What Are Articles in Grammar? Definition and Examples

Imagine trying to explain to friends that you are reading a book about the history of a famous city. You would like them to know it is an interesting book but are not pointing to any specific one they know about. 

Or, maybe you are referring to a specific city’s history, the one they are familiar with. This is where articles are introduced. Those small yet significant words like a, an, and the, helps to add clarity and precision to our sentences. Articles might seem minor in English grammar, but their impact is undeniable.

In this blog, we will discuss the role of articles in English. We will also explore how these words give structure, meaning, and focus to our communication. So, come along!

What is an article?

In English grammar, articles are a specific group of words that precede nouns to help clarify the nouns they accompany. According to Merriam-Webster, an article is “any of a small set of words or affixes (such as a, an, and the) used with nouns to limit or give definiteness to the application.” These small words play a significant role in communicating whether a noun is being referenced in a particular or general sense. 

Articles serve as markers that guide the reader or listener’s understanding of the noun’s scope. For example, when referring to “sun,” the article conveys that we are talking about the one specific sun. The Sun is a unique object in our solar system, as opposed to any general or unspecified item. Equally, if we talk about “a chair,” the article signals that we mean any chair from a broader set rather than one specific chair.

Articles distinguish nouns in this way and help to structure sentences for clarity. They help answer the question of whether we are pointing to a specific, familiar thing or something that could belong to a larger, indefinite group.

Types of Articles

Articles in English are categorized into two types: definite and indefinite articles. Each type serves to clarify a noun’s meaning in context. Let’s examine how they function in sentences.

Definite Article

“The” is known as the definite article in English. It specifies a particular item that the listener or reader is already aware of. For instance, when you say, “the phone is charging,” you are referring to a specific phone that both you and your listener recognize. This article pinpoints a single item from a larger set.

There are all the uses of definite articles in the English language.

Referring to Something mentioned

• Could you pass me the remote? It’s on the table.
• I have to say the park has become my favourite spot as we visit it often.
• She is looking for the charger that matches her device.

For unique things

• The sun looked beautiful as it was setting in the west.
• Please call the police.
• The team worked hard to win the championship.

With superlatives

• John is the best singer in his group.
• The worst she could say is ‘no’.
• I have found that we were following the most difficult solution from the beginning.

Indefinite Articles

The words “a” and “an” are indefinite articles. They are used when referring to a general item and not a specific one. Saying, “I read a book,” implies that it could be any book, and the listener is not expected to know which one.

The distinction between “a” and “an” is simple. “a” precedes words that start with a consonant sound, while “an” is used before words that start with a vowel sound. For example, we say, “a guitar,” but “an elephant.”

Below are some cases of usage of indefinite articles in different scenarios.

Introducing something new

• He wants to find a new hobby this winter.
• I ordered an orange juice with my breakfast.
• Can you suggest an exciting movie to watch?

Talk about any member of a group

• A tiger is a part of a cat family called “Panthera”.
• She is a chef by profession. 
• Captain Jack Sparrow is a pirate.

When to use an or a

The article “a” is used before words that start with a consonant sound. While “an” is placed before words that start with a vowel sound.

• She just got a smart watch and now she wants an iPad.
• He was eating an octopus at a big restaurant.
• I love sea animals and would love to spend a full day at an aquarium.

Exceptions

Not all words that begin with vowels will take “an.” Sometimes, the sound of the initial letter of the noun decides the usage of a or an. Some use “a” due to their consonant sounds, like university, unicorn, utensil, or European.

• She designed a unique layout for the project.
• They reported seeing a UFO in the sky last night.
• He wrote a useful guide on sustainable gardening.

Similarly, some words that start with consonants take “an” due to their vowel sounds, like honour, heir, MBA, and MP3.

• She received an honorary award for her contributions.
• He completed an MBA program last year.
• It was an inspiring lecture on creative thinking.

Usage of Articles

The way articles are used often varies depending on the words surrounding the noun. Here’s a guide on applying articles in different scenarios.

