Scribd
Upload
69 views3 pages

Articles Study Material

The document discusses articles - the indefinite article (a/an) and the definite article (the). It explains that articles are used before nouns and the indefinite article refers to nonspecific or general things, while the definite article refers to specific or particular things. It provides rules for using "a" versus "an" depending on whether the next word starts with a vowel or consonant sound. It also lists several cases when the definite article is used such as with names of geographic features, books, instruments, ordinal numbers, and superlatives.

Uploaded by

Alam Eldeen
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
69 views3 pages

Articles Study Material

The document discusses articles - the indefinite article (a/an) and the definite article (the). It explains that articles are used before nouns and the indefinite article refers to nonspecific or general things, while the definite article refers to specific or particular things. It provides rules for using "a" versus "an" depending on whether the next word starts with a vowel or consonant sound. It also lists several cases when the definite article is used such as with names of geographic features, books, instruments, ordinal numbers, and superlatives.

Uploaded by

Alam Eldeen
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

ARTICLES

The words a, an, and the are called Articles.

They come before nouns.

There are two Articles a or an and the.

• a or an is called the Indefinite Article, because it usually leaves indefinite the person or
thing spoken of; as, a doctor; that is, any doctor.
• The is called the Definite Article, because it normally points out some particular person
or things; as, He saw the doctor; meaning some particular.

The indefinite article is used before singular countable nouns, e.g., a book, an orange, a girl

The definite article is used before singular countable nouns, plural countable nouns and
uncountable nouns, e.g., the book, the books, the milk

Use of Indefinite Article a and an

The choice between a and an is determined by initial sound of the word. As far as rule is
concerned;

• We use a before words which began with a consonant sound.

I saw a woman yesterday.


(The word woman starts with a consonant sound /m/; hence, a woman)
He is pursuing his M.Phil. from a university in Delhi.
(The word university starts with a consonant sound /j/ hence, a university; not an
university.)
There is a hotel at the end of the road.
(The initial consonant sound h in the word hotel is sounded; hence, a hotel.)
• We use an before words which began with a vowel sound.

I saw him an hour ago or so.


(The consonant sound h is muted in the word hour and the sound follows h is that of a
vowel; hence, an hour.)
His mother was an American though his father was a European.
(The initial sound in the word American is that of a vowel; hence, an American, whereas
the initial sound in the word European starts with a consonant sound /j/ and therefore we
have to write a European.)
Use of Definite Article the

The definite article the is used in the following:

• When we talk about a particular person of thing, or one already referred to (that is, it is
clear from the context which one we mean); as,
The book you want is out of print. (Which book? The one you want.)
The gold we bought from the shop is of poor quality.
❖ Don’t use the before the names of substances if they are used in a general sense.
Gold is a precious metal. (not the gold)
• When a singular noun is meant to represent a whole class; as,
The cow is a useful animal.
The rose is the sweetest of all flowers.
• Use the before the names of mountain ranges, seas, oceans, rivers, deserts, forests, dams,
falls, group of islands, etc.
The Sahara desert is the largest desert on earth.
You can almost easily lose yourself in the Himalayas.
The plane fell into the Pacific Ocean.
❖ Don’t use the before the names of single peaks an islands.
Everest is the highest peak on the earth. (not the Everest)
Sri Lanka is a beautiful island. (not the Sri Lanka)
• Use the before the names of certain books.
The Paradise Lost is a famous epic.
The Ramayana is an ancient Indian epic.
• Use the before unique things.
You can see countless stars in the sky.
The sun was beating relentlessly on us.
• Use the with names of musical instruments.
He can play the flute.
She loved playing the piano.
• Use the before superlative degree of adjectives.
He is the wisest man I have ever met.
The darkest cloud has a silver lining.
• Use the with ordinal numbers.
He was the first man to arrive on the scene.
The second chapter of the book is impressive.
• Use the with comparative degree of adjectives, particularly when they are repeated in the
same sentence.
The more you read, the better is your expression.
The more they get, the more they want.
• The is used with adjectives employed to signify different nouns used in singular form.
The first and the second chapter of the book ….
The red and the white rose in the garden…..
• The is used before the names of trains and ships.
He is coming by the Rajdhani Express.
Exercise

1. They lost their way in _____ Sahara desert.


2. There was ___king.
3. _____king was very magnanimous.
4. We love ____movies.
5. ____Titanic was considered to be an unsinkable vessel.
6. If you are seriously ill, you will have to go to ____hospital.
7. Let’s lift ___bed and put it out in the sun.
8. I feel tired for I want to ____bed late last night.
9. Raju and Ravi generally go to ____ church on Sunday morning.
10. My wife has gone to ___ hospital to visit a sick friend.
11. Don’t worry; I will finish ____ work ____ evening.
12. ______ Second girl in_____ first row is my sister.
13. He got up at ___dawn and went to ____ bed at ___ sunrise.
14. He really loves ____wine of French.
15. I take ___dinner at 8.00 p.m.
16. ___Hindu is a prestigious national daily.
17. ____ 22nd June is _____hottest day of______ year.
18. I bought ____ pair of shoes.
19. I saw ____ movie last night.
20. They are staying at ____ hotel.
21. Look at ____ woman over there! She is a famous actress.
22. I do not like ____ basketball.
23. That is ____ girl I told you about.
24. ____ night is quiet. Let's take a walk!
25. ____ price of gas keeps rising.
26. John traveled to ____ Mexico.
27. Juan is ____ Spanish.
28. I read ____ amazing story yesterday.
29. My brother does not eat ____ chicken.
30. ____ love is such a beautiful thing.
31. I live in ____ apartment. ____ apartment is new.
32. I would like ____ piece of cake.
33. I was in ____ Japanese restaurant. ____ restaurant served good food.
34. Sara can play ____ guitar.
35. Are you coming to ____ party next Saturday?
36. I bought ____ new TV set yesterday.
37. I think ____ man over there is very ill. He can't stand on his feet.
38. I watched ____ video you had sent me.
39. She was wearing ____ ugly dress when she met him.
40. I am crazy about reading ____ history books.
41. She is ____ nice girl.
42. Do you want to go to ____ restaurant where we first met?
43. He is ___ engineer. (an)
44. ___ rich always exploit ____ poor.
45. Are you at ___home? (X)

You might also like