Indefinite article in English (indefinite article): all cases of use. Rules for using the definite and indefinite article The indefinite article is used only before

Let's first find out what an article is in English and why it is needed.

There is no article in Russian, so it is not always clear to us what it is and whether it is necessary to use it. Unfortunately, it is necessary, because the article lets us know what it is, defines it and classifies it. The absence of an article or its incorrect use can lead to misunderstandings and also make your speech illiterate.

Article- this is an auxiliary part of speech that does not have its own meaning, but indicates whether we are talking about some vague/unknown object representative of its class or about some specific object. In Russian, we use other linguistic means for this, for example, word order.

Wed. 1. I want a toy (i.e. I want some kind of toy).

(This) toy I want (i.e. I want this specific toy).

There are two articles in English - the definite (the) and the indefinite (a/an).

In English, the above examples would look like this:

I want a toy.
I want the toy.

In this article we will talk in detail about the indefinite article.

Historically indefinite article - word one(one), respectively, is used only with countable nouns and always in the singular. N.B.: You will never encounter an indefinite article with plural nouns!

A vs An

A and an are two forms of the indefinite article in English. The table clearly shows when each form is used.

Article form	When to use	Examples
A	if the first sound of the word is a consonant	a map (map), a shelf (shelf), a cat (cat)
	if u at the beginning of a word is pronounced as , because the sound [j] is considered a consonant	A union (union, association)
	if h at the beginning of the word is read, because [h] – consonant	a hunter (hunter), a horror film (horror film)
An	if the first sound of the word is a vowel	an elephant (elephant), an alarm (alarm), an infant (child)
	if u at the beginning of a word is pronounced [ʌ], because [ʌ] - vowel	an umbrella
	if h is not pronounced at the beginning of the word, because in this case the first sound pronounced is a vowel	an heir (heir)

When to use the indefinite article

Here are some rules for using the indefinite article in English with examples.

If we are talking about one person or one thing, still unknown to the interlocutor/reader, mentioned for the first time.

She bought a book yesterday. – Yesterday she bought (one kind of) book.
It happened in a town in England. – It happened in (some) small English town.

If we are talking about someone/something representing its class as opposed to someone/something of another class:

I have an apple. — I have an apple (apple, not pear/plum, etc.)
He wears a hat. - He wears a hat (a hat, not a cap/banana, etc.)

When we mean anyone, anyone from a given class of people/things

A child can do that. - (Any) child can do this.
A triangle has three angles.— (Any) triangle has three angles.

If a noun denotes who or what the person/thing in question is. Usually in a sentence there is such a noun:

a) the nominal part of a compound predicate

His mother is a — His mother is a teacher.
Mary wants to be an – Mary wants to be a translator.
This is a – This is a book .

b) application

My colleague, a teacher of math, has been offered a new job. – My colleague, a teacher, was offered a new position.
. Brown, a PR manager, will come tonight. – Mr. Brown, the PR specialist, will come this evening.

In design there is. In principle, this is a special case of point number 1, because this construction introduces a subject still unknown to our interlocutor.

There is a table in the room.— There is a table in the room.

Please note that in the plural there will either be no article, or there will be the words some, any, few, a few, many, or the exact quantity is indicated depending on the meaning.

There some pears on the table.— There are several pears on the table. (i.e. there are several pears on the table)
Are there any pears on the table?— Are there pears on the table? (i.e. are there any pears on the table?)
There are pears on the table. — There are pears on the table (not apples, peaches, etc.)
There are three pears on the table.— There are three pears on the table.

In sentences in which the indefinite article has the same meaning as the numeral one.

She will be here in an – She will be here in (one) hour.
They didn't‘ t utter a word. – They didn't say a single word.

Before a singular countable noun, if

a) this is an exclamation point what-sentence in meaning what the, what

What a beautiful shot you’ ve made! – What a wonderful photo you took!
What a wonderful song! – What a wonderful song!

b) this is a sentence with such, quite, rather; in this case the article comes before such, quite, rather

Kate is such an interesting girl.- Kate is such an interesting girl.
It’s quite an interesting film. – The film is very interesting.
He made rather a long way to come. – He had to come a long way.

