How to Use “a,” “an,” and “the”: Articles Made Easy

Do I Need “A”? “The”? Or… Nothing at All?!

If you’ve ever asked this, you’re not alone!
Articles — “a,” “an,” and “the” — can be tricky, especially for Japanese learners.

But don’t worry — let’s make it simple!

1. What Are Articles?

Articles are small words that come before nouns.
They tell us if we’re talking about something specific or not specific.

• A / An = one thing, but not specific

• The = one specific thing

• No article = sometimes nothing is needed!

2. A vs. An

Use “A” before consonant sound, and “an” before vowel sound.

• A cat

• An umbrella

Tip: Think about the sound, not the spelling!

• ✅ An hour (vowel sound)

• ✅ A university (sounds like "you-niversity" → consonant sound)

3. The – Talking about specific things

Use “The” when:

• You already mentioned the thing.

• The "thing" is clear. 

• There’s only one.

Examples:

• I saw a dog. The dog was very cute.

• Let’s go to the station.

• The sun is shining.

Want to test your article skills and learn more about it?

We created printable worksheets for more practice using “a,” “an,” and “the” in fun exercises!

🔜 Coming soon — grammar bundles & worksheets will be available here!
Follow us on Instagram @kohaku_english_online for updates 💛

Disclaimer!

English has many exceptions, and sometimes native speakers break the rules too! The explanations here are meant to give you a strong foundation, but don’t worry if you come across something different in real life. With practice and exposure, it will all start to feel more natural