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.).
He tests a browser for Initech.
He stares at a screensaver pattern on his iMac.
An
'An' is an indefinite article used with nouns or adjectives beginning with a vowel (a,e, i, o, u).
She used an Apple because of its scroll bar last night.
She lost data on an account when the buffer failed.
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".
She ate an orange and the left the peel on the SCSI drive.
She lost data on an account when the buffer failed.
He coded a script for his company.
The - Usage
Use definite articles with specific objects that are recognizeed by both the speaker and the audience.
The program he was running ran faster after he emptied the cache.
The program required to set up multi-seat computing can be purchased at the Apple Store.
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.
The clipboard software has advocates in many companies.
Apple's politics made the idea of a clone distasteful.
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.