ARTICLES

1. The words a or an and the are called Articles. They come before nouns.
2. There are two Articles - a (or an) and the.
3. A or an is called the Indefinite Article, because it usually leaves indefinite the
person or thin spo!en of" as,
A doctor; that is, any doctor.
#. The is called the Definite Article, because it normally points out some particular
person or thin" as,
$e saw the doctor" meanin some particular doctor.
The indefinite article is used before singular countable nouns,
e.. A boo!, art orane, a irl
The definite article is used before singular countable nouns, plural countable nouns and
uncountable nouns,
e.., The boo!, the boo!s, the mil!
A or An
%. The choice between a and an is determined by sound. &efore a word beinnin with a
vowel sound an is used" as,
An ass, an enemy, an in!-pad, an orane, an umbrella, an hour, an honest man. An heir.
't will be noticed that the words hours, honest, heir bein with a vowel sound, as the initial
consonant h is not pronounced.
(. &efore a word beinnin with a consonant sound a is used" as,
A boy, a reindeer, a woman, a yard, a horse, a hole, also a university,, a union, a )uropean, a ewe,
a unicorn, a useful article.
because these words (university, union, etc.) bein with a consonant sound, that of yu.
*imilarly we say,
A one-rupee note, such a one, a one-eyed man.
because one beins with the consonant sound of w.
+. *ome native spea!ers use an before words beinnin with h if the first syllable is not
stressed
An hotel (,ore common- a hotel)
an historical novel (,ore common- a historical novel)
Use of the Definite Article
The .efinite Article the is used-
(1) When we talk about a particular person or thing, or one already referred to (that is, when it is
clear fro the conte!t which one already referred to (that is, when it is clear fro the constant
which one we ean); as,
The boo! you want is out of print. (/hich boo!0 The one you want.)
1et2s o to the par!. (3 the par! in this town)
The irl cried, (the irl 3 the irl already tal!ed about)
(") When a singular noun is eant to represent a whole class; as,
The cow is a useful animal.
45r we may say, 67ows are useful animals.68
The horse is a noble animal.
The cat loves comfort.
The rose is the sweetest of all flowers.
The banyan is a !ind of fi tree.
4.o not say, 6a !ind of a fi tree6. This is a common error.8
Note: The two nouns man and woman can be used in a general sense without either article.
,an is the only animal that uses fire.
/oman is man2s mate.
&ut in present-day )nlish a man and a woman (or men and women) are more usual.
A woman is more sensitive than a man.
(#) $efore soe proper naes, %i&., these kinds of place'naes(
(a) oceans and seas, e.. the 9acific, the blac! *ea
(b) rivers, e.. the :ana, the ;ile
(c) canals, e.. the *ue< 7anal
(d) deserts, e.. the *ahara
(e) roups of islands, e.. the /est 'ndies
(f) mountain-ranes, e.. the $imalayas, the Alps
() a very few names of countries, which include words li!e republic and !indom (e.. the 'rish =epublic, the
>nited ?indom) also- the >!raine, the ;etherlands (and its seat of overnment the $aue)
()) $efore the naes of certain books; as,
The @edas, the 9uranas, the 'liad, the =amayana.
&ut we say-
$omer2s 'liad, @almi!i2s =amayana.
(*) $efore naes of things uni+ue of their kind; as,
The sun, the s!y, the ocean, the sea, the earth.
,-ote'.oeties the is placed before a /oon noun to gi%e it the eaning of an Abstract
noun; as, At last the warrior (the warli!e or martial spirit) in him was thorouhly aroused.8
(0) $efore a 1roper noun when it is +ualified by an ad2ecti%e or a defining ad2ecti%al
clause; as,
The reat 7aesar - the immortal *ha!espeare.
The ,r. =oy whom you met last niht is my uncle.
(3) With .uperlati%es; as,
The dar!est cloud has a silver linin.
This is the best boo! of elementary chemistry.
(4) With ordinals; as,
$e was the first man to arrive"
The ninth chapter of the boo! is very interestin.
(5) $efore usical instruents; as,
$e can play the flute.
(16) $efore an ad2ecti%e when the noun is understood; as,
The poor are always with us.
(11) $efore a noun (with ephasis) to gi%e the force of a .uperlati%e; as,
The @erb is the word (3 the chief word) in a sentence.
(1") As an Ad%erb with /oparati%es; as,
The more the merrier.
(3 by how much more, by so much the merrier)
The more they et, the more they want.
Use of the Indefinite Article
The 'ndefinite Article is used-
(1) In its original nuerical sense of one; as,
Twelve inches ma!e a foot.
;ot a word was said.
A word to the wise is sufficient.
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
(") In the %ague sense of a certain; as,
A 9avan ?umar (3 a certain person named 9avan ?umar)
is suspected by the police.
5ne evenin a bear came to my door.
(#) In the sense of any, to single out an indi%idual as the representati%e of a class; as,
A pupil should obey his teacher.
