#GrammarSeries – What you need to know about a, an and the.

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Have you ever made a mistake with the articles a, an or the? Today we will teach you all you need to know about it so you stop making those mistakes.

English has two articles: a/an and the; a/ an is used to modify non–specific or non-particular nouns while ‘the’ is used to refer to specific or particular nouns.

‘The’ is a definite article while a/an are called indefinite articles.

So if you say;

Give me a book you are referring to any kind of book

When you say give me the book you are referring to a specific kind book.

Here are a few more things you need to know

If a word is countable (e.g. bag), you must always use an article (or my, his, etc.)

For example

You can’t say

I have bag the right thing is I have a bag.

Never use a or an with a word that is plural (e.g. books, trees) or uncountable (e.g. water, advice)

For example

You can’t say

I have a bags

It doesn’t sound right does it?

 

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