fire Useand Non-Useof Articles
Definitionof articles
Englishhastwo typesof articles:definite(the'land indefinite(a, an.)The useof thesearticlesdepends
rnainlyon whetheryou arereferringto any memberof a group,or to a specificmemberof a group:
1. IndefiniteArticles:a andan
A andan signal that the noun modified is indefinite, referring to any member of a group. Thcse indefinite
articles are used with singular nouns when the noun is general; the correspondingindefinite quzurtityword
some is used for plural generalnouns. The rule is:
o
.
o
.
a * singular noun beginning with a consonant:a boy
an + singular noun beginning with a vowel: an elephant
'yoo-zer,'i.e. beginswith
a * singularnoun beginning with a consonantsound:o user (soundslike
consonant'y'sound,so'a' is used)
some + plural noun'.some girls
If the noun is modified by an adjective, the choice betweena andan dependson the initial sound of the
adjective that immediately follows the article:
r
.
o
a broken egg
on unusual problem
a European country (soundslike 'yer-o-pi-an,'i.e.beginswith consonant'y'sound)
Note also that in English, the indefinite articles are usedto indicate membership in a profession,nation, or
religion.
.
.
.
Iamateacher.
Brian is az Irishman.
Seiko is a practicing Buddhist.
2. Definite Article: tie
The definitearticleis usedbeforesingularandplural nounswhenthe nounis particularor specific.Ihe
signalsthat the nounis definite,that it refersto a particalar memberof a group.Comparetheindefiniteand
definitearticlesin the following examples:
ftndefinite(a or onl
Fdos(a"ydos)-
pefrniteltne'1
fun apple(any apple)
llhe apple(that specificapple)
@?oes(anydoss)
F;@llhe apples(thosespecificapples)
lpome apples (any apples)
Arricles handout2
The is not used with noncountablenouns refemng to something in a general sense:
[no article] Coffce is a popular drink.
[no article] Japanesewas his native language.
The is used with noncountablenouns that are made more specific by a limiting modifuing phraseor clause:
The coffee ir *y cup is too hot to drink.
The Japanesehe speaksis often heard in the countryside.
The intelligenceof animalsis variable but undeniable.
The is also used when a noun refersto somcthingunique:
theWhite House
the theory of relativity
the 1999 federal budger
Note: Geographical usesof fie
Do not usethe before:
namesof countries(Italy, Mexico, Bolivia) ercept the Ncthcrlandsand the US
.
.
'
'
.
o
namesof cities.towns.or statcs(S"out, Manitoba,Miami)
namesof streets(Washington Blvd., Main St.)
names of lakcs and bays (Lakc Titicaca, t^akeEric) except with a group of lakes like the Great Lakes
namesof mountains(Mount Evercst, Mount Fuji) excepi with rangcsof mountains like the Andes
or
the Rockiesor unusualnameslike the Matterhom
namcsof contincnts(Asia, Europc)
oittnes of islands (Easter lsland, Maui, Key Wcst) except with island chainslikc the Aleutians,
the
Hcbrides, or thc Canary Islands
Do usethe bcfore:
.
.
.
'
namcs of rivers, ocea.nsand seas(the Nile, the pacific)
ponts on the globe (the Equator, the North pole)
geographical areas(the Middle East, the West)
descrts,forests,gulfs, and pcninsulas (the Sahara the PersianGulf, the Black Forest, the lberian
Peninsula)
Further Usesof Articles
In additiorL use of a, an, andthe also dependson whether the noun following the article possesses
one of
thesepairedqualities:
.
o
.
Countable vs. noncountable
First vs. subsequentmention
Generalvs. specific
Articles handout3
1. Countablevs. Noncountable
A andan areusedifthe nouncanbe counted
steppedin c puddle. (How many puddles did you step in? Just one.
fore, use a.)
I drank c glass of milk. (Glassesof milk can be counted)
saw on apple tree. (Apple lrees can bc counted)
The must be used when the noun cannot be counted
dove into the water. (How many waters did you dive into? The
docsn't make any sensebecausewqter is noncountable
usethe.)
I
ilw
I
I
sawrfremilk spill. (F{owmanymilks?Milk cannotbecounted)
lI
t'
'{
["*;
the foliage . (How many foliages? Foliage cannot be
lrunted)
2. First vs. Subsequent
Mention
A or an is usedto introducea nounwhenit is mentionedfor the first time in a pieceof writing. Ihe is used
afterwardeachtime you mentionthat samenoun.
.42 awardsceremonyat the Kremlin would not normally haveattractedso much attention.But whenit was
leakedthat SovietPresidentKonstantinChemenkowould bepresentingmedalsto threecosmonauts,
interest
in lie ceremonyintensified.Time,Sept.17, 1984.
Note: Thereis andthere are canbe usedto introducean indefinite nounat the beginningof a paragnaph
or
essay.
Thereis a robin in thetreeoutsidemy window.Whenmy catjumpsup on the desk,the robinflies away.
Articles handout4
3. General vs. Specific
A, on , and the can all be usedto indicate that a noun refers to the whole class to which individual countable
nouns belong. This use of articles is called generic, from the Latin word meaning "class."
A tiger is a dangerousanimal. (any individual tiger)
The tiger is a dangerousanimal. (all tigers: figer as a generic category)
The difference betweenthe indefinite a andan and the generic o andan is that the former meansany one
member of a class while the lattcr meansall of the membersof a class.
Thc omission of articles also expressesa generic (or general) meaning:
no article with a plural noun: Tigers are dangerousanimals. (ail tigers)
no article with a noncountablenoun: Anger is a destructive emotion. (any kind of anger)
Omissionof Articles
While some nouns combine with one article or the other basedon whether thcy are countable or
noncountable,others simply never take either article. Somecommon types of nouns that don't take an articlc
l . Names of languagesand nationalities
a. English
b. Spanish
c. Russian
) Namesof sports
a. hockey
b. baseball
3. Names of academic subjects
a. biology
b. his0ory
CopyrightO1995-2004by OWL at PurdueUniversityandPurdueUniversity.All rightsreserved.
Useof this site,includingprintinganddistributingour handouts,constitutesacceptance
of our termsand
conditionsof fair use,availableat
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/lablfairuse.
html.