The,a,an

The,a,an

1. Definitive article the

   • Definitive article is used before singular and plural nouns when is specific or particular. the signals that the noun is definite,that it refers to a particular member of a group.
     • For example '' The Dog that bit me ran away '' Here, we're talking about a specific dog, the dog that bit me. '' Iwas happy to see the policeman who saved my cat'' Here we're talking about a particular policeman Even if we don't know the policeman's name , it's still a particular because it is the one who saved the cat . '' I saw the elephant at the zoo'' Here we're talking about a specific noun.probably there is only one elephant at the zoo .

2. English has two articles: the and a/an. The is used to refer to specific or particular nouns; a/an is used to modify non-specific or non-particular nouns. We call the the definite article and a/the indefinite article.

   • For example, if I say, "Let's read the book," I mean a specific book. If I say, "Let's read a book," I mean any book rather than a specific book

3. Indefinite Articles: a and an "A" and "an" signal that the noun modified is indefinite, referring to any member of a group. For example:

   • • "My daughter really wants a dog for Christmas." This refers to any dog. We don't know which dog because we haven't found the dog yet. • "Somebody call a policeman!" This refers to any policeman. We don't need a specific policeman; we need any policeman who is available.

4. Remember, using a or an depends on the sound that begins the next word. So... • a + singular noun beginning with a consonant: a boy; a car; a bike; a zoo; a dog • an + singular noun beginning with a vowel: an elephant; an egg; an apple; an idiot; an orphan • a + singular noun beginning with a consonant sound: a user (sounds like 'yoo-zer,' i.e. begins with a consonant 'y' sound, so 'a' is used); a university; a unicycle • an + nouns starting with silent "h": an hour • a + nouns starting with a pronounced "h": a horse