Articles

There are 3 articles in English i.e. ‘a’, ‘an’ and ‘the’. In fact there are certain
situations where no article is needed. We have to follow certain guidelines
in order to decide which article to use before a noun in the sentence.
First of all we have to categorize the noun as countable and uncountable.
Countable nouns are those that refer to something that can be counted.
They have both singular and plural forms (e.g. flower/flowers; man/men;
country/countries). In the singular, they can be preceded by ‘a’ or
‘an’. Uncountable nouns are those that cannot be divided into separate
elements and thus cannot be counted. For example- milk, oil, hair etc.

Rules for using articles ‘a’ and ‘an’.

1. Indefinite articles includes - ‘a’ and ‘an’. Articles ‘a’ and ‘an’ are called
indefinite articles because they refer to any member of a group, rather than
to a particular member of the group. We use them before a singular
countable noun. Example: a pen, a boy, a plant, a building, a man, a red
umbrella, a camel, a swimming pool, a university, etc.

2. We use ‘a’ and ‘an’ depending upon the sound with which a countable
noun begins. Noun may begin with a consonant sound or a vowel sound.

3. We use ‘an’ if the following word begins with a vowel sound although
they begin with a consonant. Example: an apple, an elephant, an hour, an
MBA, an MNC, an MLA, an MP, an umbrella, an Igloo, an octopus, an honest
girl, an ugly dress, an egg etc.
4. We use ‘a’ if the following word begins with a consonant
sound. Example: a table, a girl, a book, a teacher, a union, etc.

5. We usually use a/an before a singular countable noun when we introduce

a noun for the first time while speaking or writing.

6. Article ‘a’ is also used in phrases like have a headache, a bad cold, a
noise, to be in a hurry, a good option etc.

7. The plural of indefinite articles ‘a/an’ is ‘some’. Word ‘some’ is used to

denote unknown or any of the things.
Example:
a. There are some mangoes trees in his garden.
b. Pick up some mustard oil. (Means oil of any brand.)

Rules for using article ‘the’

‘The’ is called as the definite article as it points to a specific person or thing.
Here the speaker as well the writer is aware of the identity of the noun.
Example:
a. The sun is the ultimate source of energy.
b. I met the doctor who is a neurosurgeon.
c. The order for laptops was sent yesterday.

1. We use ‘the’ before a noun when we talk about a particular member of

a group (common noun). Example: The minister was invited for
inauguration function of the mall.

2. Article ‘the’ is also used when noun is unique and one of its
kind. Example: the morning star, the saturn, the earth, the moon, the sun,
the sky, the stars, the heaven, the hell etc.

3. Article ‘the’ is used on its subsequent reference after it has already been
introduced or used while writing or speaking. Example: I saw a boy and a
girl playing along the beach. The boy was making a castle using sand. In
this sentence, both the words ‘boy’ and ‘girl’ are countable nouns and hence
the words are preceded by ‘a’ when used for the first time. But the same
word is preceded by ‘the’ when repeated in the same context.

4. Definite article ‘the’ is also used before superlative

adjectives. Example: the tallest tree, the most beautiful house, the longest
rope, the least harmful medicine, the best option etc.
Sample Sentence
a. This is the smallest umbrella I have ever seen.
b. Our kitchen garden is the biggest in our neighborhood.
c. This is the best alternative among others.
d. She is the most beautiful girl in our locality.

5. Use ‘the’ to represent the entire class or group of people, animals or

things.
Example:
a. The cat is as nice as dog.
b. The toddler is naughty by nature.

6. Before the names of (a) sacred books, (b) newspapers, (c) rivers, (d) well known buildings,
(e) mountain ranges, (f) seas, oceans, (g) islands etc.
Example:
a. The Gita, the Bible, the Guru Granth Sahib, the Quran.
b. The Times of India, The Indian Express, The Hindustan Times, The
New York Times, The Tribune, The Indian Express etc.
c. The Ganga, the Nile, the Yamuna, the Indus, the Narmada etc.
d. The Himalayas, the Andes, the Western Ghats, the Nilgiris, the Alps
etc.
e. The Indian Ocean, the Antarctic Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific
Ocean, the Arctic Ocean.

7. Write ‘the’ before the names of communities. Example: the Hindus, the
Muslims, the Cholas, the Christians, the Sikhs, the English, the Aryans.

8. Use article ‘the’ in phrases like in the winter, in the summer, in the
autumn, in the morning, in the evening, in the afternoon, in the night and
linkers like on the other hand, to speak the reality, to tell you the fact etc.
9. We use ‘the’ following a class. Example: the rich, the poor, the middle
class, the elite, the schedule caste etc.

10. Use ‘the’ when ‘of’ is a part of the school’s or universities

name. Example: the Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts of India, the
University of Calcutta etc.

