This section provides advice about problems of grammar and standard usage that are particularly challenging for writers whose first language is not English.

The rules for using articles (a, an, and the) are complicated. Your choice depends on whether the article appears before a count, noncount, or proper noun. An article is used before a common noun to indicate whether the noun refers to something specific (the moon) or whether it refers to something that is one among many or has not yet been specified (a planet, an asteroid). In addition, for some nouns, the absence of an article indicates that the reference is not specific.

T1-a Select the correct article to use with a count noun.

Note: The article a is used before a consonant and an before a vowel; exceptions include words beginning with a long u sound, such as unit.

Use a or an before a singular count noun when it refers to one thing among many or something that has not been specifically identified.

Use the before a singular or plural count noun when it refers to one or more specific things.

After you have used a or an with a count noun, subsequent references to the noun become specific and are marked by the.

Exceptions include a second reference to one among many.

In most situations, use the with a count noun modified by a superlative adjective.

Nouns such as sun generally refer to unique things. Nouns such as house and yard often refer to things that people own. In most situations, both types of nouns can be preceded by the definite article the.

You can also introduce count nouns referring to specific entities with possessive nouns or pronouns (Maya’s friends) or demonstrative pronouns (these friends). Indefinite count and noncount nouns can also be introduced by words that indicate amount (few friends, some sand).

Delete any article before a nonspecific plural count noun.

T1-b Select the correct article to use with a noncount noun.

The many kinds of noncount nouns include the following:

Natural phenomena: thunder, steam, electricity

Natural elements: gold, air, sunlight

Manufacturing materials: steel, wood, cement

Fibers: wool, cotton, rayon

General categories made up of a variety of specific items: money, music, furniture

Abstract ideas: happiness, loyalty, adolescence, wealth

Liquids: milk, gasoline, water

Some nouns naming foodstuffs are always noncount (pork, rice, broccoli); others are noncount when they refer to food as it is eaten (We ate barbecued chicken and fruit) but count when they refer to individual items or varieties (We bought a plump chicken and various fruits).

Delete any article before a general noncount noun.

Use the before a noncount noun when it refers to something specific or when it is specified by a prepositional phrase or an adjective clause.

You can also introduce noncount nouns referring to specific things with possessive nouns or pronouns (her money) or demonstrative pronouns (that money). Indefinite noncount nouns can also be introduced by words that indicate amount (some money).

T1-c Select the correct article to use with a proper noun.

Most plural proper nouns require the: the United States, the Philippines, the Black Hills, the Clintons, the Los Angeles Dodgers. Exceptions include business names (Hillshire Farms, Miller Auto Sales).

Delete any article before most singular proper nouns.

In general, singular proper nouns are not preceded by an article: Dr. Livingston, New York City, Hawaii, Disneyland, Mount St. Helens, Wrigley Field.

The is used before proper noun phrases that include of (the Rock of Gibraltar, the Gang of Four). The is also required before proper nouns that name the following things: