A, An, and The, are called Articles in English Grammar. They come before Nouns. There are two articles in English:(1)Indefinite Articles and (2)Definite Articles.
Articles in English Grammar
The Three Very small words A, An, and The, are called Articles in English.
“A”, and “An”, are called Indefinite Articles as they do not Particularise anything, and “The”, is called Definite Article as it particularises something.
Note carefullyall thefollowing Examplesto be skilled inArticles in English Grammar. It is very important.
Indefinite Articles in English Grammar:
A, and An, are called Indefinite articles because they do not point out any particular person or thing: a toy ( any toy), or a man(any man). There are two uses of Indefinite Articles in English : (1) General Uses and (2) Special Uses.
Indefinite Articles in English Grammar Usage:
A is Used:
Usage 1: If the first letter of a word is consonant :
a boy,
a bag,
a cat,
a tree.
Usage 2: If the first letter/ letters are “U” or “ Eu / E” but it sounds like “you”(eu = yu) :
aewe,
auseful thing,
a unit,
a European,
aUniversity.
Usage 3: If the first letter is “o” but it sounds ( o = w) like “w”:
aone-eyed deer,
aone,
aone-rupee note.
An is Used :
Usage 1: Before a vowel :
an orange,
an ox,
an apple.
Usage 2: Before a consonant beginning with a vowel sound :
an M.A,
an F.R.C.S,
an S.D.O.
Usage 3: Before consonant “ h ” when it is silent or pronounced as a vowel “ o / a / aa ” :
Usage 1: A, An is used before a Noun to indicate a class :
A student should obey his/her teacher.
An ant is an industrious creature.
Usage 2: A, An is used to mean “ one like ” :
He thinks he is a Netaji.
Usage 3: A, An is used in case of a certain person :
A Mr P Mandal(a certain person called P Mandal) came to see me.
Usage 4: A, An is used to mean a single or any :
There was not a man to support him.
Usage 5: A, An is used in the numerical sense of one :
One hundred paisa makes a ( one) rupee.
Usage 6: A, An is used before few, little, lot of :
There are a few apples on the table.
Usage 7: A, An is used to make a common Noun of a Proper Noun :
A Rabindranath Tagore is not born at every age.
Usage 8: A, An is used to make an Exclamatory sentence :
What a beautiful sight!
Definite Articles in English Grammar:
The is called Definite Article because it points to some particular person or thing:the man ( The man whom I know.), the students, or the girls. The Definite Articles can be used before singular or plural nouns whether countable or uncountable.
Definite Articles: The: Special Usage:
(A) As a General Rule, Proper Nouns do not take Articles before them, but the is used in the following Special Cases :
Usage 1:The names of :
Holy books: The Geeta, the Bible, The Ramayana, The Mahabharata, The Koran, The Arabian Nights, The Paradise Lost.
[If the title of a book is the name of a person no article is used: Robinson Crusoe.]
Newspapers’: The Statesman, The Ananda Bazar Patrika, The Times of India, The Hindustan Times.
Group of islands: The Andamans, The British Isles.
Mountain ranges: The Himalayas, The Alps.
[But not before a single mountain or a single island : Everest, Java.]
Descriptive geographical or
Significant name: The Punjab, the Deccan, the U.S.A.,the UK,
Rivers: The Ganga, the Thames, the Godabari, The Nile, The Amazon.
Seas : The Black sea, the Arabian sea. The Caspian sea, The Red Sea.
Ships: The Titanic, The Harshavardhana , The Ace,
Important events : The French Revolution, the Sepoy Mutiny ,
Trains, planes and spacecrafts : The Rajdhani Express, The Kalka Mail, The Kaniska,
Gulfs: The Persian gulf, the Gulf of Thailand.
Noted public places: The Secretariat”, the cinema, the theatre,
the High Court, the Senate House.
Definite Articles: The: General Rules:
Usage 1:
A National name with a plural denotes a people collectively. Without the, such a noun indicates the language of the people.
The English (=the English people) are industrious.
English (=the language) is an international language.
The German (= people of Germany) fought hard.
I am learning Spanish (= the language).
Usage 2:
Proper, Material and Abstract nouns to make them Common :
Kalidas is the Shakespeare of India.
The water of the Ganga.
Usage 3:
When a person or thing is introduced for the first time that indefinite articleA /an is used. We useThe definite article The, to refer again to thatperson or thing :
A woman came to visit Lord Buddha.
The woman wanted her son’s life back.
Usage 4:
Singular Common Nouns to represent a whole class :
The dog is a faithful animal.
The cows( cows in general) eats grass.
The lion is called the king of beasts.
The mango(mangoes as the class) is sweetest fruits.
Usage 5:
Singular nouns referring to things of which only one exists :
the earth,
the sun,
the sky,
the east,
the Kohinoor.
Usage 6:
Some Adjectives and Common Nouns in the singular number to express an abstract idea :
Do not leap in the dark.
The future (= futurity) is unknown to us.
