Articles

(See Article Chart for more information.)

Singular count nouns cannot stand alone in a sentence.

• Apple is on table. (Wrong!)

They must be preceded by one of the following:

1. An article (the, a, an)

• An apple is on the table.
• The professor gave us a test.

 

2. A number or quantifier (one, another, the other, each, every, either, neither)

Note: Never use the and another, each, every, neither, either together:

• The another man was in Milwaukee. (Wrong!)

3. This, that, some*

This artist created that painting.

• Some woman came to see you. (*unidentified subject)

 

4. A possessive pronoun or noun.

• It is my bicycle now.
• It was John’s bicycle.

Note: Do not use articles and possessives together.

• The Mary’s bicycle was stolen. (Wrong!)

Proper nouns have their own article usage.

• Don Smith lived next door to Dr. Zimbango.
• The Empire State Building is in New York City.

Non-count and plural nouns can be used without articles only in the “generic” sense:

• Cats are enemies of dogs.
• Water is essential for survival.