When do you use a and an before words in English?

A bit too much. Please look carefully. The indefinite article has two forms: "a and an". "a" is used before words starting with a consonant, and "an" is used before words starting with a vowel. Determining whether a word begins with a vowel or a consonant is based on pronunciation rather than letters. Generally, the first letters are a, e, f, h, j, l, m, n, o, r, s, and x, with the indefinite article an before them. 1. Used before the singular form of countable nouns, meaning "one". There is a tiger in the zoo. There is a tiger in the zoo. 2. Indicates a type of people and things. A tiger can be dangerous. A tiger can be dangerous. 3. It means "someone" A gentleman wants to see you. A gentleman wants to see you. 4. It means "the same" They are nearly of an age. They are almost the same age. The two shirts are much of a size. The two shirts are much of a size. 5. Meaning "every" We go swimming four times a week. We go swimming four times a week. 6. Used before singular countable nouns as predicates to express identity and occupation. My mother is a teacher. My mother is a teacher. 7. A person or thing mentioned for the first time, but not specifically which one. Long long ago there was an old king who had a very beautiful daughter. Long long ago there was an old king who had a very beautiful daughter. daughter. 8. In British English, polysyllabic words starting with "h", if the first syllable is not stressed, can also be preceded by "an". There is a hotel near here. There is a hotel near here. 9. In such a, quite a sentence He is quite a good actor. He is quite a good actor. Don't be in such a hurry. Don't be in such a hurry. 10. In the exclamatory sentence what... What a pretty girl she is! What a pretty girl she is! Used in certain phrases expressing quantities: a lot of a couple of a great many a dozen a dozen (but one dozen can also be used) a great deal of a large amount [Edit this paragraph] Usage of the definite article 1. Used to refer specifically to certain (some) people or certain (some) things. This is the house where Luxun once lived. This is the house where Luxun once lived. 2. Used to refer to people or things that both parties in the conversation are clearly referring to. Open the door, please. Please open the door. 3. Used to repeat the person or thing mentioned above (use "a or an" for the first time, and "the" for the next time). Once there lived a lion in the forest. Every day the lion asked small animals to look for food for him. Once upon a time there lived a lion in the forest. Every day the lion asks small animals to find food for him. 4. Used before ordinal numbers and superlatives of adjectives January is the first month of the year. January is the first month of the year. Shanghai is the biggest city in China. Shanghai is the biggest city in China.

5. Indicates unique things in the universe the sun the moon the earth the sky the world 6. Refers to proper nouns composed of common nouns the West Lake the Great Wall the United States the United States Nations Usage of the definite article of the United Nations-2 7. Expressing direction and position in the east in the west in the front at the back in the bottom at the top on the right on the right on the left 8. Before geographical terms such as oceans, rivers, lakes, mountains, straits, bays, etc. the Pacific Ocean the Huanghe River the Tainshan Mountains the Taiwan Straits 9. Before the plural surname, it means a family The Bakers came to see me yesterday. The Bakers came to see me yesterday. 10. Used in conjunction with certain adjectives to make the adjective a nominal, representing a type of person or thing: the poor, the rich, the sick, the wounded, the good, the beautiful, beautiful things. 11. Nouns used to express class and political parties Former the working class the Chinese Communist Party the Chinese Communist Party 12. Used in the very emphatic sentence This is the very book I want. This is the book I want. 13. In the comparative sentence of the more, the more, The more you drink, the more you like it. The more you drink, the more you like it. 14. When indicating playing an instrument, the play the piano should be added in front of the instrument. Play the piano play the violin [Chinese musical instrument nouns are not used with the article: playaerhu (erhu)] 15. Certain fixed expressions in the morning in the morning in the afternoon in the evening in the evening go to the cinema go to the theater all the year round on the way to 16. add singular countable noun the Can represent a type of person or thing. The horse is a useful animal. The horse is a useful animal. Note: There are two other ways to write sentences like this: A horse is a useful animal. Horses are useful animals. 17. In the sentence pattern "verb + sb. + preposition + the + a certain part of the body", use the instead of Personal pronouns.

take sb. by the arm, grab someone's arm, hit sb. in the face, hit someone in the face, be red in the face, blush be lame in the right leg, use the before the noun in structures such as lameness in the right leg. Paragraph] Usage of zero article 1. China Europe Lei Feng Lei Feng William Shakespeare 2. The article January is generally not used before months, Sundays, and holidays January Sunday Christmas Day Christmas Day Thanksgiving, National Day, National Day, May Day, Labor Day comparison: ...on a Sunday morning. On a Sunday morning... (indicates a certain one.) Note: Add the before the national holiday. For example: the Spring Festival 3 . The article is generally not added before three meals and four seasons. I have lunch at school. I have lunch at school. Summer is the best season for swimming. Summer is the best season for swimming. Compare: I had a big lunch yesterday. I had a big lunch yesterday. (indicates a certain person) The dinner given by Mr Smith was very nice. The dinner given by Mr Smith was very nice. (Special reference) Compare: I will never forget the summer we spent in Hawaii. I will never forget the summer we spent together in Hawaii. (Indicates specific reference) 4. Play basketball play volleyball play volleyball play football 5. No specific material noun This cart is made of wood. This cart is made of wood. Compare: The wood outside was all wet. The wood outside was all wet. (Indicates specific reference) 6. Uncountable abstract noun without specific reference Time is precious. Time is precious. Compare: The time of the play was 1990s. The background of this play is the 1990s. (Indicates specific reference) 7. After the plural form of countable nouns without specific reference. I like tomatoes. I like tomatoes. 8. Mount Qomolangma 9. Fixed phrases go to school go to bed go to bed go by train go by boat at table dining in hospital hospital at school studying in school studying at noon at noon at night at night at midnight in town in the middle of the night in town 10. Nouns in independent structures without articles A boy came in, book in hand. A boy came in, book in hand. 11. Generally refers to human beings. Man is mortal. Man is bound to die. 12. In the sentence pattern "kind of＋noun sort of＋noun", what kind of flower is it? What kind of flower is it? I like this sort of book. I like this sort of book. 13. Words referring to positions and titles, such as king, captain, president, chairman, etc.

