The articles “the,” “a,” and “an” are important parts of speech in English, and are used in nearly every sentence—even this one! But if you don’t know when to use which one of these articles, your English won’t sound entirely fluent. Just because English is your second language doesn’t mean it has to sound like it is!
The difference between using “a” and “an” is pretty simple. “A” is used when the word to follow begins with a consonant, and “an” is used when the word to follow begins with a vowel.
For example:
A watermelon
An apple
In a sentence:
Please see if you can find a lamp at the store.
Please see if you can find an umbrella at the store.
Using “the” means the difference between an object in general, like a lamp or an umbrella in the sentences above and a specific object. This means that what is in question—the desired object—is something particular.
For example:
The seedless watermelon
The polka dot umbrella
In a sentence:
Please make sure you get the seedless watermelon; I don’t like picking out the seeds.
When you’re at the store, see if they carry the polka dot umbrella I’ve been trying to find online.
Other examples have to do with singularity versus plurality. In English fluency, this is the difference between sounding like an American versus sounding like English is your second language. Being able to distinguish between the two is an important part of knowing how to speak English correctly.
For example:
An online pronunciation course
The Pronunciation Pro English fluency course
-or-
A fish
The swordfish Steve caught
-or-
A tower
The Eifel Tower
Once you have mastered the use of the articles “the,” “a,” and “an” your mastery of English will be that much closer! If you’re ready to take the 3-month online pronunciation class that will change your life forever, click here to begin your 7-DAY FREE TRIAL with Pronunciation Pro!
