Referring to Objects
Articles - Determiners
'A' is an indefinite article used with nouns or adjectives beginning with a consonant (b, d, z, v, t, etc.).
A call to the customer service desk will confirm your available balance.
If you use a credit card, they'll check your available balance.
An
'An' is an indefinite article used with nouns or adjectives beginning with a vowel (a,e, i, o, u).
An additional debtor may be liable for the outstanding amount in the event of death of the primary lien holder.
They have an available balance of $100,000.
The
'The' is a definite article used with nouns or adjectives beginning with vowels or consonants.
The car over there is fast.
The teacher is very good, isn't he?
A, An - Usage
Use "a or an" when you introduce an object to a discussion. Remember that your speakers are not familiar with which object you are speaking about. However, the next time you repeat that object use "the".
They have an available balance of $100,000.
An additional debtor may be liable for the outstanding amount in the event of death of the primary lien holder.
If you use a credit card, they'll check your available balance.
The - Usage
Use definite articles with specific objects that are recognizeed by both the speaker and the audience.
I placed the loan agreement under separate cover with the other files.
The product surcharge is written in the agreement.
Definite articles are not used with countries, states, counties or provinces, lakes and mountains except when the country is a collection of states such as "The United States".
He lives in Washington near Mount Rainier.
They live in northern British Columbia.
Definite articles are used with specific bodies of water, oceans and seas.
My country borders on the Pacific Ocean.
Articles are not used when speaking about things in general. When speaking in general, use the plural form for count nouns, and the singular with non count nouns.
Start-up costs tend to be underestimated.
A responsible person will have outstanding credits.
Articles are not used when speaking about meals, places, or transport.
He has breakfast at home.
I go to university.
He comes to work by taxi.