Articles Basics: A, An, The, and Zero
Practice the core article system: a vs an by sound, the definite article for first/second mention, and zero article for general uncountable and abstract nouns.
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She is ___ honest person.
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an
'Honest' starts with a vowel sound (silent h). Use 'an'. Articles depend on sound, not spelling.
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I saw ___ cat in the garden. ___ cat was black.
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a ... The
First mention: 'a cat' (new, unknown). Second mention: 'The cat' (now we know which one).
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___ water is essential for life.
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No article with uncountable nouns in a general sense. 'Water' here means water in general.
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It was ___ European city.
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a
'European' starts with /j/ (consonant sound). Use 'a', not 'an'. Sound matters, not spelling.
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He is ___ FBI agent.
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an
'F' is pronounced /ef/ (vowel sound). Use 'an FBI agent', 'an MP', 'an MA degree'.
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___ happiness is more important than money.
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Abstract concepts in general take no article: happiness, love, freedom. 'The happiness I felt' would be specific.
Articles Basics: A, An, The, and Zero
The core article system rests on three choices: 'a' or 'an' by the sound of the next word, 'the' when the noun is identifiable, and no article at all for general statements. The sound rule for a/an is stricter than the spelling: 'an honest mistake' (silent h) but 'a European city' (the letter looks like a vowel but sounds like a consonant, /j/), and 'an FBI agent' (the letter F is pronounced /ef/, a vowel sound).
It was a European city. (/j/ — consonant sound)
He is an FBI agent. (F = /ef/ — vowel sound)
First and Second Mention
Zero Article for General Statements
— Happiness is more important than money. (abstract, general)
Common Mistakes
✗ It was an European city. → ✓ It was a European city.
✗ The water is essential for life. → ✓ — Water is essential for life.
Last updated: · Satori Editorial