*In modern language it is permissible to put an article before rather

c) this is a design with so And too

It’s too urgent a matter.- This is an extremely urgent matter.
They are solving not so simple a case. – They are investigating a very difficult case.

d) there is a classifying definition.

A rectangle with equal sides is called a square. – A rectangle with four equal sides is called a square.

e) there is a definition expressed by a numeral with a meaning another, one more

A third woman entered theroom. – Another woman entered the room.

We hope these rules will help you navigate. True, there are times when even the English are at a loss, but is an article necessary here? :-)

(When preparing the article, materials from the book “Practical Grammar of the English Language” by E.E. Izrailevich, K.N. Kachalova were used)

On my own the indefinite article in English (the Indefinite Article) serves to designate the category of uncertainty and is used only with singular countable nouns. The indefiniteness caused by the indefinite article in English has the meaning of “some, unknown what.” Indefinite articles in English indicate that an object belongs to some class of objects and carry a classifying meaning:

This is a cat. - It's a cat. (Unknown which one, one of the cats)

The history of the origin of the indefinite article in English

As for the history of the origin of the indefinite article a (an), it is believed that it came from the Old English word ān, i.e. “one” (one):

A coffee, please. - One coffee, please.
Wait a minute. - Wait one minute.

Using the indefinite article in English

The indefinite article in English has two forms - a and an. Form a is used before words beginning with a consonant: a tree (tree), a song, a finger (finger); the form an, in turn, is used before words starting with a vowel sound: an apple (apple), an elephant, an owl (owl).

Thus, the indefinite article is used in the following cases:

When we are talking about an object or a person as a representative of a particular class. Often this noun comes with an adjective that describes it. For example: It was a very interesting story.— It was a very interesting story. This is a pupil. He is a very good pupil.- He's a student. He is a very good student.
This type of article is used with singular nouns in constructions there is/ was/ will be, have (got), this is… For example: There is a table in the room. — There is a table in the room. This is a nice house. - This is a beautiful house.
When we mean everyone, any representative of a given class, the indefinite article is also used. For example: A baby can understand it. “Any child can understand this.”
When we are talking about an object or person unknown to the interlocutor, that is, this word is used in the text for the first time. For example: We saw a man in a dark coat. The man was holding a stick.— We saw a man in a dark coat. The man was carrying a cane.
In exclamatory sentences. For example: What a nice surprise! - What a pleasant surprise!
With the words “one hundred”, “thousand”, “million”, etc., meaning “one”. For example: a (one) hundred, a (one) thousend, a (one) million, etc.
In expressions such as per day, per hour, per year etc. For example: He calls his parents three times a day.— He calls his parents three times a day. We have four English classes a week.— We have four English lessons a week.
With singular countable nouns with words such, quite, rather. For example: It was such a sunny day! — It was such a sunny day! He is quite a tall boy for his age.— He is quite a tall boy for his age. She is rather a good cook. — She's a pretty good cook.
With uncountable nouns meaning "portion". For example: Would you like an ice-cream? -Will you have some ice cream?
With proper names meaning “some”, “some”. For example: I started working for a Mr. Rochester, but I haven’t seen him yet.“I started working for a certain Mr. Rochester, but I haven’t met him yet.”
With proper names meaning “one of”, “representative of a family or clan”. For example: It was met by a Burton. “I was met by one of the Burtons.”
With proper names meaning “work of art” (for example, a painting, a sculpture, a piece of music). For example: I sold him a Coin. — I sold him a Monet painting.

Thus, dear friends, indefinite article in English corresponds to the category of uncertainty and the meaning “one”, which one way or another we have to use both in writing and in speech in English.

The article is one of the determiners of a noun and is placed before the noun or before words that are definitions for it.

Indefinite article a(an - before words starting with a vowel) comes from the numeral one and means one of many, some, any.

I am a student. I am a student (one of many).
This is an apple. This is an apple (one of many).

If a noun in the singular is preceded by an indefinite article, then in the plural it is omitted.

This is a book. These are books.

Thus, the indefinite article a(an) can only be used before singular nouns.

