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Articles: a / an / the

Definite and indefinite articles

Use 'a' before consonant sounds

'A' introduces a non-specific singular noun.

📊 Articles
Article Use Example
a before consonant sound a car
an before vowel sound an apple
the specific noun the car I saw
💬 Examples
a book
one book — not a specific one
📝 consonant sound: b
a university
one university — note the y sound
📝 u sounds like 'y' — consonant sound
Use 'an' before vowel sounds

'An' is used when the next sound is a vowel.

💬 Examples
an apple
one apple — starts with a vowel sound
📝 vowel sound: a
an hour
one hour — h is silent so vowel sound
📝 h is silent so it starts with a vowel sound
'The' refers to something specific

'The' is used for nouns both speaker and listener know.

💬 Examples
The book on the table
we both know which book
📝 specific book already identified
The sun is hot
there is only one sun — always specific
📝 only one sun — always specific