Articles are short words used before nouns to introduce them and clarify them. The most common articles are:
- a
- an
- the
There are many other words can be used instead of these three articles. These words are called determiners. Determiners can be other words, like 'this' or 'my,' or it can be a possessive 's.
Singular count nouns must always be with an article or another determiner. They cannot be used alone.
| Correct | Mom told me a story. |
| Incorrect | Mom told me story. |
Plural count nouns and all noncount nouns, however, can be used alone with no articles, or with 'the' or other determiners. The article 'a' cannot be used with plural count nouns or noncount nouns.
| Correct | I cooked food. I cooked the food. I cooked some food. |
| Incorrect | I cooked a food. |
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