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When to Use 'A,' 'An,' or 'The'

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When to Use 'A,' 'An,' or 'The'

When to Use 'A,' 'An,' or 'The'


There are several exceptions, or more complicated situations than the above chart covers. Below we have laid out some of the general and specific rules about using A, AN, and THE.
Remember, in order to use A, AN, and THE properly, you must know whether or not a noun is a Count or Non-Count Noun. (A count noun is the name of something that can be counted: one book, two books, three books. A non

Use "a" or "an"


General Rules

Use "the"

Don't Use "a," "an," or "the"

Use "a" or "an" with a singular count noun


Usewhen
"the"you
withmean
any noun
"one when
of many,"
the meaning
"any," "inisgeneral."
specific;
Don'tfor
Use
example,
"a," "an,"
when
or "the"
the noun
with a
names
non-count
the only
noun
one
when
(or one)
you mea
of a

Bob is a student (one of many students).


Adam was the first man (the only 'first man'). We believe in love (in general).
I like a good movie (one of many movies).
New York is the largest city in the United States(only
He gave
one city
me information
can be 'the largest').
(not specific).
We live on the earth (the only Earth we know).
Have you heard the news (specific news)?

Use "a" or "an" the first time you use


Use
a noun
"the" in
the
a paragraph.
second time you use that sameDon't
noun Use
in the
"a,"
same
"an,"
paragraph.
or "the" with a plural count noun when

Title

I saw a movie last night. The movie was entertaining.


Movies are entertaining (some movies; movies in general).
A man ran into the street. A car hit the man.
She likes men (in general).

Use "a" or "an" if the title is not a specific


Use "the"
title.
if a specific person has a title or if only
Don'tone
Useperson
"a," "an,"
has a
ortitle.
"the" if the person's name is given.

Names of Countries

I saw a movie last night.


A man ran into the street.

a president
a doctor
a queen

Non-specific

a country

the president
the doctor
the Queen of England

Use "the" if the name of the country is plural Don't


or indicates
Use "a,"
a group
"an," or
(of"the"
states, islands, etc.)

the United States


the Netherlands
the Phillipines

Names of Continents

Non-specific

Use "the"

Names of Cities and States

the
the
the
the

South Pole
West
South
North East

Non-specific

Russia
South Africa
Holland
Canada
Great Britian
England

Don't Use "a," "an," or "the"

a continent

Names of Some Geographical Areas

President Kennedy
Dr. Yang
Queen Elizabeth

Africa
Asia
Europe
North America

Don't Use "a," "an," or "the"

Western Europe

Don't Use "a," "an," or "the"

a city
a state

New York
Paris
Washington

Exception:

Names of Oceans, Rivers, Seas,


Deserts,
Canals
Use
a/anForests,
for non-specific

an ocean
a river
a sea
a desert

Use "the"

Names of Lakes

the District of Columbia

the
the
the
the
the
the

Pacific Ocean
Mediteranean Sea
Potomac River
C & O Canal
Atlantic Ocean
Painted Desert

Non-specific

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Don't Use "a," "an," or "the"

6/28/2015

When to Use 'A,' 'An,' or 'The'

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Names of Colleges, Universities, and Other Schools

Names of Buildings on Gallaudet University Campus

If you are not sure what article to use with a noun, use the basic questions on the following chart as a guide. Here below are the example of Article; and for your information, in each details as well as sentence example, the group of (black) bold word(s) tha

Questions

1. Common/Proper:
Is it a common noun or a proper noun?

It is a common noun

2. General/Specific:
Does the reader know which thing(s) you mean?

No, the reader does not know (general)

3. Count/ Non-Count:
Can the noun be counted in English?

No, it is not countable (It is a Non-Count Noun)

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6/28/2015

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