How to use “A”, “An” or “The”

By Binbin Xu

April 4, 2017

A, An and the are articles in English. A and An are indefinite articles and are used when referring to something for the first time. The is the definite article and is used to refer to specific objects.

Here are the rules for when to use “A, An or The”:
• a = indefinite article (not a specific object, one of a number of the same objects) with consonants. E.g. When introducing some term or idea in the introduction:
  • Data Jacket (DJ) is a technique for sharing information about data and for considering the potential value of datasets.
• an = indefinite article (not a specific object, one of a number of the same objects) with vowels (a,e,i,o,u)
  • Can I have an apple?
  • She is an English teacher.
• the = definite article (a specific object that both the person speaking and the listener know)
  • The car over there is fast.
  • The teacher is very good, isn’t he?
• The first time you speak of something use “a or an”, the next time you repeat that object use “the”.
  • E.g. SLAM is a computational projection technology.
• DO NOT use an article with countries, states, counties or provinces, lakes and mountains except when the country is a collection of states such as “The United States”.
  • He lives in Washington near Mount Rainier.
  • They live in northern British Columbia.
• Use an article with bodies of water, oceans and seas –
  • My country borders on the Pacific Ocean
• DO NOT use an article when you are speaking about things in general
  • I like Russian tea.
  • She likes reading books.
• DO NOT use an article when you are speaking about meals, places, and transport
  • He has breakfast at home.
  • I go to university.
  • He comes to work by taxi.