English articles (grammar)

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What is an article in English grammar?

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An article is a word that defines a noun as specific or unspecific. The two types of articles are definite (the) and indefinite (a, an).

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When do we use 'a' as an article?

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We use 'a' before words that begin with a consonant sound. For example, 'a cat', 'a dog', 'a university'.

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When do we use 'an' as an article?

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We use 'an' before words that begin with a vowel sound. For example, 'an apple', 'an hour', 'an honest person'.

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What is the definite article in English?

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The definite article is 'the'. It is used to refer to a specific noun that is known to the reader or listener.

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What is the difference between 'a' and 'an'?

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The difference lies in the sound that follows the article. 'A' is used before consonant sounds, while 'an' is used before vowel sounds.

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Can you give an example of using 'the' in a sentence?

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Sure! 'The dog that barks is mine.' Here, 'the' specifies which dog is being referred to.

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What is a noun?

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A noun is a person, place, thing, or idea. Examples include 'teacher', 'city', 'book', and 'happiness'.

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What is the rule for using articles with plural nouns?

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In English, we do not use 'a' or 'an' with plural nouns. Instead, we can use 'the' or no article at all.

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How do you determine whether to use 'a' or 'an' with acronyms?

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Use 'a' or 'an' based on the sound of the first letter of the acronym. For example, 'a NASA scientist' (N sounds like 'n') and 'an FBI agent' (F sounds like 'e').

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What is an example of a sentence using no article?

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An example is 'I love music.' Here, 'music' is a general noun and does not require an article.