English Grammar 101: Articles

The words a, an, and the are generally called articles and sometimes classed as a separate part of speech. In function, however, they can be grouped with the demonstrative adjectives that are used to point things out rather than describe them.

Definite Article
The is called the definite article because it points out a particular object or class.
This is the book I was talking about.
The dodo bird is extinct.

Indefinite Article
A is called the indefinite article because it points out an object, but not any particular specimen.
a book, a dog, a lawn mower

The indefinite article has two forms:
A is used before words beginning with a consonant sound or an aspirated h:
a car, a lamb, a hope, a habit, a hotel

An is used before words beginning with a vowel sound:
an ape, an image, an untruth, an honorable man

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Maeve on May 21, 2008 | Filed Under Grammar 101

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3 Responses to “English Grammar 101: Articles”

jovie galaraga on May 29th, 2008 4:34 pm

When do we use “in” “on” in citing dates.

Thanks
Mohamed on May 31st, 2008 6:16 am

I want to improve my english
nomadiqve on June 3rd, 2008 1:19 am

hi, jovie!

we use “on” when followed by a complete date: i was born on august 1, 1980.

we use “in” when followed by an incomplete one: pope john paul II visited manila in january 1995.

i hope this helps!