Articles Common Errors

Omission of the Article

The article is omitted:

Before common nouns used in the widest sense

  • Child is the father of man.
  • Night is as beautiful as day.

Before proper nouns

  • Mumbai is a big city.
  • Akbar was a wise king.

Note: When the definite article is used before a proper noun, it turns it into a common noun.

  • He is the Newton of our day. (that is, as able a scientist as Newton was)
  • He is the Shakespeare of India. (that is, as great a dramatist as Shakespeare was)
  • Mumbai is the London of the East. (that is, a city as great as London)

Articles Common Errors

Before abstract nouns used in a general sense

  • Honesty is the best policy.
  • He loved wisdom and virtue.

Note: When an abstract noun is qualified by an adjective, adjective phrase or adjective clause, it can take the.

  • The bravery of the Rajputs is well known.
  • The wisdom which he showed was praiseworthy.
  • The virtue of this machine lies in its simplicity.

Articles Common Errors

Before material nouns

  • Gold is a precious metal.
  • Plastic is a synthetic material.

But we can say:

  • The gold that I bought is not of pure quality.
  • The plastic used to make plates is of the best quality,

Before titles used before proper nouns

  • King George VI (not the King George VI); Lord Wellington; Professor Ghosh; Saint Paul

Before names of places and markets

  • There are many shops in Connaught Place. (not the Connaught Place)
  • Chandni Chowk is Delhi’s oldest market.

Articles Common Errors

Before names of meals

  • Breakfast is at eight o’clock. (not the breakfast)
  • When do you have lunch? (not the lunch)
  • Have you had dinner yet? (not the dinner)

Before the names of games

  • I play football, hockey, cricket and tennis. (not the hockey, the cricket, the tennis)
  • She plays badminton, volleyball and football. (not the badminton, the volleyba the football)
  • We sometimes play chess and cards. (not the chess, the cards)

Articles Common Errors

Read also: Articles Practice worksheet click here

Before the names of languages

  • The people of France speak French. (not the French)
  • English is spoken in England. (not the English)
  • In certain expressions like all day and all night.
  • He works hard all day. (not all the day)
  • The nurse attended to the patient all night. (not all the night) But we say in the morning, in the evening, in the afternoon

In certain phrases, consisting of a noun as the object of a verb.

  • We leave home at 7 o’clock.
  • Her clothes caught fire.
  • She sent word that she was coming.
  • Give ear to what your teacher says.
  • He took offence at my remark.
  • He lost heart very soon.

Articles Common Errors

Other common phrases are:

  • To cast anchor, to bring word, to leave school, to set sail, to go to school, to go to prison, to go by car (taxi, train, ship, plane), to go to church, to go by air (road, rail, sea), to go home, go to work.

Articles Common Errors

But we always say:

  • Go to the office, go to the cinema/theatre.

In certain phrases consisting of a preposition followed by a noun.

  • By hand, by land, by sea, by water, by river, by steamer, by rail, by bus, by aeroplane, by train, by night, by day, on foot, on sale, on horseback, on deck, at fault, at ease, in bed, in trouble, at school, at college, in jest, in turn, at tea, at dinner, at home, at dawn, at daybreak, at sunrise, at noon, at sunset, at midnight, at nine o’clock, at sight, on demand, an interest, by name, under ground, above ground on earth.

Read also: Day 2: Giving personal information

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