A or an?
Choose by the first sound, not the first letter. Use an before a vowel sound and a before a consonant sound. Use a or an for jobs too: "She is an engineer."
| Article | Rule | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| a | Before a consonant sound | a book, a university, a one-day course, a European city |
| an | Before a vowel sound | an apple, an hour, an MBA, an honest answer |
When to use the
Use the when the listener or reader can tell exactly which one you mean.
| Use | Example |
|---|---|
| Something already mentioned | I read a book. The book was about Mars. |
| Something both people know about | Could you close the door, please? |
| Something unique | the sun, the internet, the government |
| Superlatives and order | the best student, the first chapter |
| Rivers, seas, oceans and mountain ranges | the Ganges, the Arabian Sea, the Himalayas |
| Country names with United, Kingdom or Republic, and plural names | the United States, the UK, the Netherlands |
When to use no article
Plural and uncountable nouns used in general: "Cats are independent." "Water is essential." Add the only for particular ones: "The cats next door are noisy."
Most names: people, cities, most countries, single mountains and lakes: India, Mount Everest, Lake Geneva.
Meals, sports, languages and school subjects: have lunch, play cricket, speak Hindi, study physics.
Places used for their main purpose: go to school, go to work, go to bed, be in hospital (British English). Use the when you mean the building: "I went to the school to meet the principal."
Common mistakes
Wrong: She is an university student.
Right: She is a university student.
University starts with a "you" sound, which is a consonant sound.
Wrong: I want to become engineer.
Right: I want to become an engineer.
A singular job needs a or an.
Wrong: He is best player in the team.
Right: He is the best player in the team.
Superlatives take the.
Wrong: The life is full of surprises.
Right: Life is full of surprises.
An abstract noun used in general takes no article.
Using this in IELTS and PTE
Article errors are very common in IELTS and PTE writing, and they add up across an essay. In IELTS Task 1, data phrases usually need the: "the number of students", "the proportion of women", "the highest figure". In Task 2 and PTE Write Essay, general statements usually take no article: "Technology has changed education", not "The technology has changed the education". Check your articles as a final step when you review your writing.
5 questions
Exercise
Try each one, then open it to check your answer.
1. A or an? "___ hour"
an
The h is silent, so the word starts with a vowel sound.
2. A or an? "___ European city"
a
European starts with a "you" sound.
3. Complete this: "I saw ___ elephant. ___ elephant was huge."
an; The
First mention takes an. Second mention takes the.
4. Article or none? "She plays ___ tennis every day."
No article.
Sports take no article.
5. Correct this: "Moon goes round earth."
The moon goes round the earth.
Unique things take the.
Frequently asked questions
A or an before h?+
It depends on the sound. Use an when the h is silent (an hour, an honour) and a when you say it (a house, a hotel).
Why is it the UK but just India?+
Use the with country names that include a word such as Kingdom, States or Republic, and with plural names. Most single-word country names take no article.
Are articles adjectives?+
Traditional grammar lists articles with adjectives, and modern grammar calls them determiners. Either way, the article comes before the noun and any adjectives: "a very old house".
Keep going
More grammar lessons
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