Introduction to Articles in the English Language

The use of the indefinite article in English is often determined by the initial sounds of the first letters in the following noun.

Native English speakers say an umbrella and a union because the initial sounds of the first letters are pronounced differently.

It is important to know the difference between the indefinite articles and when or when not to use them.

a = indefinite article describing one of a number of the same objects, not a specific object with consonants

She has a cat.
I work in a store.

an = indefinite article  describing one of a number of the same objects not a specific object, with vowels (a,e,i,o,u)

Can I have an apple?
She is an English teacher.

It is also important to know the difference between indefinite and definite articles and which one is used.

the = definite article  describing a specific object that both the person speaking and the listener recognize.

The house over there is huge.
The player is very good, isn't he?

The first time you refer to something use "a or an", the next time you repeat a reference to that same something use "the".

I live in a house. The house is quite old and has solid wood floors.
I ate in a Korean restaurant. The restaurant was very good.

DO NOT use an article with countries, states, counties or provinces, lakes and mountains except when the country is a collection of states such as "The United States".

He lives in Vancouver close to Stanley Park.
They live in northern British Columbia.

DO USE an article with bodies of water, lakes, oceans and seas -

My country borders on the Pacific Ocean

DO NOT use an article when you are speaking about things in general

I like green tea.
She likes reading grocery flyers.

DO NOT use an article when you are speaking about meals, places, and transport.

He has breakfast at 7 AM.
I go to university.
He commutes to work by bicycle.

For additional English Language lessons using articles go to: http://www.sentencemaster.ca/how-to-use-english-articles.html

For a directory of ESL English classes in Canada go to: www.eslincanada.com