Questions tagged [indefinite-article]
An article is a word that combines with a noun to indicate the type of reference being made by the noun.
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Which is correct: “a html game” or “an html game”?
Which is correct: "a html game" or "an html game"?
I think that "a html game" is correct, cause "a game" is definitely correct. But "a html" sounds ...
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Whether to use definite or indefinite article in sentences like “Don't put a space between a dash and a/the following punctuation mark”
Don't put a space between an em-dash and the adjacent words.From Quick and Dirty Tips
In English, you don’t put a space between a word and a question mark.From Quora
These sentences look very ...
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Usage of 'a' and 'the'
I have a question about the usage of 'a' and 'the' in English. I know that the rules depend on countable/non-countable nouns and general/specific nouns. Like described in this tutorial and in other ...
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“A last couple of week” vs. “the last couple of weeks”
What is the difference in meaning between a last couple of weeks and the last couple of weeks? I thought that the former was totally wrong, but in the second episode of the fourth season of Breaking ...
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When to use “as” or “as a”
I saw the same question but it's always regarding professions like:
a) As teacher, I meet many children.
b) As a teacher, I meet many children.
In this case I would automatically say b) because it's ...
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A or an? Should I consider the phrase after it?
Briefly, which one is correct?
A, again, beautiful home ...
or
An, again, beautiful home ...
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1answer
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Use of articles in software documentation
I have some questions about the use of articles in the documentation of the Laravel framework.
The chunk method breaks the collection into multiple, smaller collections of a given size
Why is used ...
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The indefinite articles
”I bought a book yesterday.”
”A man knocked on my door yesterday.”
I have been taught that the rules of ”a” and ”an” are to introduce something to the reader or listener, or to refer to any non-...
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The rules of the definite and the indefinite articles
I’m having some trouble understanding ”a/an”.
In sentences like this one:
”A gunman entered my store and held a gun to my head.”
What is ”a” really telling me as a reader about the gunman and the gun?...
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Which abstract nouns do we use indefinite articles with?
Which abstract nouns do we use indefinite articles with? I always can't decide whether I have to add an article before non-specific abstract noun or not. Please, give me some instructions.
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A light/ light/the light
Everyone! Why is this correct:
There was someone in the house because there was a light on inside.
As I know, light is uncountable. So correct to say the light/ light but not a light, isn't it?
...
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“for _ dinner” vs “for A walk”
Why do we say "to invite someone for _ dinner" without any article whereas in "to go for a walk" we use one?
Is there any general rule covering the cases or should they just be ...
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Why indefinite article is used before adj+“time”
One person is writing a letter to his friend ,who had recommended this trip to him, about trip and following sentence is from that letter.
We had a fantastic time in South Africa.
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“Remember a time when…” or “remember the time when…”?
Could you tell which article I use in the following sentence: a or the?
Do you remember a/the time when we went fishing and we forgot bait.
If both article possible, could you tell me what would ...
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1answer
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How to avoid excessive usage of a/an?
How should I go about such cases when I present something new in my narration and, therefore, should use indefinite article "a/an" right before each new thing, but there are two many of those new ...
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a lb or an lb, which is right?
At just two weeks old, he weighs less than a lb.
or
At just two weeks old, he weighs less than an lb.
Grammar Checker says "an lb" is right, really?
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I have a\the daughter
I don't really understand why we say
I have a daughter
using the "a" article. It's not a random person in the street, it's not one of my 78 daughters, this is the only daughter I have. I have no ...
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Is the phrase “the new staff at Tech company” correct?
An IELTS helper post says
I'm currently the new staff at Tech company with a specialty in IT
Is that correct? Does it need a article in between "at Tech company"?
I'm currently the new staff ...
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The atom or an atom?
I have found the following definition of the proton:
the subatomic particle found in the atom's dense central core that has a positive charge
Why is "the" used before "atom"? Would not it be ...
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1answer
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“under the sunlight” VS “in the sunlight” VS “under sunlight” VS “in sunlight”?
Suppose that you want to say that you have put your wet shirt outside so that the sunlight dries it off. Now if you want to mention the sunlight in your sentence with a prepositional phrase, how would ...
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1answer
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“For a second” vs. “for the second”
Could you tell me if the use of the but not a affect the meaning of the following sentence in any way?
Could you lay your phone aside and listen to me for a second.
Could you lay your phone ...
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1answer
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Is the definite article idiomatic in: “Look! The cat is eating the meat”
You and your child are walking on a street and suddenly see a cat eating some meat.
At that moment, both you and your child know what the cat looks like (white fur, etc) and know what the meat looks ...
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Do I need to use “an” in this sentence?
I need to write a sentence, and I have problems with whether I need to use "an" or not.
I use the text of books to search for similar sentences, since i'm a beginner and I have problems with grammar.
...
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1answer
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An SNL skit or a SNL skit? [duplicate]
An SNL skit or a SNL skit?
I am pretty sure it's "an", but I wasn't exactly sure, because I was news articles use "a" instead.
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Usage of articles for animals
While I was reading my grammar book I found below sentences with explanations:
1) A Cow is a useful Animal.
2)The Dog is a faithful animal.
I don’t know why “A cow” is used and why “The dog” ...
