[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"i-lucide:chevron-down":3,"i-lucide:graduation-cap":8,"i-lucide:list-ordered":10,"i-lucide:book-open":12,"i-lucide:type":14,"i-lucide:gamepad-2":16,"i-lucide:presentation":18,"i-lucide:languages":20,"i-lucide:layers":22,"i-lucide:menu":24,"i-lucide:house":26,"i-lucide:chevron-right":28,"i-simple-icons:mastodon":30,"i-simple-icons:bluesky":32,"i-simple-icons:x":34,"i-simple-icons:linkedin":36,"english-grammar-articles":39},{"left":4,"top":4,"width":5,"height":5,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":7},0,24,false,"\u003Cpath fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"m6 9l6 6l6-6\"\u002F>",{"left":4,"top":4,"width":5,"height":5,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":9},"\u003Cg fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\">\u003Cpath d=\"M21.42 10.922a1 1 0 0 0-.019-1.838L12.83 5.18a2 2 0 0 0-1.66 0L2.6 9.08a1 1 0 0 0 0 1.832l8.57 3.908a2 2 0 0 0 1.66 0zM22 10v6\"\u002F>\u003Cpath d=\"M6 12.5V16a6 3 0 0 0 12 0v-3.5\"\u002F>\u003C\u002Fg>",{"left":4,"top":4,"width":5,"height":5,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":11},"\u003Cpath fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M11 5h10m-10 7h10m-10 7h10M4 4h1v5M4 9h2m.5 11H3.4c0-1 2.6-1.925 2.6-3.5a1.5 1.5 0 0 0-2.6-1.02\"\u002F>",{"left":4,"top":4,"width":5,"height":5,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":13},"\u003Cpath fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M12 7v14m-9-3a1 1 0 0 1-1-1V4a1 1 0 0 1 1-1h5a4 4 0 0 1 4 4a4 4 0 0 1 4-4h5a1 1 0 0 1 1 1v13a1 1 0 0 1-1 1h-6a3 3 0 0 0-3 3a3 3 0 0 0-3-3z\"\u002F>",{"left":4,"top":4,"width":5,"height":5,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":15},"\u003Cpath fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M12 4v16M4 7V5a1 1 0 0 1 1-1h14a1 1 0 0 1 1 1v2M9 20h6\"\u002F>",{"left":4,"top":4,"width":5,"height":5,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":17},"\u003Cpath fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M6 11h4M8 9v4m7-1h.01M18 10h.01m-.69-5H6.68a4 4 0 0 0-3.978 3.59l-.017.152C2.604 9.416 2 14.456 2 16a3 3 0 0 0 3 3c1 0 1.5-.5 2-1l1.414-1.414A2 2 0 0 1 9.828 16h4.344a2 2 0 0 1 1.414.586L17 18c.5.5 1 1 2 1a3 3 0 0 0 3-3c0-1.545-.604-6.584-.685-7.258q-.01-.075-.017-.151A4 4 0 0 0 17.32 5\"\u002F>",{"left":4,"top":4,"width":5,"height":5,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":19},"\u003Cpath fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M2 3h20m-1 0v11a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H5a2 2 0 0 1-2-2V3m4 18l5-5l5 5\"\u002F>",{"left":4,"top":4,"width":5,"height":5,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":21},"\u003Cpath fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"m5 8l6 6m-7 0l6-6l2-3M2 5h12M7 2h1m14 20l-5-10l-5 10m2-4h6\"\u002F>",{"left":4,"top":4,"width":5,"height":5,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":23},"\u003Cg fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\">\u003Cpath d=\"M12.83 2.18a2 2 0 0 0-1.66 0L2.6 6.08a1 1 0 0 0 0 1.83l8.58 3.91a2 2 0 0 0 1.66 0l8.58-3.9a1 1 0 0 0 0-1.83z\"\u002F>\u003Cpath d=\"M2 12a1 1 0 0 0 .58.91l8.6 3.91a2 2 0 0 0 1.65 0l8.58-3.9A1 1 0 0 0 22 12\"\u002F>\u003Cpath d=\"M2 17a1 1 0 0 0 .58.91l8.6 3.91a2 2 0 0 0 1.65 0l8.58-3.9A1 1 0 0 0 22 17\"\u002F>\u003C\u002Fg>",{"left":4,"top":4,"width":5,"height":5,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":25},"\u003Cpath fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M4 5h16M4 12h16M4 