Check the beast (=animal nature) in you.
At last, the mother (=motherly feelings) rose in her.
I saw the father( fatherly affection) in him.
Usage 7:
A Common Noun in the Plural does not require The, unless we want to particularise :
Boys love games but theboys( those already referred to or those before us) are playing.
Come into the garden ( the garden already mentioned before).
I went to the club.
I do not like the fellow (the fellow already referred to.)
Usage 8:
Adjectives used as plural Nouns, to indicate a whole class of persons. But we should not combine both the forms.
The rich (=rich men) are not always happy.
Rich men are not always happy.
The rich man is not always happy.
But , [The rich men are not always happy. – Incorrect.]
Usage 9:
Nouns defined by adjectives or adjectival phrases or clauses:
the black dog ;
the immortal Kalidas ;
The men who came here yesterday are my friends.
Usage 10:
Ordinal numbers written in letters; but when written in Roman notation, no article is used :
George the Fifth (but, George V);
The second chapter (but, chapter II)’.
Usage 11:
Nouns to indicate a profession :
He joined the Bar or the Church (became a lawyer or a clergyman.)
Usage 12:
The pluralnames of families :
The Browns;
The Boses.
Usage 13:
The names of musical instruments :
He plays the violin.
Usage 14:
Adjectives to denote particular parts of things :
He likes the yellow of an egg.
He entered the thick of the forest.
Usage 15 :
Superlatives: The is sometimes used before a noun to give it the force of a superlative :
He is the best of them.
He is the singer of the day.
Usage 16:
Common nouns as a substitute for the Possessive Adjective :
I struck him on the (his) head.
He stared me in the (my) face. (Possessive ‘The’).
Usage 17:
Comparatives :
(i) as adverbs: The more the merrier.
(ii) as contrast: He is the cleverer of the two boys.
Usage 18:
March 10th (The tenth of March):
16th August (The sixteenth of August or August the sixteenth).
‘In writing the date we nowadays omit the and of but in reading that date we generally put them in :
Omission Of Articles in English Grammar:
Omission of Articles mean we can’t / shouldn’t use articles in English sentences according to English Grammatical Rules. In Modern Grammar the Article omitted is called Zero Article.
No article is normally used :
Usage 1:
Before Proper, Material, or Abstract Nouns, except when they are particularised :
Ashoka (but, the kind Ashoka),
Homer (but, the Homer of India),
gold (but, the gold of Australia),
honesty (but, the honesty of the boy).
Gold is a precious metal.
But, This necklace is made of the gold of India.(Material Noun)
Wisdom is the gift of heaven.
But, The wisdom of Soloman is well-known. (Abstract Noun)
Cows graze in the field. But I’ve sold the cows. (Common Noun)
Rule 2:
Before Common Nouns in the plural number, except when they
are particularised :
Dogs bark.
Cows eat grass;
But the dogs of house;
But the cows that I bought.
Usage 3:
Before a Common or Collective Noun, preceded by the phrases
kind or species or sort of, or when used in its widest sense:
What kind or sort of man is he?
Man, bird and beast-all are subject to death.
Always keep good company.
Usage 4:
Before man in the sense of mankind, and before father, mother, and baby when a particular one of them is meant:
Man is mortal.
Father or Mother (i.e., my father or mother) says so.
Cook, nurse, etc. take no article in the sense of our cook’, ‘our nurse’:
Cook has given notice.
Usage 5:
In many idiomatic phrases:
to take root (to be firmly established);
to call to mind (to remember);
to give ear to (to hear);
to set foot on;
by boat; at night;
send word;
at home;
to attend school ;
by land; on
horseback, etc.
Usage 6:
Before the words school, church, prison, hospital, college, court, market and a few other names of localities, besides table and bed. Thesetake no article when we think of the use made of the building or object.
Ram has gone to school/college (to learn).
Ram has gone to the school/college (not to learn but just to see the place).
Robin once hit a ball right over the top of the school (building).
They took him to hospital (for treatment.)
They went to thehospital (just to see the place).
Usage 7:
Before the names of squares, buildings, parks, streets, etc.,
consisting of a proper name (either a person or a place) :
Buckingham
Palace,
Jatin Das Park,
Rashbehari Avenue.
Usage 8:
Before the names of meals (as a part of the daily routine) :
We have dinner at 8 p.m.
Usage 9:
Before names of seasons and festivals, diseases , games though the definite article may also be found in certain general statements:
Winter is the best time for picnic.
The first time I was in Kashmir was in the autumn.
Diwali is the festival of lights.
We play football.
Usage 10:
Before titles when they are used in apposition to a Noun:
Mr Bose, Principal of our college, is a well-known man.
Usage 11:
Before complements to factitive verbs :
Sumit was elected captain.
They made him president.
Usage 12:
Before few nouns denoting time, such as day, night, morning, evening, dawn, twilight, dusk when used in an abstract or general sense (night=darkness):
The boy left home at night.
We always get up at dawn.
He works hard from morning to night.
