CDS English · Grammar
Articles: a, an, the or no article
A and an introduce one thing the listener does not know yet; the sound that follows decides which. The points to one known thing. Some nouns, such as numbered ones, take no article.
Why this matters
Article blanks are short and quick, so they are easy marks if the two rules are clear. The traps are always the same few: words that start with a vowel letter but a consonant sound (unique, university), a silent h, letters read aloud, and numbered nouns that take no article.
Concept 1 of 2: A or an: the first SOUND decides
Definition
Terms:
- A and an are the indefinite articles: they introduce one countable thing, not a particular known one (There is a visitor for you).
- Vowel sound vs vowel letter: the rule follows the sound you hear, not the letter you see.
The rules:
- Vowel sound: an apple, an honest man (the h is silent), an hour, an heir.
- A 'yoo' or 'w' sound is a consonant sound: a unique system, a university, a European, a one-day match.
- Letters read aloud: F, H, L, M, N, R, S, X begin with a vowel sound (eff, aitch, em ...): an MLA, an FIR. U is read 'yoo': a UN agency.
- A sounded h takes 'a': a house, a hotel.
- Fixed phrase: on the horns of a dilemma (facing two hard choices).
Worked example
Practice this conceptself-check · 4 quick reps
The same idea in a real exam question:
Example 1 · Grammar · Articles: A, An and The
Vowel letter, consonant sound
The silent h
Short forms read letter by letter
Concept 2 of 2: 'The' for the one known thing; no article before a numbered noun
Definition
Terms:
- The is the definite article. Like a and an, it is a determiner. Older grammar books call articles adjectives.
- Zero article: no article at all.
Use 'the':
- For the only one of its kind, or a post held by one person (the sun, the captain of the team).
- When an 'of' phrase or the situation makes it particular (the nightingale of the college; pass the sugar, the sugar on this table).
- Before a superlative (the best, the most sought after teacher).
- For a whole field or industry (the travel industry) and in fixed uses such as going to the dentist, the doctor.
- For a whole class with a singular noun (The cat loves comfort).
Use no article:
- Before a noun with a number after it: platform number 5, page 10, room 4, gate 2.
- Before an uncountable or plural noun used in general: Honesty is rare; Children learn fast.
- Before names of meals and languages: We had lunch; She speaks Tamil.
Worked example
Practice this conceptself-check · 4 quick reps
The same idea in a real exam question:
Example 2 · Grammar · Articles: A, An and The
A number after the noun removes the article
An 'of' phrase makes it particular
Naming the class of 'the'
Summary — formulas & gotchas at a glance
A revision cheat-sheet for the formulas and gotchas above. Click any concept name to jump back to its full explanation.
Watch out for (6)
- Vowel letter, consonant sound→ A or an: the first SOUND decides
- The silent h→ A or an: the first SOUND decides
- Short forms read letter by letter→ A or an: the first SOUND decides
- A number after the noun removes the article→ 'The' for the one known thing; no article before a numbered noun
- An 'of' phrase makes it particular→ 'The' for the one known thing; no article before a numbered noun
- Naming the class of 'the'→ 'The' for the one known thing; no article before a numbered noun
Test yourself on Grammar
20 past CDS questions from this chapter, timed at 20 minutes and marked the way the exam marks it. You see your score and every answer the moment you finish. Free to start.