Article

1.1 ARTICLES 

 'A' or 'an' and 'the' are the articles in English language. They are used before nouns or noun phrases to determine whether the noun is specific or non-specific.

a)      Indefinite Articles - a and an

'A' and 'an' are called Indefinite articles because they are used before the indefinite or general noun.

Example: I will have a fruit.

In this example, 'fruit' refers to 'any fruit' and not a particular fruit. Choice between A/An

The choice between 'a' and 'an' is decided by the beginning vowel or consonant sound of the word that follows the article.

'a' is used before a word beginning with a consonant sound.

Examples: a girl, a guitarist, a man, a cub, a university, a union, a European country, a uniform, a useful thing, a one-rupee note, a one-eyed man.

An: 'An' is used before a word beginning with a vowel sound.

Examples: an enemy, an ink-pad, an orange, an umbrella, an hour, an honest, an heir, an M.A., an MLA etc.

S.No.   Uses		Examples
1	'A' or 'an' are used before a noun that is being mentioned for the first time or that is not known to the receiver.	a)    Suddenly we heard a loud noise. b)    We have a problem.
2	To refer to a general type of a person or thing and not a specific one.	a)    Would you like to have a grilled sandwich? b)    A child needs love and affection.
3	Before singular countable nouns.	a)    We saw a car. b)    Here is a dog.
4	To express numerical sense of one or to mean each when stating prices, speed or rates.	a)    The pears cost Rs. 160/- a dozen. b)    We can complete the task within a week.
5	In the sense of any or to show any single individual as the representative.	a)    A student should obey the teachers. b)   Cat is a cute animal.
6	To express vague sense of a certain or before someone's name when you do not know who the person is.	a)    I heard of a Robert. b)    One day I met a musician.
7	To mention how much of something there is.	a)    There are a lot of workers in the factory. b)    He worked with us for a few months.
8	Before '-ing' form of verbs that is used as a noun referring to an action, event or sound.	a)    He celebrated with a winning heart. b)    We all witnessed a fearing accident.
9	To change a proper noun into a common noun.	a)    You are a Chanakya. b)    He is a Shakespeare of this era.
10	Before uncountable nouns qualified by an adjective.	a)    A teacher should possess a good knowledge of the subject. b)    During rainy season, we come across a beautiful scene everywhere.

b)      Definite Article -The

'The' is called definite article as it is used to indicate someone or something specific.

S.No.	Uses	Example
1	'The' is used before a singular countable nouns, plural countable nouns and uncountable nouns.	a)     The book is not available in the market. b)   The water of this river is very clear and sweet. c)     I have read all the books you gifted me.
2	To talk about a particular thing or person   that  has   been   already mentioned.	a)   I ate a cake and an ice cream. The cake was tasty and delicious. b)    I read a book. The book is interesting.
3	Before noun referring to actions and   changes   when   they   are followed by 'of'.	a)     The growth of the steel industry is fast. b)   The   policies   of the   government  are changing now.
4	Before nouns which are unique of their kind in the world such as earth, sky, sun, moon, ocean etc.	a)   The earth moves round the sun. b)  The sea and the sky meet each other at the horizon.
5	Before nouns which have superlative adjectives before them.	a)     Akbar was the greatest Mughal emperor. b)  'Vision for 2020' is one of the best books. by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
6	Before an Adverb when used for comparatives	a) The higher you climb the colder it gets.
7	Before nouns which represent a class of one kind.	a)     The poor always suffer. b)  We should always help the weak and the helpless.
8	Before proper noun when it is used for comparison with a similar noun.	a)     Kashmir is the Switzerland of India. b)    Vijay is the Ramanujan of recent era.
9	Before abstract nouns or material nouns when they are used in a particular sense.	a)   The beauty of the Taj Mahal has not yet faded. b)    The honesty shown by you is remarkable. c)     The wheat of Punjab is of the best quality.
10	Before proper nouns such as mountain ranges, rivers, oceans, seas, gulfs, canals, deserts, few names of countries.	The Himalayan, the Alps, the Ganges, the Nile, the Pacific, the Atlantic, the Persian Gulf, the Bay of Bengal, the Arabic Sea, the U.S.A., the U.S.S.R., the U.K.
11	Used to say which type of musical instrument someone plays	a)     Fiona is learning the flute. b)    He plays the violin.
12	Before names of certain books	the Ramayana, the Quran.
13	Before names of newspapers	the Hindustan Times, the Times of India.
14	Before .famous buildings	the Taj Mahal, the Red Fort.
15	Before nationalities	the English, the French, the Indian.

c)	Omission of the Articles
S.No.	Omission	Examples
1	Articles are not used with uncountable, abstract and material nouns when they are used in a general sense.	a)   Rice is grown in some regions of Maharashtra. b)    Honesty is the best policy. c)    Platinum is costlier than gold.
2	With plural countable nouns used in a general sense.	a)    Children are innocent. b)    Books are our best friends. c)    People are habituated to smart phones.
3	With noun phrases that contain other determiners.	a)    My house is located at Shivajinagar. b)    I recently read America's history. c)    I looked at this cat with curiosity.
4	Before languages.	a)  We speak English for effective global communication. b)  Marathi is spoken in some parts of Karnataka also.
5	Before proper nouns (except those referred to earlier)	a)    We had a meeting in Nagpur. b)   Raman likes to watch movies. c)    Asia is the largest continent.
6	Before the names of relations	a)    Father has returned from journey. b)    We went to hometown to see Grandmother.

1.1 ARTICLES

1.1 Solved Exercises

Q. Complete the following sentences by using the suitable articles 'a,' or 'an' and 'the':

1.           Ram goes to the temple every day.

2.          I bought a new mobile.

3.          Goa is a paradise for all hippies.

4.          (No article) man is the highest form of creation.

5.          Please open the window.

6.          Gramophone is the devise for recording and reproducing sound and music.

7.          An inspector of the prison was hated by the prisoners.

8.          Suresh is   a good painter.

9.          Most of the people in this village are honest.

10.        What a beautiful person she is!

11.        Arjun returned after an hour.

12.        Which is the longest river in India?

13.        An umbrella is a useful thing during rainy season.

14.        Not everyone gets an opportunity to become famous.

15.        Life is like a concert to me.

16.        The Science of life is not as complicated as rocket science.

17.        My friend is an M.A. in Sanskrit.

18.        The time flies as fast as an eagle.

19.        Sanskrit is a difficult language.

20.        He is an efficient employee.