Your ESP Coach • English for Specific Purposes: GRAMMAR PILLS: How to use articles

GRAMMAR PILLS: How to use articles - A/AN, THE and ZERO article

❓ How do we use articles in English?

💡 Quick answer:

NOUNS	In general (indefinite / non-specific)	In particular (definite / specific)
Uncountable Countable Plural	(1) Zero article	(3) the (el, la, los, las)
Countable Singular	(2) a / an (un, uno, una)	(3) the (el, la, los, las)

💡 EXTENDED ANSWER:

(1) When we talk about an uncountable noun or a countable plural noun in general (i.e. we talk about all the items in a group, or there is no need to specify an item in particular), we do NOT use an article:
➧Cuando hablamos de un sustantivo (=nombre) incontable o contable plural en general (es decir, hablamos de todos los elementos de un conjunto o no hay necesidad de especificar uno en particular), NO usamos artículo:

⟶ Advances in technology (❌~~The advances~~) have made it easier for us to keep in touch with our loved ones.
⟶ Modern technology (❌~~The modern technology~~) is essential to our lives, both at home and at work.
⟶ Students (❌~~The students~~) should hand in their assignments on time.
⟶ People (❌~~The people~~) are the same everywhere.
👉In these examples, we are talking about 'technology', 'students', and 'people' in general.

(2) When we talk about a countable singular noun in general (i.e. we talk about one non-specific item in a group), we use a / an (the indefinite article):
➧Cuando hablamos de un sustantivo contable singular en general (es decir, hablamos de un elemento no especificado en un conjunto), usamos 'a' / 'an' (un, uno, una = el artículo indefinido):

⟶ I went to a pub last night. (Fui a un bar anoche.)
⟶ I’ve got a car. (Tengo un coche.)
⟶ He gave me an apple. (Él me dio una manzana.)

🔺 ‘A’ or ‘an’?

Use ‘a’ before words that start with a consonant SOUND:
➧Usamos ‘a’ antes de palabras que comienzan con un SONIDO consonante:

⟶ A university degree ⇒ ‘u’ is pronounced /juː/ here, and /j/ is a consonant sound
⟶ a one-hour class ⇒ ‘one’ is pronounced /wʌn/, and /w/ is a consonant sound
⟶ a uniform / a house, etc.

Use ‘an’ before words that start with a vowel SOUND:
➧Usamos ‘a’ antes de palabras que comienzan con un SONIDO vocal:
⟶ An honest man ⇒ ‘h’ is silent here, and the first sound is a vowel: /ˈɒnɪst/
⟶ an hour ⇒ ‘h’ is silent here, and the first sound is a vowel: /aʊə/
⟶ an MBA degree, etc.

(3) When we talk about an uncountable, a countable plural or a countable singular noun in particular (i.e. we talk about a specific item, or there is only one item in the group, and it is therefore clear which item we are talking about – e.g.: ‘the sun’), we use ‘the’ (the definite article):
➧Cuando hablamos de un sustantivo incontable, contable plural o contable singular en particular (es decir, hablamos un elemento específico, o hay un solo elemento en el conjunto, por ejemplo: ‘the sun’, ‘el sol’), usamos ‘the’ (el, la, los, las = el artículo definido):

⟶ A look at the advances in technology during the 1960s (los avances en tecnología durante la década de los 60), from washing machines to computers. (BBC Four) (a specific set of advances)
⟶ The students who failed the exam (Los alumnos que reprobaron el examen) should study hard for the resit. (a specific group of students)
⟶ The people who migrate (La gente que migra) are called migrants. (a specific group of people)

👉The rules above apply to almost all cases; however, there are some special uses that should also be taken into account. Read more: