What to use - a/an or the?
The indefinite article a/an is used to talk about one particular person or thing when the listener does not know which one is meant.
- I saw a child in the toy store.
- She married an old man.
- A girl answered the phone.
The definite article is used when the listener knows which particular person or thing is meant.
- The child was crying. (You know which child - the one I met in the toy store.)
- I went to the doctor yesterday.
- The girl who answered the phone was polite. (You know which girl - the one who answered the phone.)
The first time you speak of something/somebody use a/an, the next time you repeat the same noun use the.
To talk about things in general, we normally use a singular countable noun with a/an.
- A spider has eight legs.
- An apple is red.
Note that we can also use a plural noun with no article to make a general statement.
- Children need love.
- Spiders have eight legs.
- Teachers must have patience.
- Apples are red.
- Computers are expensive.
Sometimes we use a singular noun with the to make general statements. This is particularly common before the names of instruments and inventions.
- Who invented the computer?
- I would like to learn the violin.
Sections in this article
NounsPlural Nouns
Formation of plurals
Compound nouns and their plurals
Irregular plurals
Possessive Nouns
Nouns that always require a plural verb
See also
Adverb clauses
Adjective clauses
Noun clauses
Transformation of sentences
See also
Common mistakes in the use of nouns
Common mistakes in the use of nouns | Exercise 1
Common mistakes in the use of nouns | Exercise 2
Common mistakes in the use of nouns | Exercise 3
More CBSE English Grammar worksheets
Passive voice worksheet | Simple past tensePassive voice worksheet | Past continuous tense
Passive voice worksheet | Simple future tense
Passive voice worksheet | Future perfect tense