19h16\"\u002F>",{"left":4,"top":4,"width":5,"height":5,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":27},"\u003Cg fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\">\u003Cpath d=\"M15 21v-8a1 1 0 0 0-1-1h-4a1 1 0 0 0-1 1v8\"\u002F>\u003Cpath d=\"M3 10a2 2 0 0 1 .709-1.528l7-6a2 2 0 0 1 2.582 0l7 6A2 2 0 0 1 21 10v9a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H5a2 2 0 0 1-2-2z\"\u002F>\u003C\u002Fg>",{"left":4,"top":4,"width":5,"height":5,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":29},"\u003Cpath fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"m9 18l6-6l-6-6\"\u002F>",{"left":4,"top":4,"width":5,"height":5,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":31},"\u003Cpath fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M23.268 5.313c-.35-2.578-2.617-4.61-5.304-5.004C17.51.242 15.792 0 11.813 0h-.03c-3.98 0-4.835.242-5.288.309C3.882.692 1.496 2.518.917 5.127C.64 6.412.61 7.837.661 9.143c.074 1.874.088 3.745.26 5.611c.118 1.24.325 2.47.62 3.68c.55 2.237 2.777 4.098 4.96 4.857c2.336.792 4.849.923 7.256.38q.398-.092.786-.213c.585-.184 1.27-.39 1.774-.753a.06.06 0 0 0 .023-.043v-1.809a.05.05 0 0 0-.02-.041a.05.05 0 0 0-.046-.01a20.3 20.3 0 0 1-4.709.545c-2.73 0-3.463-1.284-3.674-1.818a5.6 5.6 0 0 1-.319-1.433a.053.053 0 0 1 .066-.054c1.517.363 3.072.546 4.632.546c.376 0 .75 0 1.125-.01c1.57-.044 3.224-.124 4.768-.422q.059-.011.11-.024c2.435-.464 4.753-1.92 4.989-5.604c.008-.145.03-1.52.03-1.67c.002-.512.167-3.63-.024-5.545m-3.748 9.195h-2.561V8.29c0-1.309-.55-1.976-1.67-1.976c-1.23 0-1.846.79-1.846 2.35v3.403h-2.546V8.663c0-1.56-.617-2.35-1.848-2.35c-1.112 0-1.668.668-1.67 1.977v6.218H4.822V8.102q0-1.965 1.011-3.12c.696-.77 1.608-1.164 2.74-1.164c1.311 0 2.302.5 2.962 1.498l.638 1.06l.638-1.06c.66-.999 1.65-1.498 2.96-1.498c1.13 0 2.043.395 2.74 1.164q1.012 1.155 1.012 3.12z\"\u002F>",{"left":4,"top":4,"width":5,"height":5,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":33},"\u003Cpath fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M5.202 2.857C7.954 4.922 10.913 9.11 12 11.358c1.087-2.247 4.046-6.436 6.798-8.501C20.783 1.366 24 .213 24 3.883c0 .732-.42 6.156-.667 7.037c-.856 3.061-3.978 3.842-6.755 3.37c4.854.826 6.089 3.562 3.422 6.299c-5.065 5.196-7.28-1.304-7.847-2.97c-.104-.305-.152-.448-.153-.327c0-.121-.05.022-.153.327c-.568 1.666-2.782 8.166-7.847 2.97c-2.667-2.737-1.432-5.473 3.422-6.3c-2.777.473-5.899-.308-6.755-3.369C.42 10.04 0 4.615 0 3.883c0-3.67 3.217-2.517 5.202-1.026\"\u002F>",{"left":4,"top":4,"width":5,"height":5,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":35},"\u003Cpath fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M14.234 10.162L22.977 0h-2.072l-7.591 8.824L7.251 0H.258l9.168 13.343L.258 24H2.33l8.016-9.318L16.749 24h6.993zm-2.837 3.299l-.929-1.329L3.076 1.56h3.182l5.965 8.532l.929 1.329l7.754 11.09h-3.182z\"\u002F>",{"left":4,"top":4,"width":5,"height":5,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":37,"hidden":38},"\u003Cpath fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M20.447 20.452h-3.554v-5.569c0-1.328-.027-3.037-1.852-3.037c-1.853 0-2.136 1.445-2.136 2.939v5.667H9.351V9h3.414v1.561h.046c.477-.9 1.637-1.85 3.37-1.85c3.601 0 4.267 2.37 4.267 5.455v6.286zM5.337 7.433a2.06 2.06 0 0 1-2.063-2.065a2.064 2.064 0 1 1 2.063 2.065m1.782 13.019H3.555V9h3.564zM22.225 0H1.771C.792 0 0 .774 0 1.729v20.542C0 23.227.792 24 1.771 24h20.451C23.2 24 24 23.227 24 22.271V1.729C24 .774 23.2 0 22.222 