Managing Article Madness
You’ve come across a noun (a person, place, or thing). Now you need to decide whether to use a/an, the, or no article. There are exceptions to the following rules, but this information can help you to manage a lot of the frustrations that articles create.
First, ask whether the noun is a proper noun—a noun used for a specific person, place, or thing (e.g., President Obama, California, Santa Clara University, England)—or a common noun—a noun that is not used for a specific person, place, or thing and does not require capitalization (e.g., professor, assignment, education).
Dealing with Proper Nouns
| Noun Type | Article Rule |
|---|---|
| Proper + singular | no article |
| Proper + plural | definite article "the" |
Examples for proper + singular: They were excited to visit Santa Clara University. Neither of them had been to California before. We met up at the fountain near Benson Memorial Union.
Examples for proper + plural: the Broncos, the United Nations, the Golden State Warriors.
Dealing with Common Nouns
| Noun Type | Article Rule | Notes/Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Common + specific noun (a noun that stands for a particular person, place, or thing) | definite article "the" |
We have tickets to the game on Sunday. I have to pick up the new textbook for my class at the bookstore. We are taking the freeway because it will take less time. |
| Common + unspecific + uncountable | no article | If it is unspecific and uncountable (i.e., a noun that takes the singular, even in mass form or quantity), it will not take an article (e.g., advice, homework). |
| Common + unspecific + countable | article | If it is unspecific and countable (i.e., a noun that can take the singular or plural form), it will often take an article (e.g., the road(s), a lab report, an apple, the photographs). |
| Common + unspecific + countable + singular | indefinite article "a/an" | Examples: a professor; an advisor. |
| Common + unspecific + countable + plural | no article |
We use computers all the time. People are always looking at screens. They traveled many roads in order to get here. |
Key Reminders
- Specific, singular, countable nouns should always take an article or another determiner (e.g., our, their, my, your, its).
- Nouns that have been made more specific via modifiers will take the definite article (e.g., the left arm of the patient; the trip of a lifetime; the hopes of many).
Dealing with Proper Nouns
If the noun is a proper noun, is it singular or plural?
Proper + singular = no article
Examples: They were excited to visit Santa Clara University. Neither of them had been to California. We met up at the fountain near Benson Memorial Union.
Proper + plural = definite article "the"
Examples: the Broncos, the United Nations, the Golden State Warriors
Dealing with Common Nouns
If the noun is a common noun, check whether it is specific (a noun that stands for a particular person, place, or thing):
Common + specific = definite article "the"
Examples: We have tickets to the game on Sunday. I have to pick up the new textbook for my class at the bookstore. We are taking the freeway because it will take less time.
If it's common noun but also unspecific (a noun that does not stand for a particular person, place, or thing), check whether it is uncountable or countable:
Common + unspecific + uncountable = no article
If it is unspecific and uncountable (i.e., a noun that takes the singular, even in mass form or quantity), it will not take an article (e.g., advice, homework).
Common + unspecific + countable = article
If it is unspecific and countable (i.e., a noun that can take the singular or plural form), it will often take an article (e.g., the road(s), a lab report, an apple, the photographs).
To complicate matters further, check whether the common + unspecific + countable noun is singular or plural:
Common + unspecific + countable + singular = indefinite article "a/an"
Examples: a professor; an advisor
Common + unspecific + countable + plural = no article
Examples: We use computers all the time. People are always looking at screens. They traveled many roads in order to get here.
Key reminders:
- Specific, singular, countable nouns should always take an article or another determiner (e.g., our, their, my, your, its).
- Nouns that have been made more specific via modifiers will take the definite article (e.g., the left arm of the patient; the trip of a lifetime; the hopes of many).
