Articles

An article is a word that combine with a noun to indicate the type of reference being made by the noun. There are only 3 articles in the English Language in two categories; the definite article (the) and the indefinite article (a, an).

Definite article (the)

A definite article (the) is used before singular and plural nouns that refer to a particular member of a group.

The cows are in the field.

Indefinite article (a, an)

An indefinite article(a, an) is used before singular nouns that refer to any member of a group. An is used when the next word begins with a vowel or a silent (unpronounced) h, as in “an animal” or “an hour.”

A cow is an animal.

Partitive article (some, any)

A partitive article indicates an indefinite quantity of a mass noun; there is no partitive article in English, though the words some or any often have that function.

Do have some fun with any of these toys.

Zero article

A zero article is the absence of an article; for example, in indefinite plural:

Cows and dogs are animals.

for example, in definite proper noun

I am climbing Mount Everest

— as opposed to—

I am climbing the highest mountain

In informal writing, such as notes or appointments , the definite article and some other particles are often omitted, for example, Must pick up clothes from laundrette today.