Rule 13:
Before singularCommon countable denoting rank or title:.
Queen Victoria reigned in the 19th century.
Professor Ray is known to me.
He is prince of Morocco.
He became king of Jordan.
Repetition of Article: The
Usage 1: When two or more Nouns are joined by and refer to the same thing, the Article is used only before thefirst; but if they refer to differentpersons or things, the Article should be repeated before each.
The Cashier and the Member have done this (two separate men).
The Cashier and Member have done this (the same man),
Write either ‘ The first and the second student ‘ or ‘ The first and second students ‘ to refer to two students.
Usage 2: In a comparison, if two Nouns refer to the same object, the article is used before the first Noun only. But if the Nouns refer to different objects, the Article is used before each Noun:
The same person :
He is a better teacher than player.
Different persons:
He is a better poet than a speaker .
Usage 3: When two or more Adjectives refer to different Nouns, the Article is used before each Adjective :
I have a brown and a white cat (2 cats).
Exercise for Articles 1 :
1. Fill in the blanks with appropriate articles.
(1) If you see him, give him ………… message.
(2) English is …………..language of ……………… people of England.
(3) The guide knows …………… way.
(4) Sri Lanka is ……………… Island,.
(5) Let us discuss ………………….. matter seriously.
(6) John got_………………… best present
(7) Man, thou art …………………… wonderful animal,
(8) India is one of ………………….. most industrial countries in Asia,
(9) He looks as stupid as ……………………owl.
(10) He is ………………… honour to this profession,
(11) Aladdin had …………… wonderful lamp.
(12) The world is …………………. happy place.
(13) He returned after…………………….. hour.
(14). ……………… school will shortly close for the Puja holidays.
(15). ……………………. sun shines brightly.
(16) I first met him ……………… year ago
(17) Yesterday ………………… European called at my office.
(18) Sanskrit is ………………………. difficult language.
(19) ……………. Ganga is …………….. sacred river.
(20) …………… lion is ………………. king of beasts.
(21) You are ……………… fool to say that.
(22) French is ……………………… easy language.
(23) Who is …………………….. girl sitting there?
(24) Which is …………………… longest river in India ?
(25) Rama has come without …………….. umbrella.
(26) Mumbai is ………………….. very costly place to live in.
(27) She is …………………… untidy girl.
(28) The children found …………………… egg in the nest.
(29) I bought …………… horse, ………………… Ox, and ………….. Buffalo.
(30) Copper is ……………….. useful metal.
(31) He is not honourable man.
(32)…………. able man has not always a distinguished look.
(33)…………….. reindeer is a native of Norway.
(34) Honest men speak ………………. truth.
(35) Rustum is ……………….. young Parsee.
(36) Do you see …………………. blue sky?
(37) Varanasi is …………………… holy city.
Exercise for Articles 2 :
2. Fill in the blanks with appropriate articles.
(1). “Bring me …………. Two most precious things in …………. City” , said God.
(2). This is ……………………. honour for me.
(3). Mumbai is ………………….. Manchester of India.
(4). Iron is …………………….. useful metal.
(5). ………………… good in him revolted at this.
(6). He gave me ………………. one hundred rupee note.
(7). It happened in …………… year 1990.
(8). He saw …………………… most wonderful sight.
(9). Bengali is spoken by ………………. Bengalees.
(10). ……………… man I saw in my room was your friend.
(11). Is he ………………. European ?
(12). Who is ……………. oldest man in this village?
(13). He tried to remember …………… friend who had helped him last year.
(14). After his studies he wants to become …………………engineer.
(15). There is ………………… university at Kalyani.
(16). I know him. He is ……………… honest man.
(17). He plays ……………….. guitar very well.
(18). This man is ………….. second Newton.
(19). Can you tell me ……………….. shortest way to the airport, please ?
(20). He is ………….. B.A. in Economics, and …………….. M.A. in Statistics of University of Mumbai.
(21). ……………………….. future is unknown to all of us.
(22). Winter is ………….. best period in Kolkata.
(23). Look at …………………….. second chapter of this book.
(24). What ………………………. devil you are !
(25). He entered …………….. thick of the forest.
Answers 1
Ans : (1) a (2) the ,the (3) the (4) an (5) the (6) the (7) a , (8) the (9) an (10) an (11) a (12) a (13) an (14) the (15) The (16) a (17) a (18) a (19) the a (20) the the (21) a (22) an (23) the (24) the (25) an (26) a (27) an (28) an (29) a , an , a (30) a (31) an (32) An (33) The (34) the (35) a (36) the (37) a.
Answers 2
Ans: 1. the, the ; 2. an ; 3. the ; 4. a ; 5. the ; 6. a ; 7. the ; 8. the ; 9. the ; 10. the ; 11. a; 12. the ; 13. the ; 14. an ; 15.a 16. an ; 17. the; 18. a; 19. the ; 20. a, an, the ; 21. the ; 22. the ; 23. the ; 24. a. 25 the.