He is (the) captain of the team. He is (the) captain of the team. As (the) chairman of the committee, I declare the meeting open. As (the) chairman of the committee, I declare the meeting open. The combination of articles and three meals. When the noun three meals is used alone, it is usually not preceded by an article. The exception is when the noun three meals is preceded by an adjective: We have breakfast at eight. We have breakfast at 8 o'clock. He gave us a good breakfast． He treated us to a hearty breakfast. I was invited to dinner． They invited me to dinner. I was invited to a dinner given to welcome the new ambassador． I was invited to a banquet to welcome the new ambassador. The Scots have porridge for breakfast． Scots eat porridge for breakfast. The wedding breakfast was held in her father’s house． The wedding breakfast was held at her father's house. [Edit this paragraph] Prepositional phrases and articles 1. When the following nouns refer to their "main purpose", that is, when they are related to the behavior, zero articles should be used.

at table eating at the table at desk studying at the desk at school at the school in class in the class in bed in bed in the bed in bed in prison in the prison (due to something) in prison in hospital hospital in the hospital (due to something) in the hospital go to school go to the school (due to something) go to school go to bed go to bed go to the bed in bed go to hospital go to the hospital go to the hospital 2. take place take the place instead of in place of instead of in the place of in the place of... in case of in the case of in the case of out of question no doubt out of the question completely impossible Phrases usually using the indefinite article after a while all of a sudden as a rule usually as a result result, therefore as a matter of fact in fact as a whole generally at a loss in a hurry in a way in a word it's a pity that... put an end to... come to an end come to a conclusion have a good time have a rest have a cold have a word with keep an eye for make a living make a fire make a fool of take a walk [Edit this paragraph] Article position 1) Indefinite article position The indefinite article is often placed before a noun or a noun modifier. Note: a. After the following adjectives: such, what, many, half, I have never seen such an animal. Many a man is fit for the job. b. When the adjective before the noun is replaced by the adverb as, so, too, how , however, when modifying enough, the indefinite article should be placed after the adjective: It is as pleasant a day as I have ever spent. So short a time. Too long a distance. c. quite, rather used with singular nouns, the article Put it behind. But when there is an adjective before rather or quite, the indefinite article can be placed before or after it. For example: quite a lot d. In the concession adverbial clause introduced by as, though, when the slogan is a noun modified by an adjective, the indefinite article is placed after the adjective: Brave a man though he is, he trembles at the sight of snakes. He Despite his bravery, he was still trembling at the sight of the snake. When a noun is modified by a comparative adjective, the indefinite article usually comes after the comparative adjective.

2) Definite article position: The definite article is usually placed before the noun or noun modifier, but after words such as all, both, double, half, twice, three times, etc., and before the noun. All the students in the class went out. All the students in the class went out. [Edit this paragraph] Article and adjective + noun structure 1) Both adjectives have articles, indicating two different things. He raises a black and a white cat. He raises a black cat and a white cat. The black and the white cats are hers. The black and the white cats are his. 2) If the latter adjective has no article, it refers to one thing. He raises a black and white cat. He raises a calico cat. [Edit this paragraph] Incorrect use of articles In addition to mastering the basic rules for using articles, everyone should not stick to the rules and pay attention to the flexible use of articles: 1. The definite article the is usually added before nouns that express unique things in the world; but if there is a modifier before the noun, the indefinite articles a or an may also be used. the world, a peaceful world the moon, a bright moon 2. Nouns that express three meals a day are generally not preceded by an article, but if they are preceded by attributive modifications, the indefinite articles a or an may also be used. Have you had supper? We had a wonderful supper. 3. The definite article the is usually used before nouns indicating musical instruments, but if there is an attributive modification before it, the indefinite articles a, an may also be used. He starts his day by playing the violin. He is playing a borrowed violin. 4. Prepositions are used with nouns indicating means of transportation to express a general way. Generally, there is no article in front of the noun, but if there is a modifier in front of the noun, it needs to be preceded by a preposition. word. He went to the station by car. English=the English language French=the French language 6. When turn is used as a linking verb, the article is not used before the singular noun that is used as a predicate. He turned writer many years later.(=He became a writer many years later.) [Edit this paragraph] Article formula Articles are divided into definite articles and indefinite articles. The indefinite articles a and an, "—" have a general meaning. The refers to specifically refer to the only order, direction, and superlative of objects in the world. The article avoids mentioning the following people or things again. The plural form of nouns generally refers to subjects, ball games, three meals, seasons, weeks, months before.