*English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (GAB)*
*3 Points on English Articles: A, AN, THE*
The article *”a”* is used before consonant sounds which may not necessarily be consonant letters: *a union* (not, an union), *a university* (not, an university). The first letter in these words is a vowel letter but the first sound is consonant; exactly the first sound in yam.
The article *”an”* is used before vowel sounds which may not necessarily be vowel letters: *an SS2* student (not, a SS2 student). The first letter in SS2 is a consonant but the first sound is vowel */e/* like the first sound in egg.
The article *”the”* should not be used before certain common nouns except you mean to be specific:
*I am going to market* (not, to the market).
*I am in bed* (not, in the bed).
*She’s gone to church* (not, to the church).
Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (GAB)
Academic Advisor, Distance Learning Centre, University of Ibadan;
&
Doctoral Student of English, University of Ibadan.
