Grammar Clinic: The REAL difference between A, AN and THE

‘A’ is used when referring to someone or something for the first time in a text or conversation.

‘An’ is the form of the indefinite article used before words beginning with a vowel sound.

‘The’ is used to refer to one or more people or things already mentioned or assumed to be common knowledge.

1 – Do NOT use a/an with plural or uncountable nouns

• a fact = OK
  (singular)
• a facts = INCORRECT
  (plural)
• an information = INCORRECT
  (uncountable)
• an advice = INCORRECT
  (uncountable)
• a piece of advice = OK
  (“piece” is countable)
• a pants / a glasses / a scissors = INCORRECT
  (plural)
• a pair of pants/glasses/scissors = OK
  (“pair” is countable)
• a rice = INCORRECT
  (uncountable)
• a grain of rice = OK
  (“grain” is countable)
• a work = INCORRECT
  (uncountable)
• a job / a task / a project = OK
  (countable)

2 – A/An follows the SOUND, not the LETTER

• a university
  (pronounced like you – ni – ver – si – ty)
• an umbrella
  (pronounced like um – brel – la)
• a hat
  (h is not silent)
• an hour
  (h is silent)
• an X-ray
  (pronounced like ex – ray)
• an NGO
  (pronounced like en – gee – oh)
• a non-governmental organisation
  (when we say the full words, they start with the N sound)

3 – Do NOT use a/an without a noun following it

• He is an intelligent. = INCORRECT
  (“intelligent” is an adjective, not a noun)
• He is intelligent. = OK
• He is an intelligent girl. = OK
  (now it’s okay because we have the noun “girl” after “an intelligent”)

4 – THE can be used for singular/plural, and for countable/uncountable nouns, when talking about something specific (not general)

• I love pasta.
  (general)
• I love the pasta at that restaurant.
  (specific)
• That store sells furniture.
  (general)
• The furniture in our living room is all new.
  (specific)
• Vegetables are good for you.
  (general)
• The vegetables at the market are always fresh.
  (specific)
• I need advice.
  (general)
• The advice you gave me was very helpful.
  (specific)

5 – Do NOT use THE for proper nouns:

Names of continents/countries*/states/cities/streets:

• We’re travelling around Asia for three months.
• I’d like to visit Ghana.
• Paris is my favourite city in Europe.
• Have you ever been to California?
• They live on Rosewood Avenue.

*Exceptions: the United States (the U.S.), the United Kingdom (the U.K.), the Philippines, the Czech Republic, the Central African Republic, the Marshall Islands

Companies & Universities*

• My uncle works at Samsung.
• Microsoft reported high profits this quarter.
• She graduated from Obafemi Awolowo University.
• New York University is very large.

*Exceptions: If the university’s name BEGINS with “university,” then use “the”:
the University of Ibadan, the University of  Ilorin

Languages & Holidays

• I’m studying Spanish.
• He speaks Italian.
• My whole family gets together at Christmas.
• The office will be closed on New Year’s Day.

6 – With other places, THE is sometimes used:

Do NOT use THE with individual lakes or mountains:

• Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world.
• We went sailing on Lake Ontario.

Use THE with oceans, rivers, valleys, deserts, mountain ranges, points on globe:

• the Pacific Ocean
• the Amazon River
• the San Fernando Valley
• the Sahara Desert
• the Swiss Alps, the Rocky Mountains
• the North/South Pole, the Equator

Do NOT use THE with the following places:

• I’m going home.
• She’s at work.
• He’s in jail.
• We attend church.
• My brother went to bed.
• My brother’s in high school.
• My sister’s in college.