Learn the Use of A An The with easy explanations and examples. This article covers the rules of using A, An, and The, their correct placement in sentences, and common mistakes to avoid. Designed for Class 8 and ESL learners, this guide includes definitions, types of articles, and practical exercises to enhance understanding. Perfect for students looking to master English grammar effortlessly!
Use of articles:
In English grammar, Articles are A, An, and The. There are two types of articles in English Grammar. ‘A’ and ‘An’ are Indefinite articles. ‘The’ is a Definite article.
The Use of A and An: Indefinite Articles
1. before ‘a singular countable noun’ when it is mentioned for the first time.
For example,
- Romi bought a computer.
- An apple fell from the tree.
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2. with an expression of ‘quantity’.
For example,
- a lot of work,
- a great deal of information,
- a little help,
- a hundred rupees,
- a five-hundred-rupee note,
- an eight-year-old child,
- an enormous elephant
3. before a ‘proper noun to point out an unfamiliar person’, or if we ‘wish to express a special meaning’.
For example,
- An Udai Sharma rang up in the morning.
(Some person named Udai Sharma rang up in the morning.)
- He wants to be a Messi when he grows up.
(He wants to be just like Messi when he grows up.)
4. in exclamations before nouns.
For example,
- What a beautiful day!
- What a pity!
- What an exciting film it was!
The indefinite article an is used before words/nouns starting with a vowel sound.
5. With words/nouns starting with a vowel,
for example, apple, eye, inkpot, owl an owl and an uncle, and uncle, we use the indefinite article an. We say an apple, an eye, an inkpot, you would
6. Consider the nouns hour and university. Since h is a consonant and u is a vowel, expect that we write a hour and an university. But the h in hour is silent. On the other hand, the u in university is actually pronounced as you, and so we write an hour and a university.
7. The word one, which begins with the consonant sound w, and words beginning in the vowel combination eu, which has the consonant sound you, use a.
For example,
- a European nation,
- a eucalyptus tree,
- a one-way street.
8. Some words which begin with the vowel u, have a vowel sound, so we use an.
For example,
- an umbrella,
- an ulcer,
- an upturned table, etc.
9. At the same time, there are many words which begin with the vowel u but the sound is that of the consonant you. These naturally use a.
For example,
- a universe,
- a unicorn, etc.
10. Among the consonants, all except h and y, i.e., the consonants-b, c, d, f, g, j, k,l, m, n, p, q, r, s, t, v, w, x and z, always have a consonant sound. Therefore, any word beginning with these consonants uses a. When a word begins with h and the h is pronounced, we use a.
For example,
- a horse,
- a hut,
- a habit.
11. If a word begins with h and the h is silent, the next letter must have a vowel sound, so we use an.
For example,
- an hour,
- an honour,
- an honest man.
12. Again, when a word begins with y and the y has its expected consonant sound, then we use a.
For example,
- a yak,
- a year,
- a year later.
13. The indefinite articles a and an are singular, i.e., they can be used with singular countable nouns.
Articles do not depend upon the gender of a noun. Hence, if we want to talk about any boy/girl, we say a boy/girl.
For example,
- A girl with long hair walked into the room.
(Who walked into the room? A girl with long hair. We know nothing else about her.)
The Use of The: Definite Article
We use the definite article the
1. to refer to something which has already been mentioned.
For example,
A fox and a stork went to lunch. The stork had a long beak, but the fox had a flat mouth.
2. when both the speaker and the listener know what is being referred to, even if it has not been mentioned before.
For example,
- ‘Where is the kitchen?”
- The weather is good these days.
5. in sentences or clauses where we define or identify a particular person or object.
For example,
- The man who wrote this poem is famous.
- My house is the one with blue doors.
4. to refer to objects we regard as unique.
For example,
- the sun,
- the moon,
- the world,
- the Himalayas
5. before superlatives and ordinal numbers.
For example,
- The first,
- the 23rd,
- The best,
- the highest building,
- the first page,
- The last chapter
6. with common nouns which are derived from proper nouns, to refer to a whole group of people, nationalities or a race.
For example,
- the Indians,
- the Kashmiris,
- the South Africans
7. with decades, or groups of years.
For example,
She grew up in the seventies.
8. for both singular as well as plural countable nouns. The definite article the can also be used with some uncountable nouns provided they are made specific or definite in the context.
For example,
- the weather of Delhi,
- the water in the glass,
- the business that I am going to start.
‘The’ is not used
The is generally not used before proper or abstract nouns, unless it is needed to identify those nouns in a particular context.
For example,
The Amit I know is bald. (Identifies a particular person named Amit who is bald)
The honesty shown by this boy is praiseworthy.
It is also not used before plural countable nouns if they are being referred to in general.
For example,
Children these days are just as naughty as their parents used to be.
(NOT The children…)
Omission of A An The
We do not use an article
1. before names of people (Anand, Ahsan, Ms Reddy)
2. before plural countable nouns or before uncountable nouns when referring to them in general.
For example,
- Children are innocent. (Children in general)
- BUT: The children we met are innocent. (the particular children we met)
3. before names of most countries (India, Bangladesh, France), cities (London, Kolkata, Lyon), continents (Africa, Europe), mountains (Mt. Everest, Mount K2), roads and streets (Lake Road, Garden View Road), parks (Nehru Park), colonies and places (Park Circus), and lakes (Lake Michigan, Chilka Lake)
4. before names of games (ludo, chess), sports (cricket, football), subjects (Hindi,
Geography), meals (dinner), and languages (Tamil, Malayalam); but when we add ‘language’, we say the Malayalam language.
