Determiners

Articles: a, an, the

A is the indefinite article. It is used with single countable nouns.

• He is a doctor.
• Is there a post office near here?

Use a before consonant sounds. Use an before vowel sounds.

• a book
• a holiday
• a university
• an ice-cream
• an hour
• an umbrella

The is the definite article. It is used when there is only one of something.

• the moon

This includes superlative adjectives.

• It's the best sound in the world.

It is used when it is clear which thing the speaker refers to.

• Where's the bathroom?

It is used when something has already been identified.

• I had an egg and a sausage. The egg was bad.