0z\"\u002F>",true,{"id":40,"title":41,"author":42,"body":43,"cefrLevel":760,"date":42,"description":761,"exercises":42,"extension":762,"faqs":763,"gcseTier":42,"intro":42,"language":776,"lastUpdated":42,"meta":777,"navigation":38,"path":778,"seo":779,"stem":780,"verbSlugs":42,"__hash__":781},"pages\u002Fenglish\u002Fgrammar\u002Farticles.md","Articles in English: a, an, the and the zero article",null,{"type":44,"value":45,"toc":749},"minimark",[46,63,68,71,126,129,151,191,195,207,219,237,240,333,339,359,363,376,382,432,436,443,446,505,508,528,532,535,580,591,595,598,677,680,684,694,743],[47,48,49,50,54,55,58,59,62],"p",{},"Articles are the small words in front of a noun: ",[51,52,53],"em",{},"a",", ",[51,56,57],{},"an"," and ",[51,60,61],{},"the",". English\ngives you three options, and the third one is to use nothing at all. Choosing\nbetween them is one of the hardest things in English for anyone whose first\nlanguage has no articles - Russian, Polish, Mandarin, Japanese and many others\nmanage perfectly well without them. The good news: the system is small, and a\nfew clear rules cover most of what you will ever say.",[64,65,67],"h2",{"id":66},"the-three-choices","The three choices",[47,69,70],{},"Every time you put a noun in a sentence, you are choosing between three things:",[72,73,74,90],"table",{},[75,76,77],"thead",{},[78,79,80,84,87],"tr",{},[81,82,83],"th",{},"Choice",[81,85,86],{},"Words",[81,88,89],{},"Use it for",[91,92,93,105,115],"tbody",{},[78,94,95,99,102],{},[96,97,98],"td",{},"Indefinite article",[96,100,101],{},"a, an",[96,103,104],{},"One thing, not specific, often mentioned for the first time",[78,106,107,110,112],{},[96,108,109],{},"Definite article",[96,111,61],{},[96,113,114],{},"A specific thing, or one both speaker and listener already know",[78,116,117,120,123],{},[96,118,119],{},"Zero article",[96,121,122],{},"(nothing)",[96,124,125],{},"General plurals, uncountable nouns, most names",[47,127,128],{},"Compare the three in one set:",[130,131,132,139,145],"ul",{},[133,134,135,138],"li",{},[51,136,137],{},"I bought a book."," (one book, you do not know which)",[133,140,141,144],{},[51,142,143],{},"I bought the book."," (a specific book we both know about)",[133,146,147,150],{},[51,148,149],{},"I like books."," (books in general, no single item)",[47,152,153,154,158,159,162,163,166,167,170,171,174,175,58,177,179,180,183,184,187,188,190],{},"One idea sits underneath all three: ",[155,156,157],"strong",{},"countable versus uncountable."," Countable\nnouns can be counted and have a plural (",[51,160,161],{},"one dog, two dogs","); uncountable nouns\ncannot (",[51,164,165],{},"water, music, information"," - never ",[51,168,169],{},"waters"," in the everyday sense, never\n",[51,172,173],{},"two musics","). This matters because ",[51,176,53],{},[51,178,57],{}," only ever go with singular\ncountable nouns. You can say ",[51,181,182],{},"a problem"," but not ",[51,185,186],{},"an information"," - for\nuncountable nouns the choice is between ",[51,189,61],{}," and the zero article.",[64,192,194],{"id":193},"a-and-an-the-indefinite-article","A and an: the indefinite article",[47,196,197,198,200,201,203,204],{},"Use ",[51,199,53],{}," or ",[51,202,57],{}," with a singular countable noun when it is not specific, or when\nyou mention it for the first time. ",[51,205,206],{},"A dog ran past. I need a pen. She is a\nteacher.",[47,208,209,210,58,212,214,215,218],{},"The choice between ",[51,211,53],{},[51,213,57],{}," depends on ",[155,216,217],{},"sound, not spelling."," This is the\nrule learners most often get wrong, because they look at the first letter\ninstead of listening to the first sound.",[130,220,221,229],{},[133,222,197,223,225,226],{},[155,224,53],{}," before