English as an Additional Language: Articles with Non/Count Nouns

Count vs Non-Count Nouns

Count & Noncount Nouns

English nouns may be classified as count or noncount.

Count nouns are quantifiable (i.e., people, places, things, and ideas we can count). When specified, use the. If unspecified use a/an.

E.g. 1. I have a book on grammar. The a is used in this sentence to refer to a specific book.

2. Sara has three grammar books.

Noncount nouns cannot be counted and are usually singular.

Words with suffixes -ship,-tion, -ing,- ism, -ity, and -ogy are usually noncount nouns. If it is not specific then no article is required.

E.g. The research on international students maintain that they face numerous challenges.

Articles

Articles

Articles are like adjectives and are used before nouns to quantify them.

There are two types of articles in English:

The indefinite article (a or an)
The definite article (the)

E.g. A study – could be any study or concept of a study.

E.g. The study – referring to a particular study

A is used with adjectives beginning with a consonant.
An is used with nouns beginning with a vowel (a, e, i, o, u).

Read the handout below to learn how to use articles with nouns.

Review the table below to learn when to use indefinite and definite articles.

Indefinite articles are used	Definite article are used
with generic nouns. when you do not have a particular person, place or thing in mind. with nonspecific singular and count nouns when the listener does not know the thing being talked about.	with specific nouns when the particular person, place or thing being referred to is known. when the noun describes something unique. when the noun has been previously mentioned. when the knowledge is shared/known/established by both writer and reader or listener and speaker. if it is a common assumption.

Explore common nouns and associated articles in the table below.

General Notes on the Use of Articles

General Notes:

A noun is generic or general when it represents all members of a class or category. Specific nouns refer to something or things in particular.
Use some or no article with plural count nouns and with non-count nouns that are non-specific or generic.
A noun is often indefinite when it is first used and becomes definite after the first use.
Use zero article (or no article) with non-specific plural count nouns and non-specific non-count nouns
An adjective can often make a noun represent something unique. Examples of such adjectives are right, wrong, first, only, and the comparative and superlative forms.
The definite article is used with the names of public places, some countries, and many geographical regions or features.

For rivers, seas and oceans the is used BUT for lakes no article is used (e.g., Lake Diefenbaker). For mountain ranges the is used BUT for single mountains no article is used E.g.: Mount Everest

The is also used for the names of a few countries (e.g., the United Kingdom, The Netherlands), and with names of ships (e.g., the Titanic).