ARTICLES	EXAMPLES
An article is a word that helps identify a noun. An article often comes before a count noun.	After the game, we found a coat and an umbrella on the field.
Use a or an before nouns that are not specific. Use the before nouns that are specific.	A boy walked around the field. The coach’s son walked around the field.
Use a before a word that starts with a consonant sound.	a ball a gate a player a one-way street (o is pronounced like w) a cap a kick a net a uniform (u is pronounced like y)
Use an before a word that starts with a vowel sound.	a e i o u silent h an ant an elbow an inch an olive an umbrella an hour an apron an eel an idea an ocean an amount an election an owl an artist an orange
Do not use a or an before a noncount noun.	The soccer ball was made of leather.
Do not use the before the name of:
• a city or state	Our next game will be in Dallas. Games in Texas are always exciting.
• most countries	We will play a team from Mexico.
• a language	People will be cheering in Spanish and English.
• a day, a month, or most holidays	The game will take place on Monday. Is that in February? Yes, on President’s Day.
• a sport or activity	That will be a good day to play soccer.
• most businesses	The fans will have hot dogs to eat from Sal’s Market.
• a person	You may even see Sal himself.