Golden rules for Articles (a / an - the)

Articles a / an with or without “H”.

“A” before words beginning with a consonant sound.

a table a man a big city a University = (yuniversity)

“AN” before words beginning with a vowel sound.

an apple / an orange / an apostle / an hour =(our)

“A” before “H” when “H” is pronounced like “J”

a hole = (jo) a Hebrew = (ji) a hug = (ja) a hammer = (ja)

a house = (ja) a hymn = (ji)

“AN” before “H” when “H” is silent.

an honest man (o) an heir (e) an hour (a)

The articles “A” / “AN” are SINGULAR words, do not use them
with plural nouns.

GOLDEN RULES FOR ARTICLES.

THE = el, la, los, las, lo.

· DON’T use THE with Proper names, Countries, etc.

(the Tom, the Mary, the Rome, = IS WRONG)

* You CAN use THE with NATIONALITIES.

The Mexicans The Romans The Canadians

· You CAN’T use THE with the words CHURCH, SCHOOL, HOME
when they are used as an INSTITUTION.

We are going to church.
They are going to school.
I’m going home.

· You CAN use THE with the words CHURCH, SCHOOL, HOME when they are used as a BUILDING

We are going to fix the church.
They are going to paint the school.
I’m going to the Home. (rest home)

NEVER use TO with the words HOME and DOWN TOWN.

I’m going downtown. (not: I’m going to downtown)

I’m going home. (not: I’m going to home.)

DO NOT USE "THE" (with plural and uncountable nouns) to talk about things in general.

LIFE IS HARD. (NOT = "The life is hard")

DO NOT USE SINGULAR COUNTABLE NOUNS WITHOUT ARTICLES.

the car, a car, (but not, *car)

NEVER USE TWO ARTICLES TOGETHER.

(The, a man. = is wrong) We say "The man" or "A man"

Use A/AN to say what people's professions or jobs are.

She's a banker. (NOT: She's bank manager)

Never use THE with demostratives, (this, that, these, those)

(The, that man = is wrong) We say: "The man" or "That man"

Don't , use THE with: SOME, ANY, YOUR, HIS.

THE = THY

THY = is old English, it is also used by the "Quakers"

Thy father, (vuestro padre) Thy mother, (vuestra madre)

Thy = is also used in the "Lord's prayer" = (El Padre Nuestro)


MOST MISTAKES WITH ARTICLES ARE MADE BY BREAKING ONE OF THESE RULES.