With Pronouns

Articles are not used alongside possessive pronouns, such as my, his, her, its, our, and their. These pronouns already define ownership or specificity, similar to what articles do. If both a possessive pronoun and an article appear together, the sentence becomes redundant and unclear. Consider this example:

Incorrect: She is waiting in the my office for a meeting.

Here, both “the” and “my” attempt to specify the office, which makes the sentence confusing. You can simplify it by using only one of them:

Correct: She is waiting in the office for a meeting.

Correct: She is waiting in my office for a meeting.

Use of the Article with Uncountable Nouns

Uncountable nouns refer to things that cannot be counted individually, like substances or abstract concepts. They do not have separate singular and plural forms. As such, they cannot be paired with indefinite articles (“a” or “an”), which imply a countable amount. Instead, they are often used with words like “some,” “a little,” or “a bit of.”

Incorrect: Could you pass me a water?

Correct: Could you pass me some water?

However, if you want to specify a particular portion, you can use an article by referring to a measurable quantity:

Correct: Could you pass me a bottle of water?

Another example:

Incorrect: They served a soup for lunch.

Correct: They served some soup for lunch.

Correct: They served a bowl of soup for lunch.

Some nouns can function as both countable and uncountable, depending on context, such as “experience,” “iron,” and “coffee.”

Correct: I had an experience that changed my perspective.

Correct: He has extensive experience in the field.

Use of the Article with Adjectives

When an article is used with an adjective to describe a noun, it follows a specific order: 

article + adjective + noun

The choice of indefinite article depends on the first sound of the adjective that comes after it, while definite articles stay the same.

For example:

• She wore an elegant dress to the dinner.
• I found a beautiful shell on the beach.

Here, the adjective following the article determines whether “a” or “an” is used, depending on the sound.

Use of the Article with Idiomatic Expressions

Articles can appear in fixed expressions or idioms, where they may not follow usual rules. These phrases are fixed parts of the language and are often used without structural changes, even if they don’t follow standard grammar logic.

For example, in “at a glance,” the article “a” is used even though the expression does not point to a specific glance. Similarly, “in the end” uses “the” though it does not refer to a particular end.

Other examples include:

• In a nutshell (meaning briefly)
• By the dozen (meaning in groups of twelve)
• On the brink (meaning close to happening)

Omission of Articles

While articles are common, they are omitted in some cases, such as when discussing plural nouns generally. For instance, we say “Books provide knowledge,” not “The books provide knowledge,” unless we mean a specific group of books.

Articles are also left out in headlines, titles, and instructions for simplicity, like:

• Mayor visits new town
• Take pie out of oven

Additionally, articles are usually omitted before names of languages, sports, and academic subjects.

Incorrect: She is learning the Japanese.

Correct: She is learning Japanese.

Incorrect: He enjoys the tennis on weekends.

Correct: He enjoys tennis on weekends.

Articles are not used with languages but they could be used while referring to population of the place e.g. “The Mexicans are known for their spicy food.”

When it comes to countries or continents, we use “the” in some cases, and no article in others. You just have to familiarise yourself with the ones that need ‘the’ or not. This is because there are not any rules to help.

Definite article ‘the’ is not used before:

• Lakes
• Mountains
• Continents
• Most countries
• Counties/states/provinces/regions
• Cities, towns, villages
• Islands
• Street names

 ‘the’ is used before:

• Rivers
• Mountain ranges
• Deserts
• Oceans and seas
• Groups of islands like Maldives
• Some countries like the USA or the Netherlands
• Points on the globe
• Geographical areas the Middle East

Wrap Up

Articles have too many rules but their correct use is essential to clear and accurate communication. They are not used in every language which makes them even harder to understand for some people. However, you can gain control of it by understanding its usage with different types of nouns. Articles can transform the message and add layers of meaning. You will find they are not just grammatical rules as you refine your understanding of articles. So, the next time you write or speak, remember that even the smallest words can make a big difference.