Articles

The point

A and an mean one thing, not a particular one yet. An comes before a vowel sound: an apple, an hour. The means both sides already know which one.

Form and use

A and an mean one. They introduce a singular countable noun that is not yet a particular known item. Use a before a consonant sound and an before a vowel sound. The sound matters, not the letter. an hour a university an umbrella a useful tool an honest reply a European city Hour starts with a vowel sound because the h is silent. University starts with a consonant sound, like the start of you.

The means both people can identify the noun. You named it earlier, you can both see it, or a following phrase defines it. I bought a lamp. The lamp is on the desk. The moon is bright. The owner of the shop called. The does not change for sound or number: the apple, the book, the books.

Zero article means no article. Use it for a plural used in general, and for an uncountable used in general. Bikes are expensive. Water is heavy. Advice helps. You mean bikes, water, or advice as a whole class, not one known group. A particular group takes the. The bikes by the door are ours. The water in this glass is warm.

Do not leave a singular countable noun bare. She is a nurse, not She is nurse. I need an umbrella, not I need umbrella. Do not put a or an on a plural or an uncountable: not a bikes, not an advice. A job after be takes a or an: She is an engineer. Meals and languages often take zero article: We had lunch. She speaks Korean. The lunch means one particular meal: The lunch on Friday was long.

Don't translate it like this

Umbrella starts with a vowel sound, so an.

Short examples