The Importance of Using Articles Before Countable Nouns: Why the Missing Article Could be a Grammar Mistake

Common Mistake in English Grammar: Missing Articles

One common mistake that many people make in English grammar is forgetting to include the appropriate article before a countable noun. Article errors are especially common for non-native English speakers, but even native speakers can occasionally slip up. In this blog post, we will discuss the importance of using articles and provide examples to help you avoid this common mistake.

What are articles and why are they important?

In English, articles are words that precede nouns to indicate whether the noun is specific or nonspecific. There are three articles in the English language: "a," "an," and "the." Let's take a closer look at when and how to use each one:

"A" is used before singular nouns that begin with a consonant sound.
"An" is used before singular nouns that begin with a vowel sound.
"The" is used before both singular and plural nouns to indicate specificity. It is also used when the listener/reader is expected to know which specific noun is being referred to.

By using articles correctly, you provide clarity and context to your sentences. Articles help the reader or listener understand whether you are referring to something in a general sense or something specific.

Examples of missing articles

Let's take a look at some examples of sentences where articles are missing:

I saw cat in the garden.
She wants to buy new car.
He is playing piano in orchestra.

These sentences all have a missing article before the noun. Let's correct them:

I saw a cat in the garden.
She wants to buy a new car.
He is playing the piano in the orchestra.

See how adding the appropriate article makes the sentences grammatically correct and clearer in meaning?

How can Linguix grammar checker help?

If you struggle with correctly using articles in English, a grammar checker like Linguix can be a valuable tool. Linguix's advanced algorithms can automatically detect when an article is missing and suggest the correct use. By using a grammar checker, you can improve your writing and ensure that you are using articles correctly.

So remember, don't forget the article! Using articles correctly adds precision and clarity to your English writing.

Incorrect:
He is friend.

Correct:
He is a friend|the friend.
Correct:
He is a friend.
Correct:
He is my friend.
Correct:
This is Chapter 2.
Correct:
Depict one's immersion with the world.
Correct:
You can go by car or by train.
Correct:
The horses are coming down the track and it's neck and neck.
Correct:
It's brand new.
Correct:
... region when the county courts were in session.
Correct:
The roses are in bud.

Incorrect:
He does lot of things.

Correct:
He does a lot|the lot of things.
Correct:
He does need us.
Correct:
We do have this kind of attitude.

Correct:
He takes his brother to school.
Correct:
The event takes place here.
Incorrect:
He takes brother with him.

Correct:
He takes a brother|the brother with him.

Correct:
He gives his brother a bar of chocolate.
Correct:
This event gives rise to a new era.
Incorrect:
He gives brother a bar of chocolate.

Correct:
He gives a brother|the brother a bar of chocolate.

Incorrect:
He goes step too far.

Correct:
He goes a step|the step too far.
Correct:
He goes a step too far.
Correct:
This goes hand in hand...

Incorrect:
It falls tad.

Correct:
It falls a tad|the tad.
Correct:
Inflation falls a tad.
Correct:
The website falls victim to...

Incorrect:
He is good friend.

Correct:
He is a good friend|the good friend.
Correct:
He is a good friend.
Correct:
It may require strong AI to be done as well as humans can do it.

Incorrect:
Recently I have experienced problem.

Correct:
Recently I have experienced a problem|experienced the problem.
Correct:
Recently I have experienced a problem.
Correct:
Different as our minds are, yours has nourished mine.

Incorrect:
Recently I have experienced serious problem.

Correct:
Recently I have experienced a serious problem|experienced the serious problem.
Correct:
Recently I have experienced a serious problem.

Incorrect:
He is experienced soldier.

Correct:
He is an experienced soldier|the experienced soldier.
Correct:
He is an experienced soldier.
Correct:
Last year Beyeler arranged to sell $1,500,000.
Correct:
At least one white student at Georgia got through this ritual.
Correct:
In October 1944, he was appointed state warden and chief of the Forest Fire Section.
Correct:
The typical U.S. daily menu, says Dr. Keys, contains 3,000 calories
Correct:
I find the cleaner, less razor-edged monophonic version more interesting.
Correct:
Majestic Pick comes next.

Incorrect:
He is extremely experienced soldier.

