Article Chart

Article Chart

   

		Specific (This one, that one) (This/that group) Which one? Which ones?	Non-Specific Any one Any group One of many One of many groups	Generic In general
	Count Singular	The apple The bird The child	An apple A bird A child	* *
	Count Plural	The apples The birds The children	Some apples Some birds Some children	Apples Birds Children
	Non-count	The water The information	Some water Some information	Water Information

Notes:

Specific articles are used with nouns which have been identified previously. (The speaker and the listener both know which thing/person/substance/idea is being referred to.)

The teacher is coming up the stairs.

(Both listener and speaker know which teacher and which stairs.)
Give me the red shirt. (I know which one you are talking about.)

Non-specific articles are used with nouns that have not been identified previously (byboth the speaker and the listener.) They are used with items that have not been singled-out yet. (Note: As soon as the items are identified, they require a specific article.)

I want a candy bar. (Any candy bar will do.)

Which one do you want? (Asking for specification)
The one on the right. (I choose that one.)
Give me some milk. (Any milk is fine.)
I need some new shoes. (But I haven't decided which ones to buy yet.)
I bought some shoes at Valmart. (I know which shoes, but you don't.)
These are the shoes that I bought. (Now we both know which ones.)

Non-count and plural nouns are used without articles in the generic sense.

Cats are afraid of dogs. (in general)
Water is necessary for survival.

*However, singular count nouns cannot stand alone in a sentence, so an article (usually aor an) is used.

Oranges contain Vitamin C. (generally)

Orange contains Vitamin C. (incorrect)

An orange contains Vitamin C. (okay)

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