English has three articles: a, an and the. They go before a noun (or before an adjective + noun) and tell the listener whether you mean any example of something or a specific one. Sometimes the right choice is no article at all — and that "zero article" is where most mistakes happen.

What is an article in grammar?

An article is a word placed before a noun to show whether the noun is specific or general. In modern grammar, articles belong to a group of words called determiners (with this, that, my, some, every). Traditional school grammar lists them as a kind of adjective — so if you're asked "a, an and the are what part of speech?", both "articles/determiners" and "adjectives" are accepted answers depending on your textbook. See parts of speech.

Is "an" an article? Yes. A and an are the same article — the indefinite article — in two forms. An is simply the version used before a vowel sound.

Definite and indefinite articles

ArticleTypeMeaningUsed withExample
a / anIndefiniteone, any, not specificsingular countable nouns onlyI need a pen. She ate an apple.
theDefinitethis specific one — we both know whichsingular, plural and uncountable nounsThe pen on the desk is mine.
(no article)Zero articlethings in generalplural and uncountable nounsPens are cheap. Water is essential.
I saw a dog in the park. The dog was chasing a ball. → first mention = a; second mention = the

A or an? The rule is sound, not spelling

a + consonant sound  ·  an + vowel sound

Look at the first sound of the next word, not its first letter. The next word may be an adjective: a big apple but an old apple.

  • an apple, an egg, an idea, an orange, an umbrella
  • a book, a car, a dog, a house, a teacher

A/an exceptions you need to know

Spelling starts with…But sounds like…So useExamples
silent ha vowelanan hour, an honest person, an honour, an heir
u pronounced "yoo"/j/ — a consonantaa university, a uniform, a useful tip, a unique idea, a European country
o pronounced "w"/w/ — a consonantaa one-day trip, a once-in-a-lifetime chance
a letter said as "em, en, ef, ess, ex, el, ar…"a vowel ("em")anan MBA, an FIR, an SUV, an X-ray, an L-shaped room, an NGO
a letter said as "bee, cee, dee, yoo…"a consonantaa BA degree, a CV, a UN report, a USB cable
pronounced ha consonantaa hotel, a historic day, a hospital (modern usage)

Not sure how the vowel sounds work? The English vowels guide explains vowel vs. consonant sounds.

When to use "a" or "an"

  1. Mentioning something for the first time: I watched a film last night.
  2. Any one of many: Can I borrow a pen? (any pen)
  3. Jobs and roles: She is an engineer. He wants to be a pilot. (never "She is engineer")
  4. Describing / classifying: It was a beautiful day. That's an interesting question.
  5. Meaning "one" or "per": a hundred, a dozen, twice a week, 60 km an hour.
  6. Exclamations with what: What a lovely view! (singular countable)
Rule: a/an only goes with singular countable nouns. ✗ a water, an advice, a information → ✓ some water, a piece of advice, some information.

When to use "the"

  1. Already mentioned: I bought a book and a pen. The book was expensive.
  2. Both people know which one: Can you close the door? (the door of this room)
  3. Only one exists: the sun, the moon, the internet, the world, the sky
  4. Superlatives and ordinals: the best, the tallest, the first, the last, the only
  5. Specified by a phrase or clause: the man in the blue shirt, the book that you lent me
  6. Musical instruments (playing): She plays the piano.
  7. A whole class of things (formal): The tiger is an endangered species.
  8. Nationalities as groups and adjectives as groups: the French, the rich, the elderly

When to use no article (zero article)

Situation✓ Correct✗ Avoid
Plural nouns in generalDogs are loyal.The dogs are loyal. (unless specific dogs)
Uncountable nouns in generalMoney doesn't buy happiness.The money doesn't buy the happiness.
Languages, subjects, sportsShe speaks Hindi. I study maths. We play cricket.the Hindi, the maths
MealsWe had lunch at noon.We had the lunch.
Days, months, festivalson Monday, in July, at Diwalion the Monday (general)
Places used for their purposego to school / bed / work / hospital / churchgo to the school (unless visiting the building)
Transport with "by"by bus, by train, by carby the bus

Compare: She goes to school (she is a student) vs. She went to the school to meet the teacher (the building).

"The" with places and names

Use "the"No article
Rivers, seas, oceans: the Ganges, the Nile, the PacificLakes: Lake Victoria, Lake Como
Mountain ranges: the Himalayas, the AlpsSingle mountains: Mount Everest, Kilimanjaro
Plural or "union/kingdom/republic" countries: the USA, the UK, the Netherlands, the Philippines, the UAEMost countries and cities: India, France, Japan, Mumbai, London
Island groups: the Maldives, the Andaman IslandsSingle islands: Sri Lanka, Bali
Deserts: the Sahara, the Thar DesertContinents: Asia, Africa, Europe
Newspapers, famous buildings: the Times, the Taj MahalStreets and parks: Oxford Street, Central Park

Common mistakes with articles

✗ Incorrect✓ Correct
He is doctor.He is a doctor.
The life is beautiful.Life is beautiful.
I am going to the market to buy the vegetables.I'm going to the market to buy vegetables.
She is best student in the class.She is the best student in the class.
A university is near my house. → an universitya university (the "yoo" sound)
I waited for a hour.I waited for an hour.
He gave me an useful advice.He gave me some useful advice / a useful piece of advice.

A quick decision test

  1. Is it a specific thing that the listener can identify? → the
  2. If not: is it singular and countable? → a/an (check the first sound)
  3. If not (plural or uncountable, talking generally)? → no article

Practice

Fill in a, an, the — or leave it blank (–).

  1. She waited for ___ hour at ___ station.
  2. My brother is ___ engineer at ___ IT company.
  3. ___ sun rises in ___ east.
  4. I don't drink ___ coffee after dinner.
  5. He studied at ___ university in ___ UK.
  6. That was ___ best film I have ever seen.
  7. We usually go to work by ___ train.
  8. She has ___ MBA from ___ well-known business school.
Show answers
  1. an hour · the station
  2. an engineer · an IT company ("eye-tee")
  3. The sun · the east
  4. – coffee (general, uncountable)
  5. a university · the UK
  6. the best
  7. – (by train)
  8. an MBA · a well-known

Articles connect closely to subject-verb agreement (singular vs. plural nouns). For more practice, try the Grammar Quiz.

Frequently asked questions

What are articles in English grammar?

Articles are the words “a”, “an” and “the”, placed before nouns to show whether you mean something general or specific. “A/an” is the indefinite article; “the” is the definite article.

Is “an” an article?

Yes. “An” is the form of the indefinite article “a” used before a vowel sound, as in “an apple” or “an hour”.

What part of speech are a, an and the?

Modern grammar classifies them as determiners. Many school textbooks call them articles, a type of adjective. Both answers are used depending on the syllabus.

Why do we say “an hour” but “a university”?

Because the rule depends on sound, not spelling. “Hour” starts with a vowel sound (the h is silent), so it takes “an”. “University” starts with a “yoo” consonant sound, so it takes “a”.

When should I not use an article?

Don’t use an article with plural or uncountable nouns used in a general sense (“Dogs are loyal”, “Water is essential”), with most names of people, cities and countries, and with languages, meals and sports.

Do we say “a MBA” or “an MBA”?

“An MBA”, because the letter M is pronounced “em”, which begins with a vowel sound. The same applies to an SUV, an FIR and an NGO.

Related notes:
Parts of SpeechEnglish Vowel SoundsSubject-Verb AgreementBasic Grammar for Beginners10 Common Learner MistakesGrammar Quiz