a consonant sound: ",[51,227,228],{},"a cat, a house, a job.",[133,230,197,231,233,234],{},[155,232,57],{}," before a vowel sound: ",[51,235,236],{},"an apple, an egg, an idea.",[47,238,239],{},"The tricky cases are where the letter and the sound disagree:",[72,241,242,255],{},[75,243,244],{},[78,245,246,249,252],{},[81,247,248],{},"Word",[81,250,251],{},"Article",[81,253,254],{},"Why",[91,256,257,268,278,289,300,311,322],{},[78,258,259,262,265],{},[96,260,261],{},"university",[96,263,264],{},"a university",[96,266,267],{},"starts with a \"you\" sound (consonant)",[78,269,270,273,276],{},[96,271,272],{},"European",[96,274,275],{},"a European",[96,277,267],{},[78,279,280,283,286],{},[96,281,282],{},"one-way street",[96,284,285],{},"a one-way street",[96,287,288],{},"starts with a \"wun\" sound (consonant)",[78,290,291,294,297],{},[96,292,293],{},"hour",[96,295,296],{},"an hour",[96,298,299],{},"the h is silent, starts with \"our\"",[78,301,302,305,308],{},[96,303,304],{},"honest",[96,306,307],{},"an honest answer",[96,309,310],{},"the h is silent, starts with \"on\"",[78,312,313,316,319],{},[96,314,315],{},"MP",[96,317,318],{},"an MP",[96,320,321],{},"the letter M is said \"em\" (vowel sound)",[78,323,324,327,330],{},[96,325,326],{},"FBI",[96,328,329],{},"an FBI agent",[96,331,332],{},"F is said \"ef\" (vowel sound)",[47,334,335,336,338],{},"Say the word out loud. If your mouth opens on a vowel sound, use ",[51,337,57],{},".",[47,340,341,342,58,344,346,347,200,349,351,352,354,355,358],{},"A second job of ",[51,343,53],{},[51,345,57],{}," is to introduce something for the first time. The\nfirst time a thing appears it is new to the listener, so it takes ",[51,348,53],{},[51,350,57],{},";\nafter that it is known, so it switches to ",[51,353,61],{},". ",[51,356,357],{},"A car stopped outside. The car\nwas bright red."," This first-mention-then-the pattern runs through almost every\nstory and explanation in English.",[64,360,362],{"id":361},"the-the-definite-article","The: the definite article",[47,364,197,365,367,368,371,372,375],{},[51,366,61],{}," when the noun is specific - when both you and the listener know\nexactly which one you mean. ",[51,369,370],{},"The"," works with singular, plural and uncountable\nnouns alike (",[51,373,374],{},"the cat, the cats, the water",").",[47,377,378,379,381],{},"You use ",[51,380,61],{}," in these situations:",[130,383,384,393,402,411,419],{},[133,385,386,389,390],{},[155,387,388],{},"Second mention."," Once a thing is introduced, it becomes known. ",[51,391,392],{},"I saw a man.\nThe man was carrying a dog.",[133,394,395,398,399],{},[155,396,397],{},"Only one of it exists."," ",[51,400,401],{},"the sun, the moon, the sky, the internet, the\nQueen, the government.",[133,403,404,398,407,410],{},[155,405,406],{},"The listener already knows which one.",[51,408,409],{},"Can you shut the door?"," (the door of\nthis room - there is no doubt which one).",[133,412,413,398,416],{},[155,414,415],{},"Superlatives and ordinals.",[51,417,418],{},"the best, the biggest, the first, the last, the\nonly.",[133,420,421,424,425,428,429,375],{},[155,422,423],{},"Certain place types and named groups."," Rivers, seas, deserts and mountain\nranges (",[51,426,427],{},"the Thames, the Atlantic, the Sahara, the Alps","), and country names\nthat are groups or contain a common noun (",[51,430,431],{},"the UK, the USA, the Netherlands",[64,433,435],{"id":434},"the-zero-article-using-no-article","The zero article: using no article",[47,437,438,439,442],{},"Often the correct choice is to use no article at