5. before the words ‘bed’, ‘hospital’, ‘home’, ‘prison’, ‘church’, ‘school’, ‘university’,’college’, and ‘work’, when we talk about them vis-à-vis the very purpose they are meant for.
For example,
- Sushant is in hospital.
- BUT: Sushant has gone to check out the hospital. (the premises of the hospital)
6. when we use a phrase like ‘watch television’.
For example,
- We will all now watch television.
- BUT: Switch off the television. (the specific television set that is running)
- I am listening to music.
- BUT: I love the music you gifted me on my birthday. (the specific music gifted)
7. when we refer to a species of animals in general.
For example,
- Ostriches are the biggest birds.
- BUT: The ostrich is the biggest bird.
8. Before certain illnesses.
For example,
- I am suffering from appendicitis.
- BUT: I have a cold.
9. before the names of festivals.
For example,
I am not in town on Diwali this year.
BUT: I have a holiday at Easter.
Note: Not using an article is the same as using a zero article.
Worksheet of A An The: Articles
This Worksheet of A An The: Articles provides exercises to practice the correct usage of A, An, and The in sentences. Ideal for Class 8 students and ESL learners to enhance their grammar skills!
Worksheet – 1
A. Fill in the blanks with the correct indefinite articles.
1. Deep: Is Serena Williams _________ German tennis player?
Rani: No, she’s American _________ tennis player.
2. Samir: Is your father _________ language teacher?
Sumit: No, my father is _________ mathematics teacher.
3. Amitabh: Is it raining now, Mummy?
Mother: Yes. You should carry _________ umbrella.
4. Ankit: Is Cameron Diaz _________ Irish actress?
Rina: I’m not sure. But she’s definitely not _________ Australian.
5. Debby: Is your mother _________ nurse?
Rita: No, she’s _________ ENT specialist.
Worksheet – 2
B. Put the definite article the wherever necessary. Mark a cross (x) where the article the is not required.
1. We visited Grandma in _________ hospital twice last week.
2. _________ Delhi is _________ capital of India.
3. _________ North Pole is opposite _________ South Pole.
4. _________ mangoes are my favourite fruit.
5. Braille is a system of reading and writing by touch for _________ visually challenged.
6. Every child knows the story of Robin Hood. It is said that he robbed _________ rich and gave their money to _________ poor.
Worksheet – 3
C. Fill in the blanks with the correct definite or indefinite article. Mark a cross (*) where neither is required.
1. I bought _________ pair of jeans yesterday.
2. I saw _________ scary movie last night.
3. The visitors are staying at _________ five-star hotel.
4. I think _________ woman over there is very unfriendly.
5. I do not like to play _________ outdoor games.
6. This is _________ problem I told you about.
Worksheet – 4
D. Choose the correct option to complete the sentences given below.
1. I like listening to _________
a. radio
b. the radio
c. either could be used here
2. Anu is studying Sanskrit at _________
a. university
b. the university
c. either could be used here
3. I’ll take you to _________
a. airport
b. the airport
c. either could be used here
4. He was sent to for theft _________
a. prison
b. the prison
c. either could be used here
5. She lives in that overlooks the park _________
a. building
b. the building
c. either could be used here
6. I like food that is served in this restaurant _________
a. Indian
b. the Indian
c. either could be used here
Worksheet – 5
E. Decide whether to use the definite article the or not. Mark a cross (*) where the article ‘the’ is not required.
Hi Riya
I arrived in _________ USA last Monday. We left for Rome, flew over _________
Alps and made a quick stopover at _________ London. There, we went shopping
at _________ Harrods and enjoyed a sunny afternoon in _________ Hyde Park. The following day, we left for _________ New York. _________ time on board wasn’t boring as there were two films to watch on _________ monitor. _________ people on _________ plane were all Italians. Before we landed at JFK International Airport, we saw _________ Statue of Liberty, _________ Ellis Island and _________ Empire State Building. _________ hotel I stayed at was on _________ corner of _________ 42nd Street and _________ 5th Avenue. I don’t like _________ hotels here very much, but I didn’t have _________ time to rent an apartment.
Please say hello to Radha and Ricky.
Your friend,
Soofiya
Worksheet – 6
F. Fill in the blanks with a/an/the or the zero article.
A: I’m _________ chemist. I work for _________ pharmaceutical company in _________ Bhatinda. The company produces medicines for _________ common colds, flu, _________ hay fever and _________asthma. What do you do for _________ living?
B: I’m _________ associate lecturer at _________Odisha College of Art and Commerce in Puri. I used to work at _________ University of Rajasthan, but I recently decided to relocate back to _________ Odisha. I grew up in Odisha, and I missed _________ sea.
A: I have _________ friend who is _________ professor there, Dr. M. Sahu. Maybe you know her. She’s in _________ anthropology department.
B: No, _________ name doesn’t ring any bells. But I’m _________ lecturer of sociology, and _________ anthropology department is in _________ same building. What does she look like?
A: She’s _________ tall brunette with _________ incredibly hilarious sense of humor. She’s _________ funniest woman you’ve ever met in your life. We both studied together at _________ Calcutta University.
B: Oh, of course! I met her at _________ university function last year. She’s _________ amazing woman.
A: Wow, it’s _________ small world, isn’t it?
