ENGLISH GRAMMAR - ARTICLES - (DEFINITE AND INDEFINITE ) A / AN / THE

ARTICLES

There are three articles in English grammar: a, an, and the.

“A and An”  are used to discuss non-specific things, person, and place.  “A” and “An” are called indefinite articles.

Examples:

i)  I’d like a mango.

ii)  Let’s go on an adventure trip.

iii) An H is missing in word.

 

Neither one of these sentences names a specific mango or a certain adventure. Without more clarification, any banana or adventure will do.

 

“The” is called definite article. It’s the only definite article, and it is used to indicate very specific people or things:

Examples:

i)  Please give me a mango. I’d like the one with the green stem.

ii)  Let’s go on an adventure. The Wonderla sounds perfect!

 

INDEFINITE ARTICLES (A / AN)

The indefinite article (a/ an) is used with a singular, countable noun, It is not used with a plural noun, uncountable and abstract noun.

Examples:

i) A bat, a cargo, a doll, a chocolate

ii) An ice-cream, an orange, an inkpot, an umbrella, an ostrich, an egg

iii) Special cases: an hour, an honest man, a university, a European, a one-rupee note, etc

 

‘A’ is used before the nouns beginning with a consonant sound.

Examples:

i) A dog barked at a vendor.

ii) She joins a university last week.

iii) A monkey snatched his parcel.

iv) A European met at bus terminal.

 

 ‘An’ is used before the nouns beginning with a vowel sound (a, e, i, o, u)

Examples:

i) You should solve all problems in an hour.

ii) He is an honest person.

iii) An owl was caught by him.

iv) An MBA student scored out of out marks in his final examination.

 

Uses of indefinite articles:

1) Indefinite articles are used before a singular countable noun, mentioned for the first time and referring to no one in particular:

i) I saw a child playing PUBG.

ii) She carries an ostrich with her.

iii) He catches a bird in the garden.

 

2) Indefinite articles are used before a singular countable noun which stands for a group or class or persons or things:

i) A man has to work to live (all men have to work to live)

ii) A tiger needs to protect (all tigers need to protect)

 

3) Indefinite articles are used in certain expressions of quantity/ number:

i) A lot of people were in mall.

ii) A dozen oranges were bought.

 

4) Indefinite articles are used in expressions of speed, ratio and price:

i) The bike mileage is thirty kilometers a litre.

ii) I see Tina twice a day.

iii) He sold tomatoes for Rs. 10 a kilo.

DEFINITE ARTICLE ‘THE’

a)    The definite article ‘The’ is used before the names of rivers, canals, seas, islands, mountains, deserts, regions, plural, names of countries:

i) The Ganga is sacred river of India.

ii) The Himalayas are so beautiful.

iii) The U.S.A.  plays very vital role in World Bank growth. 

 

b)    The definite article ‘The’ is used before unique things or planets as:

i) The earth has its own satellite.

ii) The sun generates lot of energy.

iii) The moon rotates around the earth.

 

c)     The definite article ‘The’ is used before the names of sacred and well-known books, magazines, newspapers etc:

i) The Bible is holy book of Christians.

ii) The Geeta teaches us to do our duty correctly.

iii) The Quran guides us to follow right path.

iv) The Times of India newspaper is popular in North India.

 

d)    The definite article ‘The’ is used before well-known ships, buildings, trains, historical events:

i) The Garib Ratha express connects Karnataka to Rajasthan.  

ii) The Gol Gumbaz has world’s second largest dome.

iii) We travelled to Mumbai to see the India Gate.

 

e)     The definite article ‘The’ is used before superlatives and ordinals(first, second) used as adjectives:

i) Carl is the happiest man in our colony.

ii) A car met the worst accident yesterday by bypass.

iii) Everyone receives salary on the first day of the month.

 

f)      The definite article ‘The’ is used before the singular noun representing a class of things or animals:

i)  The elephant is a huge animal.

ii) The car is no longer a luxury.

 

g)    The definite article ‘The’ is used before an adjective to denote the whole class:

i) The rich are modernists. (All rich people)

ii) Do not help the poor. (All poor people)

 

h)    The definite article ‘The’ is used before the names of races, groups and communities:

i) The Christians celebrate Christmas on 25^th December.

ii) The Indians are rich in hospitality.

 

i)       The definite article ‘The’ is used before a surname to refer to the family: (Mr. & Mrs. & their children)

i) The Kapoors inaugurated a new film studio.

ii) The Ambanis welcomed everyone to their firm.

 

j)      The definite article ‘The’ is used before the names consisting of a noun + of + a noun:

i) The Bay of Bengal water is getting polluted.

k)    The definite article ‘The’ is used before a noun that has already been mentioned:

i) I saw a girl. The girl was carrying a gun.

ii) A boy was in gym. The boy was so strong to lift 150 pounds barrel.

 

l)       The definite article ‘The’ is used before a noun made definite with a phrase/clause:

i) Camel is the ship of desert.

ii) The boy in the concert was arrogant.

 

m) The definite article ‘The’ is used before a noun denoting a known person or thing:

i) The car looks beautiful (the car in showroom)

ii) Pass the salt, please. (the salt on the table)

 

n)    The definite article ‘The’ is used before parallel comparatives:

i) The higher you go oxygen level will decrease.

ii) That boy was the more ferocious of the two.

 

OMISSION OF ARTICLES

i) A / an are not used before plural nouns:

Examples: toys, girls, doctors, tables, etc.

 

ii) A / an are not used before uncountable nouns:

Examples: oil, milk, air, water, etc.

 

iii) A / an/ the are not used before proper names (nouns):

Examples: Anna, Dinesh, India, Goa, etc.

 

iv) A / an are not used before the names of metals:

Examples: silver, platinum, gold, etc.

 

v) A / an/ the are not used before any countable noun when it is preceded by:

Examples: each, any, another, every, either, some, etc.

 

vi) A / an are not used when we refer to a public institution or place named after some particular person or place.

Examples: Oxford University, Taj Hotel

 

vii) A / an are not used in certain idiomatic phrases.

 

viii) A / an are not used when a noun denotes, rank, occupation, station, etc.

 

ix) A/ an/ the are not used before the names of material nouns used in a general sense.

Examples:

i) Wheat flour is used to make Chapatis.

ii) Smoking is injurious to health.

 

x) A/ an / the are not used before the names of abstract nouns used in a general sense.

Example: Honest is the best policy.

 

xi) A/ an/ the are not used before the names of languages and games.

Examples:

i) English is spoken almost in all countries.

ii) Football is good game for improving stamina.

 

xii) A/ an/ the are not used before the names of diseases.

Examples:

i) Corona has broken nerve of everyone. 

ii) She is suffering from flu.

 

xiii) A/ an/ the are not used before the names of flowers, colours in general sense.

Examples:

i) Blue is my favourite colour.

ii) Marigold has a sweet fragrance.

 

xiv) A/ an/ the are not used before the names of nature, goddesses, gods.