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How much “the” is too much?
I've always wondered what is the right use of "the" between nouns. From what I'd learned years ago, you have to use "a" or "the" before each noun. But sometimes it looks too much, and it clutters the ...
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“Develop a feel for something” or “develop the feel for something”?
Could you tell if I have use a or the before feel in the following sentences?
If you don't use the word correctly, don't be frustred as you will develop a/the feel for when to use it.
I feel that ...
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2answers
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Omission of articles in phrases
No article is used before a noun used in phrases as: to leave home, to send word, to caught fire, etc etc. Examples: He sent me word to see him. He left home. Here is my question: why not these ...
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What does it mean “a” and “ the” before “ Billion ” in these sentences?
I have read two examples about "Billion" word and I got confused with why are existences "a" and " the" in these contexts . Is it mentioned "definite" and "indefinite" meaing ?
Examples-
1. The ...
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The article choice in the instruction / programming code commentary
I'm writing the commentary to a programming code / instruction which should give the reader an idea of what is happening at the corresponding step and can't understand if it's an abstract or concrete ...
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When refer something immediately after it, should I use “a” or “the”?
I guess I understand the basic rules of "A/an and the" in Cambridge Dictionary grammar tutorial.
However, I have no idea which rule in that tutorial fits the following situation.
A post use article "...
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English Articles: Perilla oil is an/the edible vegetable oil derived from perilla seeds
This is a sentence from Wikipedia.
Perilla oil is an edible vegetable oil derived from perilla seeds.
I don't understand why it is an edible vegetable oil. We can only have one oil from perilla, i....
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‘The great storm in/of 1987’
My father lost his life during the great storm of 1987.
I’m not familiar with the structure ‘the ... of (time)’. I would say a great storm in 1987. Does the great storm of 1987 refer to a particular ...
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Usage of AN before a consonant
I am a bit confused on when to use a or an. I understand "a" comes before a consonant, while "an" is followed by a vowel. But obviously an expression like an significant part is also true (reading an ...
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Use of indefinite article before “worsening”
Since worsening is an uncountable, singular noun according to the Cambridge dictionary, I dont know how an indefinite article comes before it. For example:
" No one could have predicted such a ...
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Use of definite article when refering to unique fictional things
I read a lot of explanations about the uses of the definite article, but it sort of made me more confused instead of clarifying about what I had in mind:
In a given story which takes place in a ...
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1answer
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Indefinite article before numbers in context
Tell me please if I have to use the indefinite article before #nine in the following context.
On the scale of 1 to 10, how strong was the pain of having your tooth drilled. Well it was (a) nine.
...
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1answer
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How to correctly name photographs? (confusion with articles)
What to do in these examples?:
"Pines in (the/zero article) fog"?
https://images.fineartamerica.com/images/artworkimages/mediumlarge/1/foggy-pines-paula-apro.jpg
"(An/0) eagle (in the/at) dusk"?
...
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2answers
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“to put smth to the test” vs. “to put smth to a test”
What is the difference in the meaning between the two phrases: "to put smth to the test" and "to put smth to a test"?
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1answer
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Articles before uncountable noun form of “Need”
I am really confused as to why there is an article before the singular uncountable form of " need" noun. I stumbled upon this while looking out for its usage in Oxford learner's dictionary.
"There's ...
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1answer
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“An actual answer to the question” or “the actual answer to the question”?
Tell me please which article I have to use in the following context: the indefinite or definite article.
Why didn't you go to school yesterday? I want to know an/the actual answer.
I have heard ...
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“Summary” vs “A summary” vs “The summary”
Let's suppose my manager asks me to research some problem. I've done this and now I'm going to write him a message:
A/the summary:
[The problem is caused by this and that ...]
Do I need any ...
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Diplomacy: The patriotic art of lying for one's country
This is a quote from Ambrose Bierce:
Diplomacy: The patriotic art of lying for one's country.
I was wondering is it okay to replace one's with the or a. All three are determiners. Does the ...
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Indefinite article before plurar noun
I have noticed there are some cases where there is an indefinite article in front of a plural noun. For example, I have stumbled upon these two sentences:
Although we have a ways to go, let’s pause ...
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Is “the all” not correct?
Is the sentence B not correct and is only A valid? Or are the both ok?
A. I'd like to know all the problems we've had so far.
B. I'd like to know the all problems we've had so far.
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A/The laptop which I bought in the UK is faulty
Are the statements below wrong? Thanks!
The laptop which I bought in the UK is faulty.
analysis: You know I bought only one laptop visiting the UK and it's faulty.
A laptop which I ...
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1answer
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A problem with the rule about articles in English
Some time ago a native English speaker said to me that
That is the tool which I use to edit video
Means the person uses only this tool and
That is a tool which I use to edit video
Means the ...
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1answer
37 views
What article would be correct here? A belief that / The belief that
Can I change the definite article in the following sentence and remain grammatical?
Once you adopt the belief that there's nothing you can do to change
something, you start to take a pernicious ...
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What is the difference between “make lunch” and “make a lunch ”?
I always thought that the only correct is make lunch or cook lunch. But in this video at 30 minutes and 32 seconds a native English teacher is saying that it is possible to say
I am going to make ...
