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Understanding English Articles: A, An, and The
Articles are special words that we use before nouns. They help us know if we are talking about something specific or something general.
The Indefinite Articles: A and An
We use 'a' and 'an' when we talk about something for the first time or something that is not specific. They mean 'one' of something.
Important Points
'A' is used before words that start with a consonant sound.
'An' is used before words that start with a vowel sound.
Remember, it's the sound that matters, not just the letter.
Examples
I have a cat.
She wants an apple.
He is reading a book.
The Definite Article: The
We use 'the' when we talk about something specific, something we already know about, or there is only one of.
Important Points
'The' is used when both the speaker and listener know what is being talked about.
Use 'the' for things that are unique or one of a kind.
'The' is used before both singular and plural nouns.
Examples
The sun is bright today.
Please pass me the salt.
We went to the park yesterday.
Special Cases
Sometimes, we don't need an article at all. This happens with some proper nouns, like names of people or places, and when talking about things in general.
Important Points
No article is used with names: 'John', 'London'.
No article is used when talking about things in general: 'Dogs are friendly.'
Examples
She loves dogs.
We visited Paris last summer.
Water is essential for life.
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