The definite article the comes from the demonstrative pronoun that. Often translated by the words this, this, this, these. Used before nouns in both singular and plural.

The definite article is used:

When we are talking about a specific person or thing.
Where is the pen? Where's the pen? (known to us)

Before a noun if it is preceded by a superlative adjective or an ordinal number.
What is the longest river in the world? He was the first to come.

Before geographical names (names of oceans, seas, rivers, mountain ranges, parts of the world, etc.).
The Indian ocean, the Baltic sea, the North, the Thames, the Alps.

Before nouns that are unique in their kind.
What is the highest mountain in the world?

In a number of expressions such as
in the morning, in the evening, in the afternoon, etc.

If you are mentioning something for the first time, use the article a (an). The next time you mention this item or provide details, use the.

I have a dog.
The dog is black and has white ears.

Zero article. Articles are not used:

If any noun is used in its most general meaning.
Crime is a probe in most big cities. Crime as such, and not any specific crime.
Life has changed a lot in the last two years. Life as such, in general.

Before proper names (names of countries, cities, states, provinces, lakes, mountain peaks; the exception is the union of states or the plural in the name, for example, The United States, The Netherlands):
England, Russia, London, Mr. Johnson, Tuscany.

However, before surnames used in the plural to designate members of the same family, the definite article is used.
The Johnsons. Johnson family.

Before the names of seasons, months and days of the week.
He always goes to the South in summer. English classes are on Monday.

In cases where we are talking about eating, using transport, and also when we are talking about places (for example: home, work, hospital, university, church, prison, etc.)

I go home by bus.
I go to school. (I am a student)
We have dinner at 2 o’clock.

In the previous example - I go to school, the article is not used, since it is implied that I am a student, therefore, the purpose of going to school lies in the purpose of the building itself - study.

But such a situation is also possible: I go to the school. In this case, this means that the purpose of the visit to the school is different. For example, I go to the school, because I want to see the head master.

My mother is in hospital now. (She's ill.)
Every day I go to the hospital to see her.

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Indefinite article a/an in English (the indefinite article) has two forms:

a[ə] - used before consonants. That is, if a word begins with a consonant, use a:

a b ook, a t able, a m an a g irl a c computer, a t omato, a yacht [ jɒt], a unit [ ˈj uːnɪt]

an[ən] - used before vowels. That is, if a word begins with a vowel sound, use an:

an a pple, an e ngineer, an i dea, an o range an a nswer, an hour [ˈ aʊə(r)]

Please note that the choice of the form of the indefinite article is determined not by spelling, but by pronunciation.

For example, the word hour starts with a vowel sound, so we use the article an (an hour), although the first letter in writing is a consonant h. Or, for example, the word yacht (yacht) written with a vowel y, but the consonant sound [j] is pronounced, so we choose a (a yacht). Using different forms of the same article helps make speech harmonious, easy, and natural. Try to pronounce an apple or an book, and you will feel how difficult and uncomfortable it is.

Remember:

Indefinite article a/an used only with singular:

a pen(pen), a story(story), a chair(chair), a child(child), a flower(flower)

If the noun is used in the plural form, then there is no indefinite article. The absence of an article before a noun is usually called the "zero article".

pens(pens), stories(stories), chairs(chairs), children(children), flowers(flowers)

When to use the indefinite article a/an

Below you will find a description of the main uses of the indefinite article a/an in English.

№1

Indefinite article a/an used when we first mention an object or person. In this case, we assume that our interlocutor does not know what or who exactly we are talking about.

Yesterday I bought a handbag. — Yesterday I bought a handbag.
Up until this point, I hadn’t even talked about how I was going to buy a bag. That is, I mention this for the first time (my interlocutor knows nothing about this bag), hence the indefinite article a/an.

If you continue to talk about this bag, then the noun handbag (bag) will already be used with the definite article the, since this time the interlocutor knows which specific bag we are talking about:

Yesterday I bought a handbag. The handbag is very beautiful. — Yesterday I bought a handbag. The handbag is very beautiful.

Although most often a personal pronoun is used instead of a noun, it sounds more natural and avoids repetition:

Yesterday I bought a handbag. It is very beautiful. — Yesterday I bought a handbag. She is very beautiful.

