English Explanations
1. An article is a word that comes before a noun or an adjective + noun. Use a before words that begin with consonant sounds. Use an before words that begin with vowel sounds. It doesn't matter how the word after a or an is spelled. Only the sound is important.
2. When you and the listener aren't thinking about the same thing, use a, an, or some. Use a or an with singular countable nouns. You can use some with plural nouns and uncountable nouns to talk about nonspecific amounts.
3. Use the when both you and the listener are thinking about the same thing. You can use the with singular countable nouns, plural countable nouns, and uncountable nouns.
4. Often, a speaker uses a, an, or some for the first mention of an object and uses the for the second and later mentions of it.
3. Use the when both you and the listener are thinking about the same thing. You can use the with singular countable nouns, plural countable nouns, and uncountable nouns.
4. Often, a speaker uses a, an, or some for the first mention of an object and uses the for the second and later mentions of it.
| | Singular Countable Nouns | Plural Countable Nouns | Uncountable Nouns |
| Speaker and listener do not have the same thing in mind, or first mention of something | a + consonant sound
| some | some |
| Speaker and listener have the same thing in mind, or second mention of something | the | the | the |