11. Use article ‘the’ to refer a part from a large group.

Example:
a. One of the girls was absent.
b. Some of the stolen jewelry was recovered.

12. Avoid using ‘the’ unless the name of the country refers to a group or
has the word “of” within the name. Example: United States of America.

13. Use the before ordinal numbers such as “first,” “second,” “third”,
“fourth” etc.

Omission of the Article

1. Do not use articles before cities and streets. Example: His clinic is in
Ghaziabad.

2. When we refer to a common noun that stands for something in the widest
of sense.
Example:
a. He is only man. (It means that he cannot be God.)
b. What kind of answer is it?

3. Skip article in case of material noun.

Example:
a. Platinum is very precious.
b. Don’t waste water.

4. Skip article while referring to language.

Example:
 a. Hindi is my mother tongue.
b. I scored good grade in English in my first term exam.

5. Articles are not required while referring the name of a relation like
brother, sister, mother, father, husband, God.
Example:
a. My brother is coming tonight.
b. Mother is already home.

6. Article is not used before proper nouns like Qutub Minar, Rajiv, Delhi
except in few cases.
Example:
a. He is the Shakespeare of our city.
b. He is the Newton of this era.

7. Do not use any article before temple, church, school, hospital, bed,
market, court, etc. which are visited for the primary purpose for which they
have been created.
Example:
a. She is going to market.(to shop)
b. She is going to the market. (for some other purpose)

Practice Page 1
Fill in the blanks with appropriate articles.

a. She is __________ doctor.

b. Rita is _________ honest girl.

c. ______ University of Calcutta is holding _____ seminar today.

d. He is ________ MBA from IIM- Ahmedabad.

e. My grandfather presents me ____ brand new car on my birthday.

f. Shia lives in _________ big bungalow in Delhi.

g. It is ________ interesting topic for today’s discussion.

h. Eating ________ plate of salad before lunch is her habit.

i. Give me __________ pencil and _________ pen.

j. Don’t make _________ noise.

k. I will not come for ___________ lunch today.

l. They started their meeting late in __________ night.

m. Where did you buy _________ painting?

n. January is ________ first month of _______ year.

o. Yesterday was _________ hottest day.

Practice Page 2
Fill in the blanks with appropriate articles.

a. I am _________ PhD student.

b. He goes __________ church daily in the morning.

c. Rima is ________ best dancer in our school.

d. ____ Sellout has won _______ 2016 Man Booker Prize for Fiction.

e. I am fond of rock ________ music.

f. I met _____ shabby old man in ______ shop.

g. She will prepare dinner in ______ hour.

h. ______ sun sets in _______ west.

i. I live in _______ United State of America.

j. Our teacher told us ____ story.

k. Mira will go to _________ mall tomorrow.

l. Will you watch ______ movie with me?

m. I saw ______ white tiger at _______ zoo.

n. Can you send ______ electrician?

o. We saw _____ great play today.

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Practice Page 3
Underline the articles in the following sentences.

a. He will announce the winner of the game.

b. I travel to new city every year.

c. We went to the science lab today.

d. Did see the match?

e. I eat an apple every morning.

f. That was an interesting idea.

g. He brought the new car today.

h. I ate a sandwich for breakfast.

i. We went to cinema hall today.

j. We bought an expensive bungalow.

k. We are going to the trade fare tomorrow.

l. The shark grabs an octopus in its mouth.

m. My mom is going to the store.

n. There was a squirrel in my backyard.

o. What an awful accident!

Last modified: Thursday, 22 November 2018, 8:05 PM

Answers
Answers Fill in the blanks with appropriate articles.

a. She is a doctor.

b. Rita is an honest girl.

c. The University of Calcutta is holding a seminar today.

d. He is an MBA from IIM- Ahmedabad.

e. My grandfather presents me a brand new car on my birthday.

f. Shia lives in a big bungalow in Delhi.

g. It is an interesting topic for today’s discussion.

h. Eating a plate of salad before lunch is her habit.

i. Give me a pencil and a pen.

j. Don’t make a noise.

k. I will not come for the lunch today.

l. They started their meeting late in the night.

m. Where did you buy the painting?

n. January is the first month of the year.

o. Yesterday was the hottest day.

Practise 2

a. I am a PhD student.

b. He goes to church daily in the morning.

c. Rima is the best dancer in our school.

d. The Sellout has won the 2016 Man Booker Prize for Fiction.

e. I am fond of rock music. (no article)

f. I met a shabby old man in the shop.

g. She will prepare dinner in an hour.

h. The sun sets in the west.

i. I live in the United State of America.

j. Our teacher told us a story.

k. Mira will go to the mall tomorrow.

l. Will you watch the movie with me?

m. I saw a white tiger at the zoo.

n. Can you send the electrician?

o. We saw a great play today.