USE OF A, AN, THE

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COUNTABLE AND UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS

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Describing People

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The English Language

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Multiple-Meaning Words

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Examples: A boy, a cat, a dog, a girl.

But we do use the definite article with:

the People's Republic of China

the United States

the Kingdom of Bhutan

the United Kingdom

-William Shakespeare wrote Hamlet. -Paris is the capital of France. -Iran is in Asia.

We do not normally use the definite article with names:

Examples: -The wolf is not really a dangerous animal. - The kangaroo is found only in Australia.

We also use the definite article: to say something about all the things referred to by a noun:

Examples : The Pope is visiting Russia. The moon is very bright tonight. Who is the president of France?

We use the definite article in front of a noun when we believe the listener/reader knows exactly what we are referring to:

Examples: an hour, an honor

Examples: an umpire, an unfinished project, an unimportant detail.

Before a word that begins with a silent h, an is used.

When the vowel u is pronounced as uh, it's considered a vowel. That is why it is still used with words and phrases.

Examples: an apple, an idea, an air.

An is normally used before a noun that begins with a vowel, such as: a, e, i.

Examples: a horse, a home, a hat, etc.

Examples: a university, a unit, a euro, a European

Before a word that begins with an h that produces a scratchy sound, a is used.

When the vowel U and the combination EU are pronounced as you, they are considered a vowel. For example.

Exceptions

USE OF A, AN, THE

THE

a and an

A: Usually used before a noun that begins with a consonant, such as: B, C, S and T.