№2

Indefinite article a/an is used when we are not talking about a given (specific) object or person, but simply about any, some, one of a group of the same objects or people. In other words, when we talk about an object or person in general, without having a specific one in mind skirt, work, handle or dog:

I want to buy a skirt. — I want to buy a skirt. (some kind of skirt, I don’t know which one yet; I only know that I want a skirt, not a dress)
He refused to look for a job. — He refused to look for work. (some kind of work)
Give me a pen, please. - Give me a pen, please. (any, any)
It is a dog. - This is a dog. (some dog, any dog)

When we are not talking about a specific object or person, but about anyone, then further, if we need to re-designate it, we do not use personal pronouns or the definite article the. And again we use the indefinite article a/an or pronoun one.

She wants a car but he says they don’t need one. “She wants a car, but he says they don’t need it.”
or
She wants a car but he says they don’t need a car. — She wants a car, but he says they don’t need a car.
She wants to have a car (not a motorcycle, not a bicycle, but some kind of car, so a car), but he says that they don’t need a car (they don’t need any car at all, not just a specific one). Since in the second part of the sentence we are again talking about any / indefinite machine, we again use a car.

№3

Indefinite article a/an we also use it to describe or give any information about something that has already been mentioned earlier. In this case, an adjective is often used before the noun. Please note that although the article comes before an adjective, it refers to a noun:

It is a beautiful place. - This is a beautiful place. (describe what this place is)
He is a clever boy. - He's a smart boy. (we characterize what kind of boy he is)
Do you live in a big house? — Do you live in a big house? (we ask which house)

When we talk about a person’s profession or work, we also use the indefinite article a/an:

She is a teacher. - She is a teacher.
I am a doctor. - I am a doctor.

№4

Historically indefinite article a/an came from the numeral one (one). Hence the possibility in some cases to replace the article a/an numeral one. Such a replacement is possible when the article a/an essentially means "one". For example, this meaning of the indefinite article is observed in numerals a hundred (one hundred), a thousand (thousand), a million (million) and in the word a dozen (dozen) when they are used independently or before a noun:

This toy costs a thousand roubles. = This toy costs one thousan d roubles. — This toy costs a thousand rubles (one thousand rubles).
Give me a dozen, please. = Give me one dozen, please. - Give me a dozen, please (one dozen).

It is precisely with the origin from the numeral one (one) and the meaning of the singularity of the indefinite article is associated, which is especially evident when expressing measures of time, distance, weight or quantity:

This chocolate bar costs a dollar. — This chocolate bar costs a dollar. (=one dollar, we can replace a dollar on one dollar)
I'll call you in an hour. - I'll call you in an hour. (=in one hour, we can replace an hour on one hour)
Can I have a kilo of tomatoes, please? — Can I have a kilogram of tomatoes, please? (=one kilogram, we can replace a kilo on one kilo)

Please note that the numeral one instead of an article a/an should only be used when you want to emphasize that you are talking about just one thing or person, that is, when you want to be very precise:

I have got one sister. - I have one sister. (not two sisters, not three, but only one)
I have got a sister. - I have a sister. (in this case I just say that I have a sister)

The meaning of the singularity of the indefinite article can be seen in some stable phrases that convey the one-time action:

have a look- take a look
have a snack- have a snack
have a try- try, try
have a rest- relax
have a good time- have a good time
give a chance- give a chance
give a hint- hint
give a lift- give me a ride
make a mistake- make a mistake
play a trick- play a trick

№5

Indefinite article a/an also used when it is necessary to indicate the quantity per unit of measurement. For example, when we talk about the price of oranges per kilogram, the amount of wages per month, the number of classes per week, or the speed of a car per hour. A noun denoting this same unit of measurement will be used with the indefinite article.

The oranges were 80 rubles a kilo. — Oranges cost 80 rubles per kilogram.
She works 8 hours a day. — She works 8 hours a day.
I go to aerobics twice a week. — I go to aerobics twice a week.

