articles

DAY 1 – Articles

Articles

There are two types of articles in English.

  1. Indefinite article
  2. Definite article

Indefinite Articles

  • The words ‘a’, ‘an’, and ‘the’ are special adjectives called articles.  
  • Use ‘a’ and ‘an’ with singular nouns.
  • Use ‘a’-  if the next word starts with a consonant sound.
  • Use ‘an’-  if the next word starts with a vowel sound.
  • Example:  an Aeroplan, a banana etc.

Uses of Indefinite Articles

  1. Before a singular noun which is countable, when it is mentioned for the first time and represents no particular person or thing.
  • A cow is an animal.
  • A cat can catch a mouse.
  • A house has a roof.
  • A man can laugh.

Read also: Articles Practice worksheet click here

  1. Before a singular countable noun which represents a class of things.
  • A cow has horns. (= All cows have horns.)
  • An elephant has a trunk.

2. With a noun complement. This includes names of professions.

  • He is an engineer.
  • She is a good dancer.
  • She is a teacher.
  • He became a great man.

3. Before certain numerical expressions.

  • a dozen, half a dozen, a score (20), a gross (144)
  • a hundred, a thousand, a million

4. Before:

  • a lot of, a great deal of, a great many of

5. In expressions involving price, speed, ratio, etc.

  • 5 a kg, a hundred kilometres
  • an hour, five times a day, forty rupees a metre

6. With few and little. A few and a little mean a small number, a small amount.

  • We are going away for a few days.
  • A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.

7. In exclamations before singular, countable nouns.

  • What a hot day!
  • What a pretty doll!
  • Such a nuisance!
  • What a fine innings!

8. A can be used before Mr/Mrs/Miss + surname.

  • a Mr Smith, a Mrs Smith, a Miss Smith

(A Mr Smith means a man called Smith and implies that the speaker does not know him.)

Read also: Articles Practice worksheet click here

The indefinite article is not used:

  1. Before uncountable nouns such as advice, furniture, information, news, baggage, luggage, honesty, glass, wood, iron, stone, paper, rice, milk, tea, music, money, etc.
  • He gave me good advice.
  • Tables are made of wood.
  • Do you like milk in your tea?
  • A book is made of paper.

2. These uncountable nouns are often preceded by expressions such as some, a little, a piece of, a lot of, etc.

  • He has a lot of money.
  • He gave her some milk.
  • Give me a piece of paper.
  • He had a glass of milk.

3. Before abstract nouns such as truth, beauty, happiness, fear, joy, peace, war.

  • Beauty is truth.
  • I value your friendship greatly.

4. Before a common noun in the singular, used in a general sense.

  • Apple is good for health.
  • Only God is immortal.

Articles

Definite Article

  • Use ‘the’ with singular nouns that name a particular person, place, or thing.
  • Use ‘the’ before all plural nouns.
  • Example: the pen, the book etc.

Uses of definite Article

Articles ‘The’ is used:

  1. Before a noun when it is repeated after it has been referred to earlier.
    • A man and a boy were walking down a road. The boy was the man’s son.
  2. Before a noun which is one of its kind in a given situation.
    • The Principal is in his office.
    • The post office is half a kilometre from here.
    • Is there anyone in the kitchen?
    • Please pass me the salt. (that is, the salt on the table)
  3. Before a noun made definite by the addition of a phrase or a clause.
    • the place where I met her
    • the man on the horse
    • the boy who won the prize
    • the train leaving at 3 p.m.
  4. When a singular noun is used to indicate a whole class.
    • The cuckoo is a lazy bird.
    • The e-rickshaw has become a popular vehicle.
    • The cow is a useful animal.
    • The lion is a majestic beast.
  5. As an adverb in such sentences as the following:
    • The more the merrier.
    • The fewer the better.
    • The more one has the more one wants.
  6. Before names of rivers, seas and oceans, mountain ranges, groups of islands, plural names of countries.
    • the Ganges, the Indus, the Thames, the Atlantic Ocean, the Red Sea
    • the Himalayas, the Alps
    • the British Isles, the Andamans
    • the Netherlands, the USA, the United Kingdom, the UAE

Note: Individual mountains do not have the placed before them.
• Mount Everest, Mount Abu, Mount Blanc
The is necessary if the name of the country is paired with the word kingdom, republic, united or federation.
• the Kingdom of Macedon, the Republic of India, the Federation of Indian States.

  1. before the names of certain well-known books.
    • the Bible, the Vedas, the Qur’an, the Iliad

Articles

Read also: Day 2: Giving personal information

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