Lesson 18 · Stage 2: Everyday words: pronouns, articles, prepositions
Articles: a / an / the
BeginnerForm & use
a/an for one of many or something new, the for the one both people already know
1.A or an?
a / an means “one”. It goes only before a singular countable noun (a book, an egg). Choose a or an by the first sound of the next word, not the letter.
| Used before | Examples | |
|---|---|---|
| a | a consonant sound | a book, a car, a university /juː/, a uniform, a one-way ticket /w/ |
| an | a vowel sound | an apple, an egg, an idea, an umbrella, an hour (silent h), an MP3 /em/ |
If there's an adjective, look at the first sound of the adjective: an old bike but a big apple.
She's an honest person.
silent h → an
It's a useful app.
useful starts with /j/ → a
I'll be back in an hour.
Many languages have no articles, or use them differently. In English, a singular countable noun almost always needs a/an/the/my… in front: My mum is a teacher. I have a motorbike.
2.When to use a / an
1. Mentioning something for the first time, or any one of many — the listener doesn't know which one
I saw a really funny video yesterday.
Is there a pharmacy near here?
2. Saying what someone or something is — a job, a type of person or thing
My sister is a nurse.
not: My sister is nurse
It's a beautiful day.
3. Meaning “per” — how often, prices, speed
I go swimming twice a week.
Mangoes are 40,000 dong a kilo.
3.When to use the
1. The listener knows which one, because you've already mentioned it
I ordered a pizza and a salad. The pizza was cold.
We stayed at a small hotel. The owner was really friendly.
2. The situation makes it clear which one — for example, in your home, your classroom or your town
Can you close the window, please?
Excuse me, where's the bathroom?
3. There's only one: the sun, the moon, the sky, the sea, the internet
The sun is very strong today.
I found the recipe on the internet.
4. A phrase after the noun says which one
Who's the girl in the red dress?
The book you lent me is great.
Pronunciation: the is usually /ðə/ before a consonant sound (the book) and often /ði/ before a vowel sound (the apple).
4.a / an vs the
The same noun means something different with a different article: a = any one, the = the one both people know.
Can I borrow a pen?
any pen
Can I borrow the pen on your desk?
that particular pen
I need a taxi.
no particular taxi yet
The taxi is here.
the one we called
Remember: don't use a/an with plural or uncountable nouns (not a books, a water) — see the lesson “Countable and uncountable nouns”. When you talk about a whole group in general, you usually use no article: I love cats. — see the lesson “When to use the (and when not to)”.
5.Common mistakes
My father is engineer.My father is an engineer.
Jobs need a/an.
I have a umbrella.I have an umbrella.
umbrella starts with a vowel sound → an.
She studies at an university.She studies at a university.
university starts with /j/, a consonant sound → a.
I saw a dog. A dog was very big.I saw a dog. The dog was very big.
Second mention → the.
A sky is very blue today.The sky is very blue today.
There's only one sky → the.
I bought a new shoes.I bought new shoes / a pair of new shoes.
Don't use a with a plural noun.
Examples
- It takes an hour to get to Vung Tau by bus.
- Look! The moon is very bright tonight.
- I eat an apple every morning.
- My brother is a university student in Hue.
