in town.

4)

It wasn't good film.

Further practice

.

1)

It was ____ easy exam.

an

a

the

2)

This is ____ best book I've ever read.

a

an

the

3)

Would you like ____ cup of tea?

a

the

an

4)

____ oranges in Spain are very sweet.

A

An

The

5)

We saw ____ excellent film last night.

the

an

a

6)

Can you lend me ____ euro?

a

an

the

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Home ➞ Grammar ➞ Grammar worksheets and test ➞ Beginner ➞ Articles: a, an, the

Introduction

Part 1 - indefinite articles

Practice

Part 2 - definite article

Practice

Further practice

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