all. This is the ",[155,440,441],{},"zero\narticle",", and it is not laziness - it is a deliberate option with its own rules.",[47,444,445],{},"Use no article with:",[130,447,448,457,465,481,489,497],{},[133,449,450,398,453,456],{},[155,451,452],{},"General plural nouns.",[51,454,455],{},"Dogs are loyal. Cars pollute. Children grow fast.","\nYou are talking about the whole class of thing, not specific ones.",[133,458,459,398,462],{},[155,460,461],{},"Uncountable nouns in general.",[51,463,464],{},"I like music. Water is essential. She gives\ngood advice.",[133,466,467,398,470,473,474,476,477,480],{},[155,468,469],{},"Most countries, cities and continents.",[51,471,472],{},"France, Spain, Tokyo, Africa.","\n(The exceptions with ",[51,475,61],{}," are the groups above: ",[51,478,479],{},"the UK, the USA",".)",[133,482,483,398,486],{},[155,484,485],{},"People's names.",[51,487,488],{},"Maria called. I spoke to Mr Smith.",[133,490,491,398,494],{},[155,492,493],{},"Languages.",[51,495,496],{},"He speaks Spanish. I am learning Mandarin.",[133,498,499,398,502],{},[155,500,501],{},"Meals.",[51,503,504],{},"We had lunch. Breakfast is ready.",[47,506,507],{},"The same noun can take all three options depending on meaning:",[130,509,510,516,522],{},[133,511,512,515],{},[51,513,514],{},"Coffee is grown near the equator."," (coffee in general - zero article)",[133,517,518,521],{},[51,519,520],{},"I bought a coffee."," (one cup - indefinite)",[133,523,524,527],{},[51,525,526],{},"The coffee is cold."," (this specific coffee - definite)",[64,529,531],{"id":530},"a-simple-decision-table","A simple decision table",[47,533,534],{},"When you are stuck, ask three questions in order.",[72,536,537,547],{},[75,538,539],{},[78,540,541,544],{},[81,542,543],{},"Question",[81,545,546],{},"Then",[91,548,549,559,569],{},[78,550,551,554],{},[96,552,553],{},"Is it specific \u002F already known?",[96,555,556,557],{},"Yes -> use ",[155,558,61],{},[78,560,561,564],{},[96,562,563],{},"Is it a general plural or uncountable noun?",[96,565,556,566],{},[155,567,568],{},"no article",[78,570,571,574],{},[96,572,573],{},"Is it one non-specific countable thing?",[96,575,556,576,579],{},[155,577,578],{},"a \u002F an"," (check the sound)",[47,581,582,583,587,588,590],{},"Most decisions fall out of those three checks. Run _I saw ",[584,585,586],"code",{},"___"," elephant at\n",[584,589,586],{}," zoo_ through them: an elephant (one, non-specific, vowel sound) at the zoo\n(a specific, known place).",[64,592,594],{"id":593},"common-mistakes","Common mistakes",[47,596,597],{},"Ranked by how often they actually appear:",[599,600,601,618,631,658],"ol",{},[133,602,603,606,607,200,610,613,614,617],{},[155,604,605],{},"Dropping articles completely."," Speakers of article-free languages say ",[51,608,609],{},"I am\nstudent",[51,611,612],{},"I have car",". English needs one: ",[51,615,616],{},"I am a student. I have a car.","\nThis is the single most common error.",[133,619,620,398,623,626,627,630],{},[155,621,622],{},"Using a or an by the letter instead of the sound.",[51,624,625],{},"An university, a hour,\nan European"," are all wrong. It is ",[51,628,629],{},"a university, an hour, a European"," - listen\nto the first sound, not the spelling.",[133,632,633,398,636,639,640,643,644,647,648,651,652,647,655,375],{},[155,634,635],{},"Overusing the with general plurals.",[51,637,638],{},"I like the dogs"," means specific dogs\nyou can both see. If you mean dogs in general, drop the article: ",[51,641,642],{},"I like dogs.","\nThe same trap hits ",[51,645,646],{},"the life is