The Purdue Online Writing Lab | English article example
Summary:Thishandoutdiscussesthedifferencesbetweenindefinitearticles(a/an)anddefinitearticles(the).Whatisanarticle?Basically,anarticleisanadjective.Likeadjectives,articlesmodifynouns.Englishhastwoarticles:theanda/an.Theisusedtorefertospecificorparticularnouns;a/anisusedtomodifynon-specificornon-particularnouns.Wecallthethedefinitearticleanda/antheindefinitearticle.the=definitearticlea/an=indefinitearticleForexample,ifIsay,"Letsreadthebook,"Imeanaspecificbook.IfIsay,"Letsreadabook,"Imeananyboo...
Summary:
This handout discusses the differences between indefinite articles (a/an) and definite articles (the).
What is an article? Basically, an article is an adjective. Like adjectives, articles modify nouns.
English has two articles: the and a/an. The is used to refer to specific or particular nouns; a/an is used to modify non-specific or non-particular nouns. We call the the definite article and a/an the indefinite article.
the = definite article
a/an = indefinite article
For example, if I say, "Lets read the book," I mean a specific book. If I say, "Lets read a book," I mean any book rather than a specific book.
Heres another way to explain it: The is used to refer to a specific or particular member of a group. For example, "I just saw the most popular movie of the year." There are many movies, but only one particular movie is the most popular. Therefore, we use the.
"A/an" is used to refer to a non-specific or non-parti...