How to Use Articles Correctly in English

The word need is used in English to express a desire for something or a lack of something. It is often used to describe the basic human needs such as food, water and shelter. It can also be used to describe emotional and psychological needs such as safety, belonging and self-actualization. People are born with needs but they can be influenced by their environment and experience to change the way they think about these needs.

The need to be loved and connected in a relationship is a basic psychological need. This need can be met in a variety of ways including talking openly and honestly, spending time together, going on dates and giving gifts. In addition, the need to be loved and connected can be satisfied through other activities such as volunteering, hobbies and physical fitness. Identifying the specific needs in a relationship can help couples determine what steps they need to take to meet those needs.

A person’s financial well-being is an important need, and this can be influenced by the messages they received as children about money. Those who grew up in homes where there was money dysfunction or arguments about finances are more likely to have mixed or insecure feelings about the role of money in life. In addition, people may have a difficult time understanding their own financial needs because they may not know how much they need to live comfortably or if they are in debt.

An article is a word that tells how broad or explicit a noun is in a sentence. The three articles in English (a, an and the) are definite and indefinite. The indefinite article can only be used before countable nouns that start with a consonant sound or vowel sound. This is because the indefinite article is based on how many of the nouns are there, rather than how many are there in total. This is why a, an and the are usually used with numbers and days of the month.

Using a, an and the correctly is essential to good English writing and speaking. When they are not used properly, sentences can sound gritty or unprofessional. Luckily, learning and practicing the rules of article use can make them second nature. The use of the article in English is relatively easy to understand and can be learnt in just a few minutes.

The first rule is to decide whether the noun you are referring to is definite or indefinite. Defining a noun as definite means it is known to the writer and reader in a concrete way, such as a particular book or movie. Indefinite nouns do not require an article, such as the year or the month. However, there are some exceptions, such as when you are referring to the number of people that have been killed by gun violence or how many books have been written on the topic of war. The article some is also used when a noun is not specific but is a number or part of an uncountable noun such as decades and currencies.