Grammar Focus

Articles (Άρθρα)

Articles are small words before nouns: a, an and the. Sometimes we use no article.

1. A / An (ένας / μία / ένα)

We use a or an with one singular countable noun when we do not mean a specific one.

ArticleUseExamples
abefore consonant soundsa book, a dog, a pencil
anbefore vowel soundsan apple, an egg, an umbrella

Examples

  • I have a cat. → Έχω μία γάτα.
  • She is an English teacher. → Είναι καθηγήτρια Αγγλικών.
  • There is a book on the desk. → Υπάρχει ένα βιβλίο στο θρανίο.

Careful: We choose a/an by sound, not only by letter: an hour, but a university.

2. The (ο / η / το / οι / τα)

We use the when we know exactly which person, animal, place or thing we mean.

  • Something specific: Open the door. → Άνοιξε την πόρτα.
  • Second mention: I saw a dog. The dog was black.
  • Unique things: the sun, the moon, the sky
  • Places everyone knows: the classroom, the school library

Examples

  • The teacher is in the classroom. → Ο/Η δάσκαλος/α είναι στην τάξη.
  • The moon is beautiful tonight. → Το φεγγάρι είναι όμορφο απόψε.
  • Where is the pencil I gave you? → Πού είναι το μολύβι που σου έδωσα;

3. No article (χωρίς άρθρο)

Sometimes we do not use an article in English.

No article with…Examples
plural nouns in generalDogs are friendly.
uncountable nouns in generalWater is important.
mealsI have breakfast at 8.
school subjects / languagesI like English. We study Maths.

4. Quick Comparison

ArticleUseExample
aone, not specific, consonant sounda banana
anone, not specific, vowel soundan orange
thespecific / knownthe orange on the table
—general meaningOranges are healthy.

5. Practice

A. Complete with a or an.

  1. ___ apple
  2. ___ book
  3. ___ umbrella
  4. ___ pencil
  5. ___ egg
  6. ___ university

B. Complete with a, an or the.

  1. I have ___ dog. ___ dog is brown.
  2. Can you open ___ window, please?
  3. There is ___ orange in my bag.
  4. ___ sun is hot.
  5. She is ___ good student.

C. Choose article or no article.

  1. ___ water is important.
  2. I like ___ English.
  3. ___ cats are cute animals.
  4. We have ___ breakfast at 8 o’clock.
  5. Look at ___ moon!
✅ Show answers

A

  1. an apple
  2. a book
  3. an umbrella
  4. a pencil
  5. an egg
  6. a university

B

  1. I have a dog. The dog is brown.
  2. Can you open the window, please?
  3. There is an orange in my bag.
  4. The sun is hot.
  5. She is a good student.

C

  1. Water is important. (no article)
  2. I like English. (no article)
  3. Cats are cute animals. (no article)
  4. We have breakfast at 8 o’clock. (no article)
  5. Look at the moon!