Mastering Articles.

Prepared by Shoaib Mirza

1. A/An and The are called Articles

2. These are used before Nouns.

 Test Yourself
Sindh-MDCAT-2022

To climb ………..tree in not to climb………….mountain.

a) a / a
b) A / an
c) The / an
d) an / a
1. Indefinite Articles:- Used for uncertain person or
thing.

I saw an old man.

A dog was barking at night.
1. Indefinite Articles:- Used for uncertain person or
thing.

I saw an old man.

A dog was barking at night.
2. Definite Article:- used for definite/certain person
or thing.

This is the car which I have bought.

The house in which she lives is new.
 Position of Articles

Article + Noun

She is a doctor.

a question.
 Position of Articles

Article + Adverb + Adjective + Noun

She is a very good teacher.

This is a very important question.
The well paid employees.
Difference b/w A and AN
A + Consonant Sound

An + Vowel Sound
a university, a uniform, a unicorn
an uncle, an umpire, an ultimatum
a European, a euro, a eulogy , a eucalyptus
tree
a one-hit wonder, a one-time offer
a one-way street but an ocean, an ostrich
an hour, an honest man, an heir,
Uses of A and An
1. A/an is used in the sense of one:

Asif has a dog.( one )

She has an apple. (one)

2. A used in the sense of some/a certain(unknown):

A Mr. Ali wants to talk to you.

A Mrs. Smith wants to see you.

3. Used in the sense of Any:

He did not give me a book.

She does not like to read a novel.

4. Each/Every( per):

I go there once a week.

She earns two-thousand a month.

 5. Class/representation

A cow is a useful animal.

A dog is a faithful animal.

A son should be obedient.

6. Used before a Sing. Countable noun:

I need a book.
I am a teacher.
He bought a car.
She is a doctor.
 7. When a sing. Countable noun is used first time
in a sentence. “A” or “An” is used it according to
need. But, when the same sing. Countable noun is
used second time, ‘the’ is used.

Yesterday a man came to me. The man was

hungry.

There was a king. The king was very wise.

8. Used before units or counting expressions

A dozen A thousand Half an hour

A hundred A million Half a kilo

I have a dozen eggs. She has a thousand rupees.

I have dozen eggs. She has thousand rupees.
9. To make a common noun of a proper noun.

A sherlock is living in my neighbourhood.

You are a Babar Azam.

( a cricketer like Babar Azam.)
10. Before the verbs used as noun.

For a walk take a rest for a visit

for a talk for a drive

He proposed that we should go for a walk.

You look tired. Why don’t you take a rest.
11. A/An is used in these phrases

A team of
A pair of
A galaxy of
An assembly of
 12. Also with adverbs quite and such .

You are quite a talker.

Bill is such a loser.
Mr. Smith is such a great teacher.
13. We use a/an to say what a person’s job is, was or
will be:

She was a company director when she retired.

Against her parent’s wishes, she wants to be a
journalist.

However, we use the or zero article when we give a

person’s job title, or their unique position.
She has been appointed(the) head of the company
,and I am a production manager at Fino.
 One vs. A/An
A / An = One
Compulsory use = Before Singular countable nouns

We saw lion.
We saw one lion .
We saw a lion.

Only, just, exactly , about , merely

+
Emphasis on quantity = one
 One vs. A/An
A / An = One
Compulsory use = Before Singular countable nouns

We saw only lion.

We saw only one lion .
We saw only a lion.

Only, just, exactly , about , merely

+
Emphasis on quantity = one
 Test Yourself

Only one/a man came forward to help her.

Only one / a man with money can afford such a car.

Within just one/a day of joining, she resigned.

Life is just one / a journey.

Omission of A and An
1. A/An is not used before ‘only Adjective’

He is honest.

Ali is popular in this town.

2. Do not add the Indefinite article to pair nouns.

Correct: scissors Correct: binoculars

incorrect: a scissors incorrect: a binoculars
NOTE:

Verbs take the singular form when ‘a pair of’ is

used with pair nouns.

A pair of long johns is necessary in the winter.

A pair of pliers has many uses.

3. Do not add the indefinite article with aggregate
nouns.

Aggregate nouns are nouns that always have a

plural form. They have no singular form and never
take the indefinite article.
4. Do not use the indefinite article a or an with an
uncountable noun.

incorrect: Children are scared of a lightening.

correct: Children are scared of lightening.
 Important Uncountable Nouns
Hair Accommodation News

Mischief Baggage Progress

Money Luggage Stationary

Wastage Advice Equipment

Wine Knowledge Scenery

Music Business Furniture

Crockery Permission Jewellery

Breakage Work Poetry

j
7. After the position of , the post of, or the role of
we use zero article before job title:

Dr Simons has taken on the position of Head of

Department.( indicates a generic or generalized
reference)
In contrast
The head of the department is on vacation.
 Articles : a / an
Insert a or an if necessary.
1. My neighbor is……… photographer; let’s ask him
for…………advice about color films.
2. We had…….fish and ………… Chips for ……..lunch.
That doesn’t sound …………very interesting lunch.
3. I had ………….very bad night; I didn’t sleep
……..wink.
4. He is……………vegetarian; you won’t get ………meat
at his house. He will give you……..nut Cutlet.
Last time I had …….nut cutlet I had
……..indigestion.
5. …………… travel agent would give
you…….information about………hotels.

