Articles (a / an / the)
Articles come before nouns. a / an introduce something new or non-specific; the points to something specific or already known.
- Use a before a consonant sound: a book, a car. - Use an before a vowel sound: an apple, an hour (silent h). - Use the for a specific thing both people know: the sun, the door.
I bought a book. → The book is interesting. (now specific)
She is an honest girl.
Please close the window.
Choose a/an by the sound, not the letter: an hour (vowel sound), a university (sounds like "yu").
Common mistake: Using "a" before a vowel sound ("a apple"). Use an apple. Also don't drop articles: say "I am a student," not "I am student."
✏️ Test Yourself
1. I saw ___ elephant.
2. He is ___ teacher.
3. ___ sun is hot.
4. She waited for ___ hour.
📒 Words to learn
“It is memorial day for us.”
“He sent me an envelope.”
“She was my granny.”
“There are a lot of thieves in our area.”
“The apples were rotten.”