Articles: a/an/the

Remember, using a or an depends on the sound that begins the next word Remember, using a or an depends on the sound that begins the next word. So...

• Remember, using a or an depends on the sound that begins the next word Remember, using a or an depends on the sound that begins the next word. So...
• a + singular noun beginning with a consonant: a boy; a car; a bike; a zoo; a dog
• an + singular noun beginning with a vowel: an elephant; an egg; an apple; an idiot; an orphan
• a + singular noun beginning with a consonant sound: a user (sounds like 'yoo-zer,' i.e. begins with a consonant 'y' sound, so 'a' is used); a university; a unicycle
• Remember that this rule also applies when you use acronyms:
• Introductory Composition at Purdue (ICaP) handles first-year writing at the University. Therefore, an ICaP memo generally discusses issues concerning English 106 instructors.

 If the 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:

•  If the 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:
• a broken egg
• an unusual problem
• a European country (sounds like 'yer-o-pi-an,' i.e. begins with consonant /j/ sound)
• Remember, too, that in English, the indefinite articles are used to indicate membership in a group: I am a teacher. (I am a member of a large group known as teachers.)
• Brian is an Irishman. (Brian is a member of the people known as Irish.)

Definite Article:

• Definite Article:
• theThe definite article is used before singular and plural nouns when the noun is specific or particular. The signals that the noun is definite, that it refers to a particular member of a group. For example:
• "The dog that bit me ran away." Here, we're talking about a specific dog, the dog that bit me.
• "I was happy to see the policeman who saved my cat!" Here, we're talking about a particular policeman. Even if we don't know the policeman's name, it's still a particular policeman because it is the one who saved the cat.
• "I saw the elephant at the zoo." Here, we're talking about a specific noun. Probably there is only one elephant at the zoo.