Using articles correctly in IELTS writing tasks

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In IELTS writing tasks, to get a band score of 7 for grammar range and accuracy, you mustn’t make more than a few grammatical errors, and to get 8 you should only make very occasional errors. Errors in the use of articles are common, so it is worth spending some time on this area of grammar.

We use a/an with singular countable nouns. A is used with nouns that begin with consonant sounds like in a renewable source of energy (/r/ is a consonant sound). An is used with words that start with vowel sounds like in an energy source (vowels are a, e, i, o and u). Be careful with words which begin with consonants that are vowel sounds and vice versa. For example, we write an hour, since the h is silent (unlike a hospital), and a utopia, since the first sound is /j/ like in the word yogurt.

Be careful with indefinite plural nouns. These do not refer to anything that is specific, and they take no article. Consider examples 1-3, and think about if they are grammatically correct.

1. A cars emit harmful greenhouse gases.

2. The cars emit harmful greenhouse gases.

3. Cars emit harmful greenhouse gases.

1 is incorrect because cars is plural (only use a/an with singular countable nouns).

2 is incorrect because we are talking about cars in general (not any specific cars)

3 is correct.

On the other hand, if you are talking about something specific, use the (definite article); for example, the bins outside my German friend’s house collect different types of rubbish (the is necessary because we are not talking about any bins or bins in general, but some specific bins; that is, the ones outside my German friend’s house).

Be careful with singular uncountable nouns, as these don’t take a/an (unlike singular countable nouns). Also, be aware that a noun may be countable in the learner’s first language while being uncountable in English, like in the following example.

My German friend gave me advice on separating rubbish (NOT an advice)

In sentences 1-6, add a, an, the or – (no article) on the topic of the environment. Leave your answers in the comments section.

1. Some big cities have factories that burn fossil fuels.

2. Using non-renewable energy sources is very important these days.

3. It is research that has revealed that we are in a climate emergency.

4. Fortunately, bags that I use at the supermarket are eco friendly.

5. It was university in the USA where the research was published.

6. My friend made honorable attempt to reduce his carbon footprint.

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