00:01Articles. There are three articles, a, an, and the.
00:08All three can be used for singular nouns.
00:12Only the can be used for plural nouns.
00:18A and an are indefinite articles.
00:22You will most likely need to use a or an if you are referring to a singular, countable noun for
00:28the first time.
00:31They refer to singular nouns that are not specific and are not known to the reader or listener.
00:38For example, a purse was found.
00:43The identity of this purse is not known to the reader or listener, so the indefinite article A is used.
00:52The is a definite article. Use it if you are referring to a specific noun and one that is known
00:59to the reader or listener.
01:02Let's go back to this example.
01:05In a follow-up sentence, I am going to use the definite article The.
01:10The purse was handed in to the manager.
01:14The definite article was used here because this is the second time the noun purse was mentioned.
01:20The reader or listener knows that we are now referring to a specific purse.
01:26Here is another example.
01:28We saw an alligator.
01:31We decided to stay away from the alligator.
01:35The indefinite article AN is used in the first sentence because the alligator is unknown to the reader or listener.
01:43In the second sentence, THE is used because it is now known which alligator it is.
01:50If A and AN are both indefinite articles, how do we know which to use?
01:57A is used before nouns that begin with a consonant sound.
02:02AN is used before nouns that begin with a vowel sound.
02:09A jacket
02:10A chair
02:11A key
02:12An ice cream
02:14An apple
02:16An octopus
02:19These words begin with a consonant.
02:23These words begin with a vowel.
02:26Keep in mind, however, that it's the sound that determines whether it's A or AN.
02:32For example, in the words HOUR and HONOR, the H makes a vowel sound.
02:38We therefore use HAN for these words.
02:42In the words HOTEL and HAT, the H makes a consonant sound.
02:48And so A is used.
02:51To make sure we choose the right article, it's important we understand the difference between
02:56countable and uncountable nouns.
03:00A countable noun is an item that can be counted.
03:04For example, tree, couch, scooter.
03:07They have a singular form
03:10And a plural form.
03:13An uncountable noun is something that can't readily be counted as it has no clear boundaries.
03:19For example, milk, stress, bread.
03:25Uncountable nouns usually don't have plural forms.
03:32Why is this important?
03:34The indefinite articles A and AN can only be used for singular and countable nouns.
03:42The definite article THE can be used for singular and plural nouns.
03:49Let's build a chart to help us.
03:52For singular and countable nouns, is it indefinite?
03:56Use A or AN.
03:58Is it definite?
03:59Use THE.
04:01For plural nouns, is it definite?
04:04Use THE.
04:06Is it indefinite?
04:07You don't need an article.
04:09Choose the correct articles to complete the following sentences.
04:14Pause here while you work.
04:18The first needs the definite article, as a specific light is being referred to.
04:25In the second, a specific shirt is not being referred to, so it needs an indefinite article.
04:31Because shirt starts with a consonant, we need A.
04:36The third.
04:37A is needed before bird because it isn't a specific bird.
04:42And it's the first time it's being referenced.
04:45But here, we must use THE because we are referring to the specific bird from the first sentence.
04:52Number four.
04:54The definite article THE is needed before restaurant.
04:57No article is needed before delicious food, because food is uncountable and it's not definite.
05:05Here we do need an article, because this is the second time we are referring to the food.
05:11So we need the definite article THE.
05:15The last.
05:16The last.
05:17The zoo.
05:18A specific zoo is being referred to, but not a specific elephant or tiger.
05:23An elephant.
05:24A tiger.
05:26Here we are referring to a specific tiger.
05:29The tiger that was mentioned in the first sentence.
05:31So we need THE.
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