ARTICLES
A, An, The are called Articles.
★An article is a determiner that signals the coming of a noun.
★ Articles are a type of adjective. They are always used with a noun.
👉Articles are divided into two parts—
1. Indefinite Articles
‘A’ and ‘An’ are called Indefinite Articles.
‘A’ and ‘An’ are not used to refer to any particular person, place or thing.
A and An are the abbreviated form of the adjective ‘one’. They are used with singular countable nouns to denote ‘one’.
Did you know?
The use of A and An depends on the vowel and consonant sound, not on the opening letter.
2. Definite Article
‘The’ is called the definite article because it refers to a definite or particular person, place or thing.
‘The’ is the abbreviated form of the adjectives this, that, these, and those.
Remember:
‘The’ can be used with both singular and plural nouns and also with uncountable nouns.
:Uses of ‘A’ :
Rule 1 : ‘A’ is generally used before singular nouns beginning with a consonant.
Examples : a book, a boy, a car.
Rule 2: We use ‘a’ before singular nouns beginning with a vowel sounding as ‘yu’.
Examples : a university, a useful animal, a European, a unit, a ewe, a uniform.
Note 👇
When we pronounce the words opening sound is that of a consonant-
yu-seful, yu-niform, yu-niversity.
Rule 3: ‘A’ is used to mean one thing or one person (in the sense of any) which is countable.
Examples : a bird, a picture, a tree.
Rule 4: We use ‘a’ before the word beginning with ‘o’ but sounds ‘wa’.
Examples : a one-ruppe coin, a one-eyed deer.
Rule 5: ‘a’ is used to show a kind, class or species.
Example : A tiger is the largest of all cats.
Rule 6: Sometimes, we used ‘a’ to make common noun of a proper noun.
Example : A Daniel (i.e. a very wise judgement) come to judgement.
Rule 7: We use ‘a’ when we imply that a person, whose name we use with a tittle, is unknown to us.
Example : A Mr. Das has applied for the post.
Rule 8: We put ‘a’ in exclamation before nouns.
Examples: What a pity sight! What a lovely flower!
Rule 9: In expressions of speed, price and ratio ‘a’ is used.
Example : Potatoes cost Rs. 30 a kilo. She earns Rs. 20,000 a month.
:Uses of ‘An’:
Rule 1: We use ‘an’ before singular nouns beginning with a vowel.
Examples : an orange, an ox, an apple.
Rule 2: We use ‘an’ before countable noun beginning with silent ‘h’.
Example: an hour, an honest man, an honourable person.
Note :👇
When we pronounce these words — hour, honest, honourable — the opening sound is that of a vowel. It is the opening sound — not the opening letter — that matters.
Rule 3: ‘An’ is used before a consonant having a vowel sound.
Examples : an M.A, an S.D.O, an MLA.
Rule 4: An is used in certain exclamatory sentences beginning with ‘What’ before singular countable nouns.
Example: What an awful sight!
: Uses of ‘The’ :
Rule 1: We use ‘the’ before person or things mentioned for the second time.
Example – I have a shirt but the shirt is old.
Rule 2: before particular persons or things.
Example – The man you meet yesterday is my father.
Rule 3: before the names of rivers, seas, mountain ranges, ships, gulfs, scriptures, newspapers, trains, aeroplanes, etc.
Examples – the Ganga, the Himalayas, the Titanic, the Statesman, the Rajdhani express, the Bible
Rule 4: before singular nouns referring to things which are there only one in number.
Examples – the Sun, the Earth.
Rule 5: before the names of nations, communities or political parties.
Examples – the Indians, the Hindus, the Congress.
Rule 6: ‘The’ is put before the names of —(i) historical events and (ii) musical instruments.
Examples — The 15th August, the piano, the First World War.
Rule 7: We put ‘the’ before adjective in superlative degree.
Examples — Rohit is the best boy in the class.
Sachin Tendulkar is one of the best batsman in the world.
Rule 8: When we want to point a man in the top position, ‘the’ can be used.
Examples — the Headmaster, the Chief Inspector.
Rule 9: ‘The’ is used to indicate a class.
Examples — the cow, the tiger, the bird.
ZERO ARTICLE/ NO ARTICLE
Articles are not used before:
[I] the name of uncountable nouns:
Examples — we drink water.
Sand is used in making glass.
Milk is white.
[II] before the name of a meal :
Examples — Payel had dinner at eight o’clock.
To Remember:
The article is used when it is a special meal given to celebrate something or in someone’s honour.
Examples —
I was invited to dinner at their house. ( In the ordinary way)
I was invited to a dinner to celebrate his daughter’s birthday. ( Special dinner)
[III] before ‘most’ when it means the majority of:
Example — Most birds can fly.
[IV] the name of language:
Example — I like to speak Bengali.
To Remember :
The definite article (the) is used if the word for the language is used as an adjective.
Example — I am learning to speak the Italian language.
[V] the names of games:
Example — I like to play football.
[VI] the names of (i) day (ii) month (iii) season (iv) disease:
Examples —
He came on Tuesday.
Rains naturally set in July.
Winter is my favourite season.
He is suffering from Denge.
[VII] father, mother and cook:
Examples —
Mother cares me.
Father rebuke me.
Cook is absent today.
[VIII] in expression of names of travel the article is dropped after ‘by’ preposition:
Example — He left Kolkata by train.
Sumita came by bus.
[IX] No Article is used with the following prepositional phrases — at home, at dinner, in hand, in trouble, at sunrise, by day, by night, at sunset, at daybreak, by air, in debt, o earth, on foot.
[X] No Article is used if the primary purpose is to go to these places — school, college, university, office, hospital, nursing home, mosque, temple.
Examples —
Mother is going to bed.
Payel is in college.
To Remember:
An article is used, if they are considered as places —
The store is very beautifully decorated.
I went to the hospital to see my ailing grandfather.
Thank You..
God bless you all..
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