Use the correct article: a, an, or the

Key Notes :

A, an, and the are special adjectives called articles.

Use a or a before a noun that is singular and either not specific or unknown. Use a if the next word starts with a consonant sound. Use and if the next word starts with a vowel sound.

I asked for a banana. She asked for an apple.

Use the before a plural noun or before a singular noun that is specific or known.

I asked for the ripest banana. She asked for the other bananas.

Learn with an example

🎯 Complete the sentence with the best article.

🎯 Connor had _______pretty good time at the fair.

  • a
  • an
  • the
  • Pretty good time is not specific. Many times are pretty good. That means the best article is either a or an.
  • Now decide whether a or an is correct. After the missing article, the next word is pretty. The word pretty starts with a consonant sound, so the best article is a.

🎯 Complete the sentence with the best article.

🎯 Madison makes _______best sponge cake!

  • an
  • a
  • the
  • The best sponge cake is specific. There is only one best sponge cake. That means the best article is the.

🎯 Complete the sentence with the best article.

🎯 Can you put _____bikes in the garage?

  • a
  • an
  • the
  • Bike is a plural noun. That means the best article is the.

Let’s practice!🖊️