An article is a word that combines with a noun to indicate the type of reference being made by the noun.
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5answers
233 views
Indefinite article and people's names
Sometimes, on the internet, particularly in online games, I see people using the indefinite article before someone's name: "I see a Joey" or "I hug a Polly". I know some of these people and I'm ...
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0answers
55 views
When to use “a” vs “an” [duplicate]
I know the general rule is to use "a" if the word following starts with a consonant, and "an" if it starts with a vowel. I found this page that lists some exceptions: ...
3
votes
3answers
62 views
Use of the definite article “the” before “church”
I was in a Teacher's selection for a school in my country, and one of the coordinators said that she heard a mistake from another teacher that was unacceptable. I tried to figure out why was that, but ...
73
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6answers
13k views
Do you use “a” or “an” before acronyms?
99% of the time, I'm clear on when I should use "a" versus "an." There's one case, though, where people & references I respect disagree.
Which of the following would you precede with "a" or "an," ...
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votes
1answer
128 views
“I am puzzled by conflicting opinion on [a] coffee.”
I am puzzled by conflicting opinion on a coffee.
I am puzzled by conflicting opinion on coffee.
These sentences are from a syllabus book. And I don't know which one is correct.
0
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0answers
64 views
“An A and B” vs. “an A and a B” [closed]
Which one is correct if both A and B are singular — "an A and B" or "an A and a B"?
I am confused because I have seen both cases.
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2answers
120 views
“A first post” — makes sense or not?
I once knew a person who titled the first post in his blog, "A first post."
It was immediately pointed out to him that correct usage is "The first post." To that he responded: Well, every blog has ...
6
votes
4answers
3k views
“Half an hour” versus “half hour”
I'll be back in half an hour.
I'll be back in half hour.
Which is the correct sentence? Are there any differences between British English, and American English?
2
votes
2answers
119 views
“He feared a U.S. invasion” vs. “He feared U.S. invasion”
It it accurate to say this?
He feared a U.S. invasion.
Or should I say,
He feared U.S. invasion.
I'm trying to figure out when to place "a" in front of the U.S. when U.S. comes with a noun ...
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votes
3answers
203 views
What article should be used in such sentences?
What article should be used in the following sentence?
He was English by [a/the/] blood.
I feel there should be a zero article here, but I was taught that the zero article is impossible in ...
40
votes
9answers
5k views
When should I use “a” vs “an”?
In the following example, is it appropriate to use a or an as the indefinite article, and why?
He ate [insert here] green apple.
I know that in the case of just "apple", it would be "an apple," ...
4
votes
2answers
86 views
Indefinite article before symbols
The choice of "a" versus "an" depends on the pronunciation of the following word. Mathematical writing may use symbols as nouns or adjectives, and their pronunciation is not always clear. Here is a ...
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3answers
2k views
What is the difference between “little” and “a little”?
I would like to know how these two words differ in usage. Which one is singular? Which one is plural? I would greatly appreciate if you could provide me with a sample usage of these phrases.
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2answers
118 views
Correct usage of indefinite articles 'a' and 'an' infront of acronyms [duplicate]
I wonder what is the correct usage, my assumption is that it is based on how you pronounce it, like for example:
an SQL query => pronounced an ess cue ell query ,
an XP OS => pronounced an ex pee oh ...
21
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5answers
5k views
Are there any simple rules for choosing the definite vs. indefinite (vs. none) article?
I can’t for the life of me figure out where to use a and where to use the — and where there is no article at all. Is there a simple rule of thumb to memorize?
The standard rule you always hear:
...
2
votes
2answers
169 views
on the bus, in the car etc. vs. on a bus, in a car etc
I realize a lot of questions have been asked about buses here. While the thing with the preposition usage was resolved for me a long time ago, the usage of the articles is still confusing me.
For ...
1
vote
0answers
140 views
Guide to English Articles [closed]
I'm looking for a full and complete guide to English articles like THE, A, AN, (none).