6. We had better go by……..taxi—if we can get……taxi

at such ………hour as 2 a.m.

7. ………person who suffers from………claustrophobia

has……..dread of being confined in……….small
space, and would always prefer………stairs to
……..lift.
8. Do you take ……..sugar in ……coffee?
I used to, but now I’m on…….diet. I am trying to
lose …………..weight.
9. I have ………little money left; let’s have……….
Dinner in……….restaurant.

10. He broke …….leg in……….skiing accident. It’s

Still in……..plaster.
 Test Yourself

The escaping prisoner camped in…..wood but he did

not light………fire because……….smoke rising from
………. wood might attract……….attention.
The Definite Article
1 . Use the definite article when you want to point a noun
out and make it definite.

• Definite: Frank doesn’t like the restaurant across the street.

(a specific restaurant, the one across the street)
2. “ The” is used before names of

Historical buildings
Holy books
Mountain ranges
Planets , Rivers, Oceans
Gulf, Group of Islands, Deserts
Names of Trains, Hotels, Shops
Names of Countries, states
The Taj Mahal The White House
The Rockies The Himalayas
The Holy Quran The Bible
The Ganga river The dead sea
The Gulf of Oman The fiji Islands
N
The Sahara Desert The Orient Express
The Ritz Hotel The United Arab Emirates
Note-: “The” is not used before mountain peaks

Mount Everest
The Mount Everest

Nanda Devi
The Nanda Devi
Note-2: if “ the name of an author” is used before
the name of a religious book, “ the” is not used
before the name of a religious book.

Iqbal’s poetry
Iqbal’s the poetry

Homer’s Illiad
Homer’s the Illiad
2. Before the name of directions

The East
The west
The North
The South
Note-: Do not use the Definite Article When a
Compass direction immediately follows a verb

Go west, young man.

Birds usually fly south for the winter.
3. Use the definite Article with parts of the body
that have come into contact with an outside object.

The suitcase hit jill on the shoulder

The traitor stabbed his friend in the back.
He was shot in the leg.
Note-1: If the name of parts of body is used after
the name of disease. “ The” is used before the
name of parts of body

Cancer of the lung

Inflammation of the throat
Note-2: If the name of ( parts of body) is used
a sing. Count. Noun. A/An is used before it.

A cow has a mouth , a nose, and a head.

Note-3: The is not used in these phrases

On foot
On the foot

At hand
At the hand

In hand
In the hand
4. Before the names of a religious community.

The Hindus
The Jews
The Muslims
5. Before the Nationality

The Pakistanis
The Indiana
The English
The Chinese
The Amricans
The Russians
Note-: But if “ a nationality expressing word” is used
as a countable noun, “A” or “An” is used before it.

I have met a Pakistani in Dubai.

An English man was there in my college.
6. “ the” is not used before the name of language

The English is spoken in England

English is spoken in England
7. Before Armed forces, Government Branches,
Political Parties.

The Army , The Air Force , The Navy

The Judiciary, The legislative, The executive
The Muslim League, The Congress
8. The is used before the name of Musical
Instruments

The Tabla
The Harmonium
The Guitar

He cannot play the Guitar.

He wants to learn the Tabla.
Note- But, if the name of a musical instrument
is used as a single count. Noun, ( A/An is used
before it.

He has bought a Piano.

9. ‘The’ is used before the names of inventions

The Television
The Wireless
The Telephone
The Microscope
The Radio

Who invented the Telescope?

Note-: But, when invented things are used as
countable noun, A/An is used before them.

He has bought a T.V.

He has bought a Radio.
 Right Wrong

Listen to the Radio Listen to Radio

On the Radio On Radio

Watch T.V Watch the T.V.

On T.V. On the T.V.

 Patterns with summer

You use in summer or in the summer when saying

that something happens at that time:

In summer we get six weeks’ vacation.

He worked as a lifeguard in the summer.
 Before Sports Cups and Trophies

Pakistan won the Asia Cup last year.

A number of teams are taking part in the world cup.
 Before Physical positions

1) The top of the mountain.

2) The back of the house.
3) The centre of the market.
4) The front of the house.
Before units of measurement.

Cloth is sold by the meter.

Eggs are sold by the dozen.
 Before the adjectives ‘same’ and ‘whole’ and
after the adjective ‘all and both’ used with plural
nouns.

1) This is the same book that you gave me.

2) The whole class was absent.
3) All the boys were present there.
4) Both the brothers were present.
5) All sugar is wasted.
In certain idiomatic phrases.

