Definite and indefinite articles

Indefinite Article Exceptions

Most of the time, using “a” or “an” is pretty simple. However, the letters that will trip you up are “h” and “u.” Depending on how they are pronounced, the indefinite article you use might be swapped.

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  Use “an” for “h” words where the “h” is not pronounced, like “an honest girl” or “an honorable mention.” You’ll notice the beginning has the “on” sound.
  
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  Use “a” for “u” words that start with a “you” sound. Examples include “a unicorn” and “a uniform.”
  

Choosing “a” or “an” is based on how the next word sounds and not necessarily how it is spelled.

Definite Article Exceptions

Now, it is time to look at when we shouldn’t use “the” with words. You don’t want to use “the” in these cases:

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  Languages (e.g., French)
  
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  Professions (e.g., engineering)
  
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  Years (e.g., 1995)
  
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  Individual names (e.g., Long Island)
  
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  Possessive case (e.g., brother’s car)
  
• 
  Meals (e.g., breakfast)
  
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  People’s names (e.g., John)
  
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  Titles (e.g., Prince Charles)
  

Knowing Your Articles

When it comes to the English language, definite and indefinite articles and their usage can be pretty easy. However, just like anything else, there are a few exceptions to keep in mind. Since you’ve now mastered definite and indefinite articles, give irregular plural nouns a go.