The word “the” is an article. “The” is the definite article in English (as opposed to the indefinite articles “a” and “an”).
“The” is one of the determiners that can modify specific rather than general versions of nouns. When readers know exactly which noun you mean, use “the” or any other determiner (e.g., “my” or “this”) besides indefinite articles.
You can use “the” before all of these types of nouns:
- Singular (e.g., “The purse over there belongs to me”)
- Plural (e.g., “Except for the coins in my wallet, I don’t have any cash”)
- Countable (e.g., “I put all the pens in the desk drawer”)
- Uncountable (e.g., “I gave all of the gum to my niece”)
QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker can help you use “the” and other articles or determiners correctly in your writing.
Continue reading: Is the an article?
The word “of” is not an article but rather, a preposition. As a preposition, “of” begins a prepositional phrase, which also includes a noun. The following examples include prepositional phrases (in bold) that begin with “of.”
- The pyramids are made of limestone blocks.
- Michael published a book of poems.
In contrast to a preposition, an article is a determiner that modifies a noun. The definite article in English is “the,” and the indefinite articles are “a” and “an.”
The QuillBot Grammar Checker can help you use “of” correctly in your writing.
Continue reading: Is of an article?
The word and is not an article. It’s sometimes confused with the indefinite article “an,” but it’s a different part of speech.
And is a coordinating conjunction, so you can use it between two grammatically equal words, phrases, or clauses. For example, “and” can go between two independent clauses (e.g., “George had a sandwich for lunch, and Martha had soup”).
When you’re using indefinite articles or coordinating conjunctions in your writing, the QuillBot Grammar Checker is here to help.
Continue reading: Is and an article?
The word “an” is an indefinite article that modifies a noun. It can go right before the noun, before the first adjective that modifies the noun, or before an adverb that modifies the noun’s first adjective.
Use this indefinite article in these situations:
- When you’re referring to a general version of a singular, countable noun (e.g., “an English muffin”)
- When the next word starts with a vowel sound (e.g., “an hour” or “an apple”)
QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker can help you avoid errors when you’re writing with “an.”
Continue reading: What part of speech is an?
The word “that” is not an article but rather, a demonstrative pronoun.
The articles in English are the definite article “the” and the indefinite articles “a” and “an.”
Use “that” before a singular, countable noun that is clear from the context or that has already been mentioned (e.g., “I’m binge watching Ted Lasso again because I love that show”).
When you’re writing with indefinite articles, definite articles, or demonstrative pronouns, QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker is here to help.
Continue reading: Is that an article?
The word “a” is an article. More specifically, “a” is one of the two indefinite articles (“a” and “an”).
Indefinite articles modify general versions of singular and countable nouns (e.g., “a bicycle” means “any bicycle” whereas “the bicycle Mia got for her birthday” refers to one specific bicycle”).
Use “a” before the noun it modifies, the first adjective that modifies the noun, or the adverb that modifies the noun’s first adjective.
Use “a” instead of “an” when the next word begins with a consonant sound (e.g., “She wore a gold necklace”).
QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker can help you use the indefinite article “a” correctly in your writing.
Continue reading: Is a an article?
Neither is, not neither are, is grammatically correct because “neither” is a singular indefinite pronoun (e.g., “Neither (option) is okay”).
However, in informal English, we sometimes say “neither of X are” (e.g., “I think neither of those options are acceptable,” “I think neither of them are acceptable”) and “neither X nor Y are” (e.g., “Neither David nor Elise are here today”).
Deciding if is or are is grammatically correct with indefinite pronouns can be tricky. You can use QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to help you check your sentences for correct subject-verb agreement.
Continue reading: Is it neither is or neither are?
Either is (not either are) is grammatically correct because “either” is a singular indefinite pronoun (e.g., “Either (option) is fine”).
However, in informal English, we sometimes say “either of X are” (e.g., “I don’t think either of those options are acceptable,” “I don’t think either of them are acceptable”) and “either X or Y are” (e.g., “Either Paula or Sasha are going to do it”).
Deciding if is or are is the correct choice with indefinite pronouns can be difficult. Why not use QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to help you check the subject-verb agreement in your sentences?
Continue reading: Is it either is or are?
It is always information is (not information are) because it is an uncountable noun (e.g., “The information is on the website”). But you can say “pieces of information are” (e.g., “A few pieces of information are missing”).
Deciding if is or are is the right choice can be tricky. Why not use QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to help ensure that the subject-verb agreement in your sentences is correct?
Continue reading: Is it information is or are?
It is always everybody is (not everybody are)—e.g., “Everybody is meeting there at 5 p.m.”).
Knowing whether to use is or are with indefinite pronouns can be tricky because some are treated as plural, some as singular (like everybody), and some can be either.
QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker will help you to check the subject-verb agreement in your sentences.
Continue reading: Is it everybody is or everybody are?
