What Is the Indefinite Article?

What Is the Indefinite Article? (with Examples)

The indefinite article is the word a (or an when it helps pronunciation). It is used before a noun to describe it as something non-specific.

There are two types of articles:

· The Definite Article (the)

· The Indefinite Article (a and an).

Articles are adjectives.

A (or an) is known as the indefinite article because it indicates something non-specific.

In contrast to the indefinite article is the definite article (the), which sits before a noun to specify it as something previously considered (i.e., something specific).

Examples of the Indefinite Article

These sentences compare the use of indefinite and definite articles:

· Pass me a hammer.

(The hammer is non-specific; i.e., any hammer will do.)

· Pass me the hammer.

(The hammer is specific. It's the hammer known to the speaker and the listener; e.g., the one they've just been using.)

· I need a chair.

(any chair)

· I need the chair.