Articles
The word ‘a’ or ‘an’ and ‘the’ are called articles.
There are two kinds of articles
1) Definite article
2) Indefinite article
1. Indefinite article:
‘A’ and ‘An’ are called indefinite article. Because it does not point out to any particular person or thing.
Ex: I saw a boy eating an ice-cream.
2. Definite article
‘The’ is called the definite article. Because it is used when we speak of some particular person or thing.
Ex: The boy who was eating the ice-cream fell down.
v Usage of definite article:
1. When we refer to some particular person or thing.
Ex: The chandrayaan went to the moon
2. When a singular noun is meant to represent at a whole class.
Ex: The cow is a useful animal.
The rose is the sweetest of all flowers
3. Before the names of oceans and seas
Ex: The pacific, The Black Sea
A) Before the names of rivers
Ex: The Ganga, The Nile, The kaveri
B) To refer something or someone already mentioned before ‘the’
Ex: A thief entered our house the thief was caught
C) Canals
Ex: The Suez Canal
D) Deserts
Ex: The Sahara
E) Group of islands
Ex: The West Indies, the Andaman Islands
F) Mountain Ranges
Ex: The Himalayas, the Alps
G) A very few names of countries, which include words like republic and kingdom
Ex: The Irish people, The United Kingdom
H) Gulfs
Ex: The Persian Gulf, The gulf of mannar
1. Before the names of certain holy books
Ex: The Vedas, The puranas, The Ramayana
The Bhagvath geeta , The mahabharatha The Koran, The bible
2. Before the name of nouns which are unique and only one of its kind.
Ex: The sun, The moon, The earth, The sky, The sea
3. Before the superlatives
Ex: Prem is the tallest boy.
4. Before Ordinals
Ex: He was the first man is to arrive.
The ninth chapter of the book is very interesting.
5. Before the musical instruments
Ex: He can play the flute.
6. Before the name of the directions
Ex: The East, The West, The North, The south
7. Before an adjective when noun is understood
Ex: the rich [rich men] should help the poor [poor men]
8. When two comparative degrees are used in the same sentence the article should be used before those two comparative degree
Ex: The harder you work, the more marks you get.
The more they get, the more they want,
9. Before proper noun qualified by an adjectives.
Ex: The great wonder, The ancient Tamil.
10. Before the names of news paper
Ex: The Indian express
The Hindu
11. Before people of a specific region
Ex: The Hindus, The Muslims
12. If the language stand for its people
Ex: The Tamil, The English
Note: not to mention the language but to the people
13. Expressions like [top, middle, only, same, whole, etc.]
v Usage of Indefinite articles
Use of ‘A’:
1. Before singular countable nouns starting with consonant sound
Ex: I bought a book.
2. Before word beginning with a ‘vowels’ letter but having consonant sound
Ex: A university, a union, a uniform, a unit, because these words begin with consonant sound [yu]
Similarly we say
Ex: a one-rupee note, a one eyed man because one begins with the consonant sound [wo]
3. Half is followed by the article ‘a’
Ex: I have taken half a day leave.
I bought half a litter of milk.
v Use of ‘An’
1) Before singular nouns starting with vowel sounds
Ex: An apple, an animal, an Indian, an enemy, an umbrella
2) Words beginning with a silent ‘h’
Ex: An hour, an honest man, an honorable man, an heir
But here ‘a’ horse, hospital, hotel, historical, horrible
3) Abbreviations beginning with [L, M, N, S, F, H, R, X] are preceded by the article ‘an’
Ex: Mr. Ravi is an LIC agent
The police booked an FIR, An SI, an MA
v Omission of the article
1. Before proper nouns
Ex: We met X Rahim
He goes to X London
2. Before names of substances and abstract nouns and uncountable nouns (air, water ...)
Ex: X Sugar is bad for your teeth
X Honesty is the best policy
Note: Uncountable nouns take ‘the’ when used in a particular sense especially when qualified by an adjective
Ex: Would you pass me the sugar? (The sugar on the table)
I can’t forget the kindness with which he treats me.
3. Before plural countable nouns used in a general sense
Ex: X Children like chocolates.
X Computers are used in many offices.
Note: such nouns take ‘the’ when used with a particular meaning
Ex: Where are the children? (Our children)
4. Before names of meals (Used in general sense)
Ex: What time do you have X launch?
X Dinner is ready.
Note: we use ‘a’ when there is an adjective before breakfast, lunch, dinner, etc.
We use ‘the’ when we specify.
I had a late lunch today.
The dinner we had at the tourist hotel was very nice
5. Before languages
Ex: We are studying X English
They speak X Punjabi at home.
6. Before school, college, university, church, bed, hospital, prison, when these place are visited (or) used their primary purpose,
Ex: I learnt French at school.
We go to church on Sundays.
He stays in bed till nine every morning.
My uncle is still in hospital.
Note: ‘The’ is used with these words when we refer to them as a definite place, building.
Ex: The school is very near my home.
I met him at the church.
7. Before names of relations like father, mother, aunt, uncle and also cook and meaning ‘our cook’ ‘our nurse’
Ex: Father has returned.
Aunt wants you to see her.
Cook has given notice.
8. Before predicative means denoting a unique position, (i.e.) a position that ism normally held at one time by one person only; as
Ex: He was elected X chairman of the board.
9. Before names of festivals
Ex: We celebrate X Diwali in November.
10. Before names of days
Ex: They go to America next X Monday.
11. Before names of months
Ex: Our independence day is celebrated in X August.
12. Before names of games
Ex: The boys play X cricket.
We play X chess
13. Before materials like woo, plastic.
Ex: The pen is made of X plastic.
This chair is made of X wood.
This ring is made of X gold.
14. Before certain phrases
Ex: at noon, at train, at night, on foot, at house, by river.
15. Before illness (or) diseases
Ex: measles, pneumonia, asthma,
16. Before fields of study
Ex: mathematics, astronomy, aerobics,
17. In certain phrases consisting of a transitive verb followed by its object, as
Ex: to catch the fire, to take breath, to cast anchor,
18. Before the lakes
Ex: lake Michigan,
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