1) In the wrong. 2) On the contrary.

3) In the town 4) The benefits of the doubt.
5) In the air 6) Speak the truth
7) Out of the question
8) In the right.
11. If a title or a post is used to denote a person,
The is used before the title and the post.

The Prime Minister wants to talk to you.

The Chief Minister comes here tomorrow.
You should trust the director.
12. “The” is used before the common noun used in
Noun-in-apposition;

Iqbal, the poet, is famous.

Iqbal, poet , is famous.

James, the dancer, is laborious.

James, dancer , is laborious
13. “ common noun” is used as an “abstract noun”.
“The” is used before the common noun but its
meaning is changed; as

The patriot in him…….

When I found a baby, the father aroused in me.
( paternal quality in him)
The mother in wife cried out.
It is the animal in you that makes you commit
crime.
14. Use the definite article with nouns where only
one is thought to exist.

Fortunetellers claim that they can predict the future.

Nothing is bigger than the universe.
Life was quite different before the internet.
Turn up the radio! I love this song!
What’s the weather going to be like tomorrow?
Rule 15: Morning, Afternoon, Evening, and Night

I go to school in the morning.

My grandmother usually takes a nap in the
afternoon.
A lot of people surf the internet in the evening.
Rule 16: Use the definite article in specially created
names and formal titles.
Name + the+ adjective
Elizabeth the second Alfred the Great
Henry the Eighth
Name +the + Noun
Peter the Hermit
William the conqueror
Frank the Tank
 Definite Article with Groups

Rule 17. Families, Bands, Sports Teams etc.

Every body wants to keep up with the Jones.( The

Jones Family)
The Beach Boys were a famous rock band from the
1960s.
The New York Yankees are a well-known baseball
team.
Rule 18: Use the definite article with the names of
institutes, bridges, motels, hotels , zoos,
buildings, theatres, museums, universities that
have the word of in their name.

The Smithsonian is the world’s largest museum.

Have you ever been to the Phoenix Zoo?
The university of Toronto.
The Brooklyn Bridge
The Sydney Harbor Bridge
The Smithsonian The Golden Gate Bridge
Note: Do not use the definite article with the
names of parks, stadiums, hospitals, universities ,
companies, malls, gardens, names that contain
the word House, and names that contain the
word Hall.

Jeff has a membership at Hart House.

Every body wants to go to Harvard University.
Millennium park is Chicago’s newest park.
 Streets and Highways

Do not use the definite article with the names of

streets, avenues, lanes, roads and boulevards

The Royal Ontario Museum is on Bloor Street.

Jill lives on Summerside Avenue.
Meet me on Santa Monica Boulevard at 7.00.
 Use the definite article with the names of highways
parkways, freeways, and turnpikes.
The Metropolitan Expressway The Lincoln Highway
Do not use the definite article with the names of
highways that begin with a word or letter followed
by a number.

There is a speed trap on Highway 52.

U.S Route 101 runs through California, Oregon, and
Washington.
You can get to the hotel by driving along Interstate 45.
Extra! In some parts of the United States and
Canada the definite article is used with the
names of that are made up of numbers only.

The 401 always has traffic.

The 99 is a pleasant drive.

The M6 motorway is the longest motorway

in the United Kingdom.
 Times, Wars , and Agreements

Use the definite article with periods of time.

The 1960s were a great change in the United States.

Life wasn’t easy during the Dark Ages.
The 16th century can be characterized by global
exploration and scientific development.
 The + the names of Wars, battles, and revolutions

Not many people died during the Cold War, but it

was a very tense time.
The American Revolution began in 1776 and ended
in 1789.

Exceptions :
World War 1 World War 2
Zero Article
1. Man, Woman, Nature, Life, Death, Society,
Humanity, Parliament, and Mankind take no
Article in general sense.

Man is mortal.
These are the boons of science.

But,
The German parliament is called Bundestag.
2. School, College, University, market, Jail, Court,
Church, Temple, Bed, Hospital etc. If these words
are used for their real purpose, we don’t use any
article before them.

I go to school regularly. ( real purpose)

I am going to the school to meet the principal.
( other purpose )
No Definite Article + Individual Lakes, Canyons, etc

Lake Superior Nine Mile Canyon

Sea
We go to sea as sailors. To be at sea = to be
on voyage ( as passengers or crew)

But
to go to or be at the sea = to go to or be at the
seaside. We can also live by near the sea.
 Work and Office
Work( = place of work) is used
without the:
He is on his way to work.
He is at work.
Office (= place of work ) needs the :
He is at in the office.
To be in office = to hold an official position
Town

the can be omitted when speaking of the

subject’s or speaker’s own town:

We go to town sometimes to buy clothes.

We were in town last Monday.
7. After the position of , the post of, or the role of
we use zero article before job title:

Dr Simons has taken on the position of Head of

Department.