articles

INTRODUCTION

The words a, an and the are called articles.

These articles are normally used before nouns.

A and An are called indefinite articles while THE is known as Definite articles. 

E.g:-

A book

A table

A pen

A tree

A house

An umbrella

An orange

An innocent man

An apple

An elephant

    The above words refer to any of its kind. Such articles are called indefinite articles. These indefinite articles stand before only singular form of nouns. 

AN is used only before words with a vowel as their first letter a, e, i, o, u. 

E.g:-

He is an honest man.

I am late by an hour.

The words honest and hour do not have a vowel as the first letter of the word. But these words begins with a vowel sound. 

E.g:-

The book - books

The house - houses

The table - tables

The tree - trees

The fruit - fruits

These articles refer to particular noun. So THE is called as a definite article. Further THE can be added before singular and plural forms of the nouns. 

To say, the definite article is used before singular countable nouns, plural countable nouns and also before uncountable nouns. 

E.g:-

The milk. 

Here THE is used as an article before uncountable noun. 

Some other examples:

A dozen oranges.

A battalion of soldiers.

General rule is that 'A' is used before singular nouns that are unspecified. But dozen and Battalian do not reveal singular aspect of the nouns. These are exceptions. 

     Since morning I am a bit worried.

In the above sentence the article 'a' is used before a clause. 

Some other examples:

The Sun rises in the East and sets in the West. 

The nights are shorter in the summer while they are longer in the Winter.

      Here the articles are used to refer to natural phenomenon. 

INDEFINITE ARTICLE 

An article is a word used to modify a noun which is a person, place, object or idea.

Articles:

1. Indefinite Article (Unspecified)

A, An

2. Definite Article (Specified)

The

Indefinite Article: (A/An)

Generally A or An is used before singular countable Noun.

Ex:

A book, A table, An apple

Usages of indefinite articles:

1. If a word starts with "Consonant Sound", we can use "A" before that.

Ex: I need a dictionary Here the word 'dictionary' has the consonant sound 'D'. So we can use 'A' before the common noun dictionary.

2. Some words start with vowels (a, e, i, o, u) but it gives consonant sound, then 'A' is to be used there.

EX: A university, A union, A unit, A useful, A European, A One rupee, A once famous player, A one sided argument

3. If a word starts with vowels or vowels sound, 'An' is to be placed before that word.

Ex: An idiot, An accident

4. A word starts with consonant but it gives

vowel sounds, then we have to use 'An'. Ex: An hour, An hotel, An Historical, An heroic, An Heir

5. If singular noun comes as 'complement' in a sentence, then we can use 'A' or 'An'.

Ex: She is an actress

She will be a dancer next year

6. To mention a particular group of people by a particular person, Use 'A' or 'An'

Ex: A pupil should obey his teacher (Meaning of

All students)

A dog is faithful to his master. (Meaning of All Dogs)

A lion is a dangerous animal. (Meaning of All lions)

7. Use 'A' or 'An' before the name of professions Ex: He is a teacher I am an engineer

8. Use 'A' or 'An' after some prepositions like (

At of)

Ex: Two tablets at a time Birds of a feather fly together

9. We have to use 'An' in abbreviations

beginning with the letters F, H, L,M,N,R,S & X Ex: An M.P, An M.L.A, An F.R.C.S, An S.S.L.C

Note:

She is an M.P

She is a member of parliament She is an member of parliament

10. If a sentence has key words like 'one', 'any',

'every',certain', then use 'A' or 'An'. Ex: He own a car and two taxies (one car) A girl has come to see you (certain)

11. 'A' is to be used before 'Few' and 'Little'

Ex: I have a few rupees He received a little money from his friend

12. 'A' or 'An' comes after the verb 'to be called' Ex: It is called a remote It is called an umbrella

13. To denote certain quantity/ number/Speed, 'A' or 'An' can be used.

Ex: He has a lot of experience (Number) I want a dozen mangoes (Quantity) The Yercaud express runs 150 kms an hour(speed)

14. In an exclamatory sentence, 'A' or 'An' can be used before singular countable noun.

Ex: What a lovely dress! What a wonder movie !

DEFINITE ARTICLE

Usages of 'THE':

1. We can use article 'The' before oceans, rivers, newspapers, hills, Gulf, peaks, states,, banks, forests etc........

Ex: The Indian Ocean, The Ganges, The Times of

India

2. Before the unique objects, 'The' is to be used. Ex: The sun, The Moon, The earth

3. 'The' should be used before the adjective in superlative degree.