№6

Indefinite article a/an can also be used with some uncountable abstract nouns (for example, humor - humor, hatred - hatred, anger - anger, magic - magic) in the case when they have an adjective with them. Typically, such use of the indefinite article is characteristic of book style and expresses the author’s desire to emphasize the individual, special character of this or that abstract concept.

Please note that in the above case, the use of the indefinite article is optional. If you do not want to highlight in a certain way the special character of any emotion, character trait, etc., the article a/an may not be used.

On a note

To learn to use the indefinite article a/an more or less automatically, try to form a rule in your head: use the indefinite article with singular countable nouns when there is no other reason for using the definite article the or some other determiner (possessive or indefinite pronoun).

That is, the absence of an article. Let's consider when the article the is used, which, by the way, is, according to linguists, the most frequently occurring word in the English language, although, of course, it is difficult to call it a word.

How to use the definite article THE - the basic rule

Most of the rules for using the definite article the come down to the fact that the is placed before a noun that means something specific. The article the itself comes from the word that (this, that) - knowing this, it is easier to understand how it is used.

This is the place that we were talking about. - This is the place we were talking about.

You have the file that I need. – You have (the) document that I need.

The article here does not define, of course, but the noun defined by this adjective. The article the is needed because the superlative degree of a feature or person distinguishes it as unique:

This is the most delicious ice-cream in the world. – This is the most delicious ice cream in the world.

He is the smartest student in the university. – He is the smartest student at the university.

5. Before a series of adjectives implying the uniqueness of the subject.

These are words like same(same), only(the only one), left\right(left\right). Like superlative adjectives, they indicate specificity about what is being said.

This is the only way out. - This is the only way out.

Turn the left valve, please. – Turn the right valve, please.

My sister had the same problem. – My sister had the same problem.

6. Before ordinal numbers.

Ordinal – denoting number, not quantity. If an item is “first” or “twentieth,” this implies its relative uniqueness (in the context of the conversation). This also applies to words like the last(last), the previous(previous), which are similar in meaning to ordinal numbers.

Who was the first human in the space? – Who was the first man in space?

I am reading the third chapter now. – I’m reading the third chapter now.

Let's invite the previous candidate again. - Let's invite the previous candidate again.

This is the last warning. - This is the last warning.

7. Before people's names when talking about the family as a whole.

The surname is used in the plural, as in Russian.

I don't know the Allens, but they seem to be nice people. “I don’t know the Allens, but they seem like nice people.”

The Petrovs moved out on Monday. – The Petrovs moved out on Monday.

8. Before wordspast, present, future, winter, spring, summer, autumn (fall).

These words are worth highlighting separately because many tense expressions use the indefinite or zero article, for example: a week ago(a week ago) on Monday- on Monday. When talking about the past, future, present, we use the:

That is my plan for the future. - This is my plan for the future.

Whatever happened in the past, stays in the past. – Whatever happened in the past will remain in the past.

When we talk about seasons, we use the when we mean, say, the autumn of a particular year. When talking about the time of year in general, we use the zero or definite article:

I moved to London in the autumn of 2010. – I moved to London in the fall of 2010.
Poets love (the) autumn. – Poets love autumn.

Note: words autumn And fall means “autumn”, but autumn- this is the British version, fall– American.

9. Before some place names

– a rather confusing topic, I’ll highlight the main cases:

The article the is not needed before names of countries consisting of one word (Russia, Spain), but is needed before names that include words like federation, kingdom, states: the Russian Federation, the Kingdom of Spain, the United Stated of America.
The is also placed before place names used in the plural: the Netherlands(Netherlands), the Virgin Islands(Virgin Islands), the Urals(Ural Mountains).

The article THE before an adjective and pronoun

Any article, both the and a\an, can be used before an adjective. The article defines the noun, the attribute of which denotes this adjective:

This is the new guy I told you about. “This is the new guy I told you about.”

Have a nice day. - Have a nice day.

Neither the article the nor a\an is used before a possessive (my, his, your, etc.) or demonstrative (this, these, that, those) pronoun that defines a noun - it in itself speaks of ownership, and therefore specificity of the subject.

Wrong: Where is the my car?
Right: Where is my car?

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