Use a (or an) with common singular count nouns that refer to “one” or “any.” - Articles (a, an, the) - Multilingual Writers and ESL Topics

Rules for writers, Tenth edition - Diana Hacker, Nancy Sommers 2021

Use a (or an) with common singular count nouns that refer to “one” or “any.”
Articles (a, an, the)
Multilingual Writers and ESL Topics

If a count noun refers to an unspecific item (not a whole category), use the indefinite article, a or an. A and an can mean “one among many” or “any one.” (See the chart below.)

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CHOOSING ARTICLES FOR COMMON NOUNS

Use the

✵ if the reader has enough information to identify the noun specifically

✵ COUNT: Please turn on the lights. We’re going to the lake tomorrow.

✵ NONCOUNT: The food throughout Italy is excellent.

Use a or an

✵ if the noun refers to one item and

✵ if the item is singular but not specific

COUNT: Bring a pencil to class. Charles wrote an essay about his first job.

NOTE: Do not use a or an with plural or noncount nouns.

Use a quantifier (enough, many, some, etc.)

✵ if the noun represents an unspecified amount of something

✵ if the amount is more than one but not all items in a category

✵ COUNT (plural): Amir showed us some photos of India. Many turtles return to the same nesting site each year.

✵ NONCOUNT: We didn’t get enough rain this summer.

NOTE: Sometimes no article conveys an unspecified amount: Amir showed us photos of India.

Use no article

✵ if the noun represents all items in a category

✵ if the noun represents a category in general

✵ COUNT (plural): Students can attend the show for free.

✵ NONCOUNT: Coal is a natural resource.

NOTE: The is occasionally used when a singular count noun refers to all items in a class or a specific category: The bald eagle is no longer endangered in the United States.