Ex: Shakespeare is the greatest of English

dramatists.

4. We can use 'The' before parts of human body. Ex: The Head, The ear, The Cheek

5. In a paragraph, to mention a person or an object again, use 'The' before that word. Ex: He gave me a knife and a spoon. The knife was not sharp.

6. To mention particular person or object or place, use 'The' before that word. Ex: The pen you want is out of stock. This is the purse which I lost yesterday

7. When a singular noun is used to represent a whole class. use 'The' before that noun.

Ex: The parrot is a clever bird. (All parrots) The fox is a cunning animal. (All foxes)

Note:

'The' should not be used before man or woman, when it comes as noun.

XThe man is mortal

'Man is mortal.

8. To mention 'The date of month' and to mention 'ordinal numeral adjective', use 'The' before that word.

Ex: The 7th March, The 30th December

9. To mention the holy books, use 'The' before

that word. Ex: The Bible, The Bhagavad-Gita, The Quran

Note:

If you use the author's name in front of the book, do not use 'The' before that.

The valmiki's Ramayana

Valmiki's Ramayana

10. In some cases, we use the same word to mention the language as well as the people of the country. In such cases, use 'The' before people but not before language.

Ex: China (country) - Chinese (Language) The Chinese (people)

England (Country) - English(Language) -

The English (people)

Note:

Before people of a nation, 'The' should not be used.

✔Americans are rich

The Americans are rich

11. If two actions change in the same ratio, to compare the actions use 'The' in the sentences.

Ex: The more you learn, the more knowledge you gather.

The sooner you go, the sooner you will be back.

OMISSION OF ARTICLE

1. Before the plural noun, the indefinite articles should not be used. Ex: Ex:

✔He is a lawyer (Singular noun) ✔They are lawyers(plural nouns)

They are a lawyers I am an Indian (Singular noun)

We are an Indians(Plural Noun)

2. Articles should not be used before the 'Uncountable nouns'.

Ex: Ex: ✔He needs advice.

XHe needs an advice.

XI need a water I need some water

Note:

We can use a piece of, a bit of, a sheet of, a slice of etc., before the uncountable.

Ex: Ex: I want a piece of cake

I want a sheet of paper.

3.Articles should not be used before 'breakfast', 'dinner','supper', when it comes normally.

Ex: We have breakfast at 9 AM.

I was invited to dinner.

Note:

If the above mentioned words come with adjective or particular reason/occasion, we can use articles.

Ex: They gave us a good dinner. (Adjective-

Good) I was invited to a dinner given to the chairman. (Particular occasion)

4. No articles before the names of country, city, street, month, day, festival

Japan(✔)

Ex: The Japan (X) The Christmas (X) Christmas (✔)

5. Generally No articles come before the things & the metals. But to mention the particular metal, use 'The' before metal.

Ex: Gold is very costly (General) The gold that I bought is not genuine. (Particular)

6. before languages avoid articles.

Ex: Hindi is a difficult language ( The Hindi is a difficult language (X)

7. Articles never come before abstract noun. Ex: Cleanliness is next to Godliness

Note:

Abstract Nouns- Truth, Knowledge, Love, Honesty, Poverty, Wisdom, Strength, Absence.

8. Avoid articles before games. Ex: I play tennis

They play cricket.

9. When common noun comes in plural, articles should not be used. Ex: Cats like mice Girls play games.

10. No articles come before the relationship. Ex: Brother has gone out Father wants you to see him.

11. Don't use any articles before the names of countries or continents. But use 'The' before the names of countries or states which include words like Republic/Union/Kingdom/states.

Ex: The United States of America The United Kingdom

12. Don't use articles when the words (School, Hospital, Court,church, Prison, Market) come for tis purpose

Ex: The children go to school. The murder was sent to prison.

Note:

But to mention a particular reason or to mention the buildings of particular place, use 'The' before that word.

Ex: The wall of the prison must be very high. (Building of person)

13. Don't use articles before complement and abstract nouns.

Ex: They elected him as president. (✔) They elected him as the president. (X)

Honesty is the best policy. (✔) The honesty is the best policy. (X)

14. Avoid articles before names of subjects of study and interest.

Ex: History, painting, Physics, Music. I am very much interested in physics.

15. Before the names of holidays & festivals, 'The' should not be used.

Ex: Diwali is Hindu's festival. Christmas holidays begin on 23rd December.