Articles

What are articles? Basically, an article is an adjective. Like adjectives, articles modify nouns. We divide them into "indefinite" and "definite"

Indefinite	Definite
a	the
an

We use "indefinite" to mean not sure, not certain. "Indefinite" is general.

We use "definite" to mean sure, certain. "Definite" is specific.

For my birthday I want the brown teddy bear.

I have specified what present I want for my birthday. (definite)

For my birthday I want a toy.

It can be a ball, a teddy bear, a bike, etc (indefinite)

RULES:

Use "a/an" with singular nouns. Ex: a pencil. Not: a pencils.

Use "the" with singular and plural nouns. Ex: the pencil, the pencils.

Use "an" with a noun beginning with vowel. (a,e,i,o,u) Ex: an arm.