Can anyone recommend me something like that? I'd like to finally learn this and never make a mistake again. ...
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1answer
1k views
The <noun> of <noun>
I wonder about the the <noun> of <noun> template. For example, the customers of a movie theater or the possessor of a car. The question is "Is it a stable rule in English to put "the" ...
0
votes
1answer
74 views
“Is there a best X?” — why “a” if it's the superlative degree?
Which of the following is grammatical?
Is there a best school?
Is there the best school?
I'm sure that the first one is right. But why?
4
votes
5answers
96 views
Room Temperature: Article “A” or Not?
Below, “room temperature” takes the article “a” in one case but not the other. “Temperature” seems like a countable noun, so why no article in the first case? What is the grammar that is working here? ...
10
votes
4answers
834 views
Why did Obama use “a” in “… to hear a King proclaim that …”
From Obama's second inaugural speech:
We, the people, declare today that the most evident of truths – that all of us are created equal – is the star that guides us still; just as it guided our ...
6
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2answers
254 views
Why is “a” necessary before “Mr. X” and “Mrs. Y”?
There is the following sentence in the scene a reputed lawyer, Thomas Cohen gives advice to 16-year old client William Kane, the son of deceased bank owner on the issue of inheritance of his father’s ...
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6answers
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Does one use 'a' or 'an' before the word X-Ray?
I was asking this question on Area 51: "How do I tell if an airport scanner is a X-ray scanner?", but I keep wanting to put an 'an' in front of X-ray because it starts with the 'eh' sound.
So is it ...
0
votes
2answers
105 views
“This is a song by Lady Gaga” or “this is the song by Lady Gaga”? [closed]
Which article is appropriate in the blank below, a or the?
— What are you singing? I've heard the song many times.
— This is __ song by Lady Gaga.
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vote
1answer
109 views
“Seems like an overkill” vs. “seems like overkill” [closed]
I’m wondering if an article is used with the word overkill:
Something seems like an overkill (to me).
Something seems like overkill (to me).
Which is grammatical?
0
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2answers
635 views
When to use inverted word-order like “great an option”? [closed]
I heard this in a movie yesterday:
That is great an option!
Why didn't he say:
That is a great option!
How does grammar desribe such inverted phrases? Where should I use this inverted ...
7
votes
1answer
182 views
“You're too clever a man”
You're too clever a man to imagine this.
The above sentence was said by George Galloway, a man of excellent rhetorical skills.
Since he said it, I doubt it's wrong, grammatically. But, I wonder ...
1
vote
1answer
131 views
“In a book store near my school” vs. “in the book store near my school” [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Are there any simple rules for article usage (“a” vs “the” vs none)
Which article should I use in the following situations?
There is only one book store near my ...
10
votes
2answers
353 views
Indefinite article in the “An [adjective] [number] [plural noun]” construction
I wasn't sure how best to phrase the title of this question.
I'm interested in constructions of the following form:
An estimated 50 people died in the bombing.
'An estimated' could be ...
7
votes
2answers
457 views
Are there specific rules to build expressions with or without articles?
In English, there are lots of expressions built using articles like:
at the station
to the cinema
play the piano
have breakfast (no article)
take a bath
take a shower
Are there specific rules or ...
8
votes
2answers
434 views
Usage of English definite article when referring to generic word
My mother language does not have articles, so I still struggle to choose when to use the indefinte and definite article. The other day, I learned:
"The dog is an animal" is acceptable.
"The iron is ...
8
votes
1answer
801 views
Definite article with proper nouns, titles followed by a common noun
Over time I developed this rule where if a title or a proper name is followed by a common noun that represents the class of the entity I am referring to, then I use the definite article. In Example 1, ...
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vote
2answers
668 views
“It is bad practice …” vs. “It is a bad practice …”
"At work, it is bad practice to go to lunch early."
