A, an, and the: clear everyday rules

The rule

Articles indicate how familiar an item is to your listener. Use a or an when introducing an unspecified singular countable noun that your listener cannot identify yet.

Example 1 of 3

Say it like this

Could you pass me a bowl from the kitchen shelf?

Use a bowl because any single bowl from the shelf will work.

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Example 2 of 3

Say it like this

Please take the bowl beside the sink.

Use the bowl because its position next to the sink identifies the exact item.

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Example 3 of 3

Say it like this

We need clean spoons and fresh water on the table.

Spoons and water take no article because they refer to unspecified plural items and an…

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Good to know

In connected speech, articles take weak forms: a sounds like /ə/, an sounds like /ən/, and the shifts between /ðə/ before consonants and /ði/ before vowels.

Quick check

Answer in your head. Answers next.

1. 1. Which noun from the kitchen list is uncountable and cannot take a directly before it in standard English?
   • A spoon
   • B water
   • C plate

Answers

1. 1. waterWater is an uncountable substance noun in this context, so it cannot take the singular article a.