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Choosing the Correct Article

Introduction

This is a simple decision tree to help you decide which article to use. By answering a series of questions, you can find out which article to use with a particular noun.

Please note that this system is very basic. It only deals with the, a/an and the ZERO article (nothing), and there are many exceptions to the "rules" shown here.

Question: Is the noun definite or indefinite?

Do both the reader and writer (or the listener and speaker) know WHAT the noun refers to? For example, has it been mentioned before in the text or the conversation?

  • Choose definite if both reader and writer (or speaker and listener) know about this thing already.
  • Choose indefinite if the thing or idea is new or unknown.























































Answer: Use "the" (the definite article).
























































Question: is the noun count or non-count?

Does the noun refer to something you can count (e.g. "book" -- one book, two books, three books), or something you cannot count (e.g. "water")?

  • Choose count if the noun can be counted.
  • Choose non-count if the thing or idea cannot be counted.























































Question: is the noun singular or plural?

  • Choose singular if there's only one of the thing.
  • Choose plural if there are two or more of the thing.























































Answer: Use NOTHING (the Zero article).
























































Question: Does the noun begin with a vowel or a consonant?

Does the noun begin with A, E, I, O or U (the vowels), or one of the other letters (the consonants)?

  • Choose vowel if it begins with a vowel.
  • Choose consonant if it begins with a consonant.























































Question: Is the first letter a U?
























































Question: Does the beginning of the word sound like "Y-"?

Some words beginning with U have a Y- sound at the beginning (for example "university" or "unique"). Others (such as "unhelpful" or "upset") don't.
























































Answer: use "an".
























































Answer: use "a".
UVic English Language Centre, 1999