Correct:
He is an extremely experienced soldier|the extremely experienced soldier.
Correct:
There is only one catch to this idyllic arrangement.
Correct:
He is an extremely experienced soldier.
Correct:
Nearby Foggy Bottom is ousting Negroes.
Correct:
Cousin Emma is alone in that big old house and won't hear to parting from it.

Incorrect:
He was waiting at airport.

Correct:
He was waiting at an airport|the airport.
Correct:
He was waiting at the airport.

Incorrect:
He was waiting at new airport.

Correct:
He was waiting at a new airport|the new airport.
Correct:
He was waiting at the new airport.
Correct:
It appeared as something she could not at first cope with.

Incorrect:
He was waiting by river.

Correct:
He was waiting by a river|the river.
Correct:
He was waiting by the river.
Correct:
The attack minute by minute
Correct:
He works by day.
Correct:
$30,000 state grant authorized by Gov. Vandiver

Incorrect:
He was waiting by small river.

Correct:
He was waiting by a small river|the small river.
Correct:
He was waiting by the small river.
Correct:
Guests came by chartered plane from all over the country.

Incorrect:
He was waiting for answer.

Correct:
He was waiting for an answer|the answer.
Correct:
He was waiting for your answer.
Correct:
For example, he wrote a letter to me.
Correct:
The data for boy 34 appear in Figure 3.

Incorrect:
He was waiting for swift answer.

Correct:
He was waiting for a swift answer|the swift answer.
Correct:
He was waiting for your swift answer.
Correct:
For example, he wrote a letter to me.

Incorrect:
The dog spent all day in kitchen.

Correct:
The dog spent all day in a kitchen|the kitchen.
Correct:
He was waiting in the lobby.
Correct:
I have exhausted myself day in day out
Correct:
In fact, he wrote a letter to me.
Correct:
Chinese Empire under the Ch'in dynasty (221-207 B.C.)
Correct:
American technology in engine and hull design is excellent.
Correct:
22% of his total list as against 3.5% in mine.
Correct:
In the system shown in Fig. 7-1, the accelerometer output is amplified.

Incorrect:
He was waiting in lobby.

Correct:
He was waiting in a lobby|the lobby.
Correct:
He was waiting in the lobby.
Incorrect:
Later in week.

Correct:
Later in a week|the week.
Correct:
In fact, he wrote a letter to me.

Incorrect:
He was waiting in large lobby.

Correct:
He was waiting in a large lobby|the large lobby.
Correct:
He was waiting in the large lobby.
Correct:
In fact, he wrote a letter to me.

Incorrect:
ACET would not be able to reclaim tax on covenant.

Correct:
ACET would not be able to reclaim tax on a covenant|the covenant.
Correct:
Rob Brydon is Keith and Steve Coogan plays Geoff, seen for the first time on screen
Correct:
There is no science on how we are going to adapt.
Correct:
I worked the last hour of my shift on autopilot.

Incorrect:
This remark is on previous page.

Correct:
This remark is on a previous page|the previous page.
Correct:
This remark is on the previous page.

Incorrect:
Change your filter after week.

Correct:
Change your filter after a week|the week.
Correct:
Change your filter after one week.
Correct:
He told me anecdote after anecdote of that extraordinary man.
Correct:
Soon after Loper leaked the news that Frankie had ordered two...

Incorrect:
He is talking about friend.

Correct:
He is talking about a friend|the friend.
Correct:
He is talking about a friend.
Correct:
Then Jesus arrived at Jordan from Galilee.

Incorrect:
He is talking about good friend.

Correct:
He is talking about a good friend|the good friend.
Correct:
He is talking about a good friend.
Correct:
Goodis voiced his objection before City Council's Finance Committee.

Incorrect:
About month before I left it was discussed...

Correct:
About a month|the month before I left it was discussed...
Correct:
About a month before I left it was discussed...
Correct:
During Oersted's attendance at the university, it was dull.

Incorrect:
About large boat.

Correct:
About a large boat|the large boat.
Correct:
About a large boat.
Correct:
During fiscal year 1959, six courses were conducted.

Incorrect:
He is talking of such friend.

Correct:
He is talking of such a friend.
Correct:
He is talking of such a friend.
Correct:
The most famous such organism is Amoeba proteus.

Incorrect:
He is talking of such good friend.

Correct:
He is talking of such a good friend.
Correct:
He is talking of such a good friend.