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Articles

Articles: A, An, The and Zero Article

How to choose between a, an, the and nothing at all.

Explanation

Use a or an for one unspecified item, chosen by sound not spelling. Use the for something already mentioned, unique, or made specific by a phrase. Use no article for plurals and uncountables in a general sense.

Examples

I bought a house near an old bridge.
The bridge is being repaired.
Cats sleep for most of the day.

Common mistakes

I have a umbrella.
I have an umbrella.
An comes before a vowel sound.
A sun rises in the east.
The sun rises in the east.
Unique things take the.
I like the dogs in general.
I like dogs in general.
General plurals take no article.

Articles in Academic Writing

Generic reference, abstract nouns and institutional phrases.

Articles with Places and Names