ARTICLES - a, an, the

[ A / AN / THE]
1. A - is used before a a word that begins with a consonant sound; (b, c, d, .....etc)
eg;
a  bowl/ cat/ door/ fan/ giraffe/ jar/ pond/ queen/ king/ vase/ window/ zebra.. etc.


2. A - is also used with words that are pronounced with a 'y' sound.
eq;
A unit/ uniform/ university/ etc.

3. An - is used before a word that begins with a vowel sound; (a/ e/ i/ o/ u)
eg.
an ant/ eagle/ egg/ eel/ iron/ onion/ orange/ owl/ umbrella/...etc.


4. An - is also used with words beginning with silent 'h'
eg.
An hour/ honour/  honest person/...etc.

5. 'A' AND 'AN' are not used before:
- plural nouns.
- uncountable nouns
- names of road, places, towns, states and most countries.
- names of games and meals.

6. 'THE' is used for a particular person or thing.
eg;
The man with a blue car is my neighbour.


7. 'THE' is used with things that are the only one of its kind.
eg;
The earth is round.


8. 'THE' is used when we speak of the same thing again.
eg;
He bought a bicycle yesterday. The bicycle was expensive.
I found a cat in the drain. The cat was wet.

notes of http://jauhari-englishhomework.blogspot.com/