A cow is a useful animal.
()) 7o ake a coon noun of a proper noun; as,
A .aniel comes to AudementB (A .aniel 3 a very wise man)
Omission of the Article
The Article is omitted-
(1) $efore naes of substances and abstract nouns (i.e. uncountable nouns) used in a
general sense; as,
*uar is bad for your teeth.
:old is a precious metal.
/isdom is the ift of heaven.
$onesty is the best policy.
@irtue is its own reward.
-ote(' 8ncountable nouns take the when used in a particular sense (especially when
+ualified by an ad2ecti%e or ad2ecti%al phrase or clause); as,
/ould you pass me the suar0 (3 the suar on the table)
The wisdom of *olomon is reat.
' can2t foret the !indness with which he treated me.
(") $efore plural countable nouns used in a general sense; as,
7hildren li!e chocolates.
7omputers are used in many offices.
;ote that such nouns ta!e the when used with a particular meanin" as,
/here are the children0 (3 our children)
(#) $efore ost proper nouns (e!cept those referred to earlier), naely, naes of people
(e.. :opal, =ahim), names of continents, countries, cities, etc. (e.. )urope, 9a!istan, ;apur), names of
individual mountains (e.. ,ount )verest), individual islands, la!es, hills, etc.
()) $efore naes of eals (used in a general sense); as,
/hat time do you have lunch0
.inner is ready.
;ote- /e use a when there is an adAective before brea!fast, lunch, dinner, etc. /e use the
/hen we specify.
' had a late lunch today.
The dinner we had at the Tourist $otel was very nice.
(*) $efore languages; as,
/e are studyin )nlish.
They spea! 9unAabi at home.
(0) $efore school, college, university, church, bed, hospital, prison, when these places are
%isited or used for their priary purpose; as,
' learnt Crench at school.
/e o to church on *undays.
$e stays in bed till nine every mornin.
,y uncle is still in hospital.
-ote' 7he is used with these words when we refer to the as a definite place, building or ob2ect
rather than to the noral acti%ity that goes on there; as,
The school is very near my home.
' met him at the church.
The bed is bro!en.
' went to the hospital to see my uncle.
(3) $efore naes of relations, like father, mother, aunt, uncle, and also cook and nurse,
eaning 9our cook9, 9our nurse9, as,
Cather has returned.
Aunt wants you to see her.
7oo! has iven notice.
(4) $efore predicati%e nouns denoting a uni+ue position, i.e., a position that is norally
held at one tie by one person only; as,
$e was elected chairman of the &oard.
,r. &anerAi became 9rincipal of the 7ollee in 1DD%.
(5) In certain phrases consisting of a transiti%e %erb followed by its ob2ect; as,
to catch fire, to ta!e breath, to ive battle, to cast anchor, to send word, to brin word, to ive ear, to lay
siee, to set sail, to lose heart, to set foot, to leave home, to stri!e root, to ta!e offence.
(16) In certain phrases consisting of a preposition followed by its ob2ect; as,
at home, in hand, in debt, by day, by niht, at daybrea!, at sunrise, at noon, at sunset, at niht, at
anchor, at siht, on demand, at interest, on earth, by land, by water, by river, by train, by steamer, by name, on
horsebac!, on foot, on dec!, in Aest, at dinner, at ease, underround, above round.
/oplete the following sentences by filling in a or an or the as ay be suitable('
1. 7opper is --- useful metal.
2. $e is not --- honorable man.
3. --- able man has not always a distinuished loo!.
#. --- reindeer is a native of ;orway.
%. $onest men spea! --- truth.
(. =ustum is ---.
+. .o you see --- blue s!y.
E. @aranasi is --- holy city.
D. Aladdin had --- wonderful lamp.
1F. The world is --- happy place.
11. $e returned after --- hour.
12. --- school will shortly close for the 9uAa holidays.
13. --- sun shines brihtly.
1#. ' first met him --- year ao.
1%. Gesterday --- )uropean called at my office.
1(. *ans!rit is --- difficult lanuae.
1+. --- :ana is --- sacred river.
1E. --- lion is --- !in of beasts.
1D. Gou are --- fool to say that.
2F. Crench is --- easy lanuae.
21. /ho is --- irl sittin there0
22. /hich is --- lonest river in 'ndia0
23. =ama has come without --- umbrella.
2#. ,umbai is --- very dear place to live in.
2%. *he is --- untidy irl.
2(. The children found --- e in the nest.
2+. ' bouht horse, oH, and --- buffalo.
2E. 'f you see him, ive him --- messae.
2D. )nlish is lanuae of --- people of )nland.
3F. The uide !nows --- way.
31. *ri 1an!a is --- island.
32. 1et us discuss --- matter seriously.
33. Iohn ot --- best present.
3#. ,an, thou art --- animal.
3%. 'ndia is one of --- most industrial countries in Asia.
3(. $e loo!s as stupid as --- owl.
3+. $e is --- honour to this profession.