Articles in English: Part 1 of 3
This is Part 1 of our 3-part guide to English articles.
In this part, you'll learn what articles are and how to use a and an.
Next: Part 2: How to Use "The"
What Are Articles?
Articles are small words that come before nouns. English has three articles:
- a (indefinite article)
- an (indefinite article)
- the (definite article)
We also talk about the zero article - when we use no article.
Articles are one of the trickiest parts of English because the rules can be complex, different languages use them differently, and there are quite a few exceptions.
A and An - Indefinite Articles
A and an often mean “one” or “any”. We use them with singular countable nouns when we are talking about something general or mentioning it for the first time.
A vs. An - The Rule
Use "a" before consonant sounds:
- a cat, a dog, a book, a house
- a university (sounds like “yuniversity”)
- a European country (sounds like “yuropean”)
- a one-way street (starts with a “w” sound)
Use "an" before vowel sounds:
- an apple, an egg, an idea, an orange, an umbrella
- an hour (silent h)
- an honest person (silent h)
- an MBA (sounds like “em”)
Important: it depends on the sound, not the spelling.
When to Use A/An
1. First mention - when mentioning something for the first time:
- I saw a dog in the park.
- She bought a new car.
- There’s a restaurant on Main Street.
2. One of many - when something is one example of a category:
- He’s a teacher.
- I need a pen.
- She’s an engineer.
3. Jobs and professions:
- I’m a doctor.
- He’s a student.
- She’s an architect.
4. After “what” for jobs:
- What’s he? He’s a lawyer.
5. Describing someone or something:
- She’s a beautiful woman.
- It’s a difficult question.
- What a lovely day!
6. Meaning “per”:
- The apples are €2 a kilo.
- He drives 100 km an hour.
- I go to the gym twice a week.
When NOT to Use A/An
With plural nouns:
- ❌ I have a books.
- ✅ I have books.
- ✅ I have some books.
With uncountable nouns:
- ❌ I need a water.
- ✅ I need water.
- ❌ She has a knowledge.
- ✅ She has knowledge.
With names and places (usually):
- ❌ I live in a Berlin.
- ✅ I live in Berlin.
Ready for the next step? Now go to Part 2: How to Use "The".
After that, you can continue with Part 3: Zero Article, Common Mistakes and Practice.
Part of the LearnFast.life Grammar Series