"At work, it is a bad practice to go to lunch early."
The noun "practice" is both countable and uncountable. So, could both sentences be ...
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votes
1answer
262 views
When using “an” before a vowel sounds wrong [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
When should I use “a” vs “an”?
Do you use “a” or “an” before acronyms?
Consider the following sentence:
"This is a one-time deal" sounds right
"This is an one-time ...
0
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0answers
37 views
“a” vs. “an” when the following word is in a bracket [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
“A/An” preceding a parenthetical statement
Let's say I send a text to someone saying:
Can you get me a coffee?
Over here, I use a as the following word doesn't ...
49
votes
5answers
2k views
“A/An” preceding a parenthetical statement
When a/an precedes a parenthetical aside (sometimes seen in informal/conversational writing), should the vowel rule depend on the first word in parentheses, or the next word in the "regular" flow of ...
1
vote
2answers
96 views
Is “a” mandatory in “I'm a whole new (Name)”?
Let's say, your name is Kate and you say "I'm a whole new Kate!"
Now, can you drop "a" and say "I'm whole new Kate!"?
Or is it mandatory to keep it?
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5answers
347 views
“Is of the view that” vs. “is of a view that” [closed]
Is there any significant difference in the meanings of sentence 1 and sentence 2 below?
Mr. Jones is of a view that the project is unnecessary.
Mr. Jones is of the view that the project is ...
5
votes
3answers
205 views
Why is it “A president,” not “The president” in the sentence, “Voters re-elected a president who promised to fight for …”?
The New York Times article (November 9) titled, “The Fiscal Cliff Opener” begins with the following sentence.
“On Tuesday, voters re-elected a president who promised to fight
for higher taxes on ...
2
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2answers
95 views
Negatives with “a” or “any”
Are both these sentences correct?
There isn’t a cat in the kitchen.
There isn’t any cat in the kitchen.
3
votes
3answers
1k views
“such a day” or “such day”?
It's such a nice day today!
I'm interested in the usage of the indefinite article. I know this sentence is correct. We use an indefinite article in exclamations with countable nouns.
But the ...
4
votes
2answers
8k views
4
votes
3answers
159 views
“A different one” when we have 3 objects - other/another? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Can “another” be used with plural nouns provided periods or measurements don’t count?
Here is the context (found in a forum for learners of English)
WAITRESS: Do you ...
0
votes
1answer
428 views
Repetition of articles in a sentence
The following sentences use more than one adjective for a single noun.
She has a black and white cat.
It implies that the person involved here has only one cat which is black and white coloured.
...
0
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0answers
32 views
Indefinite article for words starting with “E” An/A Ensemble [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
When should I use “a” vs “an”?
which article should be used with the words which start with the letter "E" such as "Ensemble" ?
1
vote
2answers
137 views
“White” vs. “a white” vs. “a white person”
Should I say that "Will is white" or "Will is a white" or "Will is a white person" to refer to his race?
Also, is it considered acceptable to say someone is black or white in a college paper?
3
votes
2answers
924 views
A or an XML report? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Do you use “a” or “an” before acronyms?
Does one use 'a' or 'an' before the word 'X-Ray'?
Quite simply, should a sentence read "a XML report" ...
2
votes
6answers
278 views
“Suffer from a headache” vs. “suffer from the headache” [closed]
I am not sure which article to use in the following context:
She has been suffering from a headache.
She has been suffering from the headache.
Please clear up my doubt.
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votes
0answers
166 views
What indefinite article (“a” or “an”) should be used before “x” [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Does one use 'a' or 'an' before the word X-Ray?
I understand that the decision between "a" and "an" is generally based on what vowel sound the following ...
3
votes
2answers
287 views
Phrasing of “What knowledge is required [at/in] [a] university?”
In British English, how should I properly write a sentence like
What knowledge is required at university?
Basically, I want to ask what knowledge is required for study at a university or in a ...