hard"," (should be ",[51,649,650],{},"life is hard",") and ",[51,653,654],{},"the\nnature",[51,656,657],{},"nature",[133,659,660,398,663,666,667,54,670,673,674],{},[155,661,662],{},"Adding the to names, languages and meals.",[51,664,665],{},"the Spanish"," (the language),\n",[51,668,669],{},"the Maria",[51,671,672],{},"the breakfast"," are wrong. Say ",[51,675,676],{},"Spanish, Maria, breakfast.",[47,678,679],{},"A note for the variety-conscious: there is no British versus American\ndifference worth flagging here. The article rules above hold in both.",[64,681,683],{"id":682},"practice","Practice",[47,685,686,687,54,689,54,691,693],{},"Choose ",[51,688,53],{},[51,690,57],{},[51,692,61],{}," or no article (-). Answers are below.",[599,695,696,705,714,723,731],{},[133,697,698,699,701,702,704],{},"She is ",[584,700,586],{}," engineer at ",[584,703,586],{}," Google.",[133,706,707,708,710,711,713],{},"I love ",[584,709,586],{}," music, especially ",[584,712,586],{}," jazz.",[133,715,716,717,719,720,722],{},"We waited for ",[584,718,586],{}," hour, but ",[584,721,586],{}," bus never came.",[133,724,725,727,728,730],{},[584,726,586],{}," sun was setting over ",[584,729,586],{}," Atlantic.",[133,732,733,734,736,737,739,740,742],{},"He is ",[584,735,586],{}," honest man and ",[584,738,586],{}," best teacher in ",[584,741,586],{}," school.",[47,744,745,748],{},[155,746,747],{},"Answers:"," 1. an engineer, - Google (company names take no article) 2. - music\n(general), - jazz (general) 3. an hour (silent h, vowel sound), the bus (a\nspecific bus we are waiting for) 4. The sun (only one), the Atlantic (seas take\nthe) 5. an honest man (silent h), the best (superlative), the school (a specific,\nknown school)",{"title":750,"searchDepth":751,"depth":751,"links":752},"",2,[753,754,755,756,757,758,759],{"id":66,"depth":751,"text":67},{"id":193,"depth":751,"text":194},{"id":361,"depth":751,"text":362},{"id":434,"depth":751,"text":435},{"id":530,"depth":751,"text":531},{"id":593,"depth":751,"text":594},{"id":682,"depth":751,"text":683},"A1","How to use articles in English. The a, an and the rules, when to use no article at all, and the sound rule that explains a university but an hour.","md",[764,767,770,773],{"q":765,"a":766},"What are the articles in English?","English has three choices: the indefinite article a or an, the definite article the, and no article at all (the zero article). You use a or an for a non-specific singular thing, the for something specific or already known, and no article for general plurals and uncountable nouns.",{"q":768,"a":769},"Is it a university or an university?","It is a university. The choice between a and an depends on sound, not spelling. University starts with a y sound (you-niversity), which is a consonant sound, so it takes a. The same logic gives a European and a one-way street.",{"q":771,"a":772},"Why do we say an hour and not a hour?","Because the h in hour is silent, so the word begins with a vowel sound (our). An goes before a vowel sound, which is why we also say an honest man and an MP (em starts with a vowel sound).",{"q":774,"a":775},"When do I use no article in English?","Use no article (the zero article) with general plural nouns (Dogs are loyal), uncountable nouns (I like music), most countries and cities, people's names, languages, and meals (We had lunch). These talk about things in general, not one specific item.","english",{},"\u002Fenglish\u002Fgrammar\u002Farticles",{"title":41,"description":761},"english\u002Fgrammar\u002Farticles","8d-FYyEu7rrqj4HH4DGJ9lbzUd-qiynTqNUjQ-RmX0c"]