Article
Does the noun need an article, and which one?
Merkitys
Articles are small words used with nouns that help show which person or thing the speaker means. They can present something as identifiable, as one member of a group, or as a whole kind. Languages differ in when an article is required, optional, or absent. Languages without articles, such as Mandarin, use other words and context instead. Specific or general and New and known information describe meanings; articles are one way to help express them.
Näin tunnistat sen
If a language has articles, look for recurring small words used with nouns to help show which thing is meant. Compare when they are needed and when a noun appears without one.
Opiskeltavalla kielelläsi
English uses the definite article the for something the listener can identify and the indefinite article a/an for one member of a group. The choice between a and an depends on the next sound, not the next letter. A singular countable noun, a noun for one thing that can be counted, normally needs an article or another word such as my or this. Plural nouns and uncountable nouns, which name things not counted one by one (such as water), often occur without an article.
I found an old key in my bag.
An introduces one key and is used before the vowel sound in old.
Please close the door.
The situation makes it clear which door is meant.
Dogs need daily walks.
No article is used for dogs as a whole kind.
We swam in Lake Michigan.
The lake name has no article.
My sister is a nurse.
A singular job label normally needs a/an.
Learners whose language has no articles often omit them with one countable thing, as in *I bought phone. Learners whose language regularly marks a whole kind with a definite article may use the dogs when they mean dogs in general.