An article is a word that combines with a noun to indicate the type of reference being made by the noun, and to specify the volume or numerical scope of that reference. The three main articles in the English language are the, an and a. An article is sometimes called a noun marker, although this is generally considered to be an archaic term.
Articles can have various functions:
- A definite article (English the) is used before singular and plural nouns that refer to a particular member of a group.
The cat is on the black mat.
- An indefinite article (English a, an) is used before singular nouns that refer to any member of a group.
A cat is a mammal.
- A partitive article indicates an indefinite quantity of a mass noun; there is no partitive article in English, though the words some or any often have that function.
French: Voulez-vous du café ? ("Do you want some coffee?" or "Do you want coffee?")
