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There are different rules for article use when it comes to nouns. In this blog post, we will take a look at the three most common types of nouns: singular with vowel and consonant, singular or plural already identified, and plural without article. For each type of noun, we will discuss the article that should be used and give examples. Understanding these rules can help you choose the correct article for your writing needs!
What are articles?
Articles are words that identify whether a noun is specific or unspecific. There are only three articles in English, and they are a, an, and the.
What are nouns?
Nouns are people, places, things, or ideas. There are different kinds of nouns. Here we will talk about articles with different kinds of nouns.
Nouns can be singular or plural. The article “a” is used before a word that starts with a consonant sound. The article “an” is used before a word that starts with a vowel sound.
When to use the article “the”?
We use the article “the” before a noun when we already know which one we are talking about. We also use the article “the” before a noun when there is only one of that thing. For example, “the sun,” “the moon,” or “the sky.”
When to use a/an?
We use a/an when the noun is singular and unspecified. For example, “a dog,” “a cat,” or “an elephant.” We also use a/an before a noun that begins with a vowel sound, nevertheless of whether the word starts with a vowel letter. For example, “a European country,” “an hour,” or “an honourable man.”
When to use no article?
We use no article before a plural noun or a singular noun that is not specific. For example, “dogs,” “cats,” or “mammals.” We also use no article before a noun that begins with a consonant sound, regardless of whether/whether the word begins with a consonant letter. For example, “the United States,” “the history of the world,” or “a university in New York.”
Now that we’ve gone over when to use the article “the” a/an, and no article, let’s practise with some exercises.
Exercise on article identifying nouns:
Instructions: Choose the article (the a/an, or no article) that should be used before each noun.
We went to ___(a)___ hospital because my brother had ___(an)___ accident.
He was playing with ___(a)___ knife and then he fell down.
We went to __(the)___ store to buy some food for __(the)___ party.
I need to get __(the)___ cake, some drinks, and __(the)___ chips.
I am going to __(no article)___ school.
I have to go to __(no article)___ store later.
Can you please turn off __(no article)___ light?
Errors Made in Using Articles with Nouns:
Generally, students get confused about an article when it comes to using a noun. There are three articles in the English language which are a, an and the. All these articles are used before a noun. The main article is ‘the’ and it is used to point out a specific thing or people. We use the article ‘a before a noun which is singular and has a vowel sound. For example,
We use the article “an” before a noun that is singular and has a consonant sound. For example,
There are certain rules which help us to identify the article which should be used before a noun. These rules are as follows:
-If the noun is singular and has a vowel sound, then we use the article “an”
-If the noun is singular and has a consonant sound, then we use the article “a”
-If the noun is plural and has a vowel sound, then we use the article “an”
-If the noun is plural and has a consonant sound, then we use the article “no article”
Conclusion
When using articles with nouns, it is important to be aware of whether the noun is singular or plural, and whether it begins with a vowel or consonant sound. With a little practice, it will become second nature to use the correct article with the right noun. Learners should note the basics of articles to avoid any mistake while speaking or writing.
