A, AN, THE - Articles in English

So another question from students.

This one is asking about articles, specifically the definite article "the":

when we use it, and when we don't - specifically with plural nouns.

Thanks for the question.

Really good one and we get asked a lot about articles.

Articles are very confusing for students because some languages don't use them and the ones which do

don't usually have the same rules as us.

So let's start with the easy one - the indefinite articles "a" and "an".

These are easy. You have a singular countable noun,

you put "a" or "an" in front of the noun.

For example: one iPhone -- an iPhone.

[Fairy] Poof! A Fairy.

Why are you here? Again? You're always here ruining the lesson.

[Fairy] Yeah.

No one likes you.

But yeah, I suppose. I mean, you can count that.

One fairy, two fairies...

[Fairy #2] Poof!

Really?

[Fairy #2] Sick.

Okay, so one fairy is a fairy.

[Fairy #1] Ello mate.

*high five*

That's your first rule.

A singular countable noun we use "a" or "an".

Another rule for the indefinite articles "a" and "an".

Remember these are indefinite or nonspecific.

When you mention something for the first time in a story

the listener doesn't specifically know which object you're talking about, so we use that.

Again, for singular countable nouns.

For example: I met a girl yesterday.

I killed a theory today.

[Fairy #1] Wait, what?

We use "the", the definite article, when we're talking about a specific group of something

or one singular noun which is specific and we both know which noun and we're talking about.

So for example: I killed a fairy today.

We both don't know which fairy.

In the second sentence I'm referencing the same fairy again

So I say: I killed a fairy today.

I killed the fairy - the fairy - because it was stupid.

[Fairy] I'm not dead. Pretty hurt though.

*Fairy coughs*

That's blood. Yep. I'm bleedin'.

*fairy coughs*

[Fairy] Call me an ambulance.

So that's with singular countable nouns.

We're being general, we use "a".

We're being specific, we use "the".

But your question is about plural nouns

and when we use and don't use "the".

Easy - you just have to apply that logic to plural nouns.

Remember with singular nouns, we were being general. We used "a".

Where we were being specific - "the".

With plural nouns, it's the same logic. When we talk about a specific group we use "the".

Example.

Uh, let's see.

Russian people are very nice,

but the Russian people I've met ,

(specific group)

the Russian people I've met are crazy.

I'm joking Russians, you're cool.

Another example: Babies are very annoying.

Babies are very annoying.

So I'm being general.

When it's a plural noun we don't use any article.

Remember single nouns we used "a" for a general situation?

Plural nouns, we don't use any article if we're being general.

Babies are annoying.

However

The babies in my family are very cute.

I said the babies because this is a specific group of babies.

General: no article.

Specific group: the.

That's with plural nouns.

Remember again with singular nouns:

General - "a"

Specific - "the"

Plural nouns:

General - no article.

Specific - "the"

We use this one we want to indicate a specific group or a specific thing

which we both understand.

Another example with babies.

Imagine you're sitting on a plane and you feel this -

The baby behind me is very annoying.

I say that because we both understand which baby.

I wouldn't say, for example, "A baby behind me is annoying".

No, I'm not being general. I'm being specific.

There are many more rules with articles, and I think we'll do another one later

explaining all of the rules, but I hope that answers your question on plural nouns

and when we use and don't use the definite article "the".

Bye, bye.