How to Use Articles in English Grammar
Tips for ESL Students and Native Speakers Alike
Those who have always spoken English have always used articles. Most have always used them correctly. Often, native English speakers don't even think about articles in their own grammar. Almost innately, they know when it’s appropriate to say “the dog ate my homework” and when it’s more accurate to say “a dog” ate it.
Unlike native English speakers, who can intuit the appropriate times to use each article in their own speech and writing, ESL students lack the years of hearing English spoken that is required to develop that intuition for grammar. But the real trouble English language learners face is that native speakers don’t know how to explain articles in any more depth than “It just sounds right.” So here are a few article tips to keep in mind, both for the English speaker and the English learner.
What are Articles?
Articles are among the most common words in the English language – “a,” “an,” and “the.” In general, articles are used with common nouns to show whether they are general or specific. “A” and “an” are called indefinite articles and are used with nonspecific nouns. “The” is the definite article and is used with specific common nouns. Of course, there are some common nouns that require no article at all, and some proper nouns do require articles. This is where a few simple rules will come in handy for ESL students, or even for native speakers curious about little-known English word usage.
Articles With Common Nouns
Whether to use articles with common nouns depends not only on specificity, but also on whether the nouns are singular, plural, countable, or uncountable. Common nouns that are plural and general never use articles, as in “Koalas eat eucalyptus leaves.” Common nouns that are singular, countable, and general use indefinite articles: “A bear ransacked our camp” or “An apple can have red, yellow, or green skin.” Any time a common noun refers to a specific entity, the definite article is used: "The dog ate my homework."
Articles With Proper Nouns
Most proper nouns don’t require any articles ("Atlanta has many theatres"; "Billy stole my lunch money"), but there are a few kinds of proper nouns that do. According to The Thomson Handbook [Thomson-Wadsworth 2007], these are bodies of water, physical structures, and time periods and historical events. These all require the definite article, “the”: “The Atlantic Ocean is home to cod,” “The Golden Gate Bridge spans 1.7 miles,” or “The French Revolution shook all of Europe.”
Though the rules of article use in English grammar may seem arbitrary or nonexistent, close examination reveals a definite method to them. With study, practice, and plenty of active listening, using articles can become second nature to any English language learner.
The Elusive Indefinite Article
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