Let's Talk About 'Articles'

Articles
These are modifiers used before nouns to indicate whether the speaker is referring to specific persons, places or things, or whether he is referring to them in a generic way.


A and AN
'A' and 'an' are called indefinite articles and indicate general reference. They are singular in form and cannot be used with plural nouns.


'The' is a definite article and indicates specific reference. It may be used with both singular and plural nouns.
Examples:
An illustration is placed on the board to make my point more understandable.
The illustration he presented is clear and understandable. 


Use 'a' when the following noun begins with a consonant and 'an' with nouns that begin with a vowel (a, e, i, o, u)


Examples:
a book    an egg
a pen      an apple
a dog      an igloo 


But the difference between 'a' and 'an' is one of pronunciation, so we also use 'an' in front of a silent 'h' because judging only by sound, the word begins with the vowel that follows the 'h'.


Examples:
an honor
an herb


We also use 'a' before words that starts with a vowel when their pronunciation sounds like 'you'.


Examples:
a European
a unit
a university


If a noun is modified by an adjective, the choice between 'a' and 'an' depends on the initial sound of the adjective that immediately follows the article:


Examples:
a broken egg
an unusual problem




THE
The definite article 'the' is used with mass nouns for specific reference. It's not used with noncountable nouns referring to something general in use.


Examples:
(no article) Coffee is being brewed inside the cafeteria.
(no article) Japanese was his native language.


'The' is used with non-countable nouns that are made more specific by a limiting modifying phrase or clause.


Examples:
The coffee in my cup is too hot to drink
The Japanese he speaks is often heard in the country-side.


'The' is also used when a noun is referring to something that is unique.


Examples:
The Universe
The White House
The theory of relativity




WHEN NOT TO USE AN ARTICLE:


1. Names of languages and nationalities
a. Chinese 
b. English 
c. Spanish 
d.    except if it's being used as an adjective. (Many people in the US speaks the Spanish Language.)


2. Names of sports
a. volleyball
b. hockey
c. baseball


3. Names of academic subjects
a. mathematics
b. biology
c. history


4, Names of countries
a.     Italy
b.    Mexico
c.   except if the words “united,” “union,” “republic” is in the name or if the word “of” is in it like the Netherlands and the US, the Republic of China, The Philippines, The United Kingdom


5. Names of cities
a.    Manila
b.    Morocco
c.    Seoul


6. Names of streets, boulevards, lanes, roads or avenues
a.    Araneta street
b.    Sampaloc
c.    Aurora Blvd.


7. Names of lakes, bays, parks, malls and stadiums
a.    Manila bay
b.    Discovery Park
c.    SM
d.    Husky stadium
f.    except with a group of lakes like the Great Lakes



8. Names of mountains
a.   Mount Everest
b.   Mount Fiji
c.   except with ranges of mountains like the Andes or the Rockies or unusual names like the Matterhorn 


9.   Names of continents
a.   Europe
b.   East
c.   North America


10. Names of islands
a.   Easter Island
b.   Jeju Island
c.    except with island chains like the Aleutians, the Hebrides, or the Canary Islands 


11.  Names of diseases
a.    measles
b.    Tuberculosis
c.    colds


12.  Before directions
- North, east, south or west if the word follows a verb. (She is driving north right now)


13. Names of universities and colleges
a.    Boston University 
b.   New York University
c.   except there is 'of' in the name of the university like the University of the Philippines


14.  Ordinal numbers
- first, second, third, fourth, next or last when there is a list. (When making a pie, first you have to...)
- Use an article before ordinal numbers when they are used as adjectives (She is the first person to arrive.)


15. With the words 'few' or 'little'
- if the meaning is negative. (Sorry I have little time)
- use an article if the meaning is positive. (I can help you with that. I have a few ideas)