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35 views

Articles

Uploaded by

hunter0100305
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Articles

 The words a or an and the are called Articles.They come


before nouns.
 There are two Articles - a (or an) and the.

A or An
 The choice between a and an is determined by sound.
Before a word beginning with a vowel sound an is used; as,
an enemy, an ink-pad, an orange, an umbrella, an hour, an
honest man, an heir.
 It will be noticed that the words hour, honest, heir begin
with a vowel sound, as the initial consonant h is not
pronounced.
 Before a word beginning with a consonant sound a is used;
as,
A boy, a reindeer, a woman, a yard, a horse, a hole, a
university, a union, a European, a unicorn, a useful article.
because these words (university, union, etc.) begin with a
consonant sound, that of yu.
 Similarly we say,
A one-rupee note, a one-eyed man.
because one begins with the consonant sound of w.
Use of the Definite Article
The Definite Article the is used-
(1) When we talk about a particular person or thing, or one
already referred to (that is, when it is clear from the context
which one we mean); as,
 The book you want is out of print. (Which book? The one
you want.)
 Let's go to the park. (= the park in this town)
 The girl cried, (the girl = the girl already talked about)
(2) When a singular noun is meant to represent a whole class;
as,
 The cow is a useful animal.
[Or we may say, "Cows are useful animals."]
 The horse is a noble animal.
 The cat loves comfort.
 The rose is the sweetest of all flowers.
 The banyan is a kind of fig tree.
[Do not say, "a kind of a fig tree". This is a common error.]
 The two nouns man and woman can be used in a general
sense without either article.
 Man is the only animal that uses fire.
 Woman is man's partner.
But in present-day English a man and a woman (or men and
women) are more usual.
 A woman is more sensitive than a man.
(3) Before some proper names:
(a) oceans and seas, e.g. the Pacific, the black Sea
(b) rivers, e.g. the Ganga, the Nile
(c) canals, e.g. the Suez Canal
(d) deserts, e.g. the Sahara
(e) groups of islands, e.g. the West Indies
(f) mountain-ranges, e.g. the Himalayas, the Alps
(g) a very few names of countries, which include words like
republic and kingdom (e.g. the Irish Republic, the United
Kingdom) also: the Ukraine, the Netherlands.
(4) Before the names of certain books; as,
The Quran, The Vedas, the Puranas, the Iliad, the Ramayana.
But we say-
Homer's Iliad, Valmiki's Ramayana.
(5) Before names of things unique of their kind; as,
The sun, the sky, the ocean, the sea, the earth.
Note-Sometimes the is placed before a Common noun to give it
the meaning of an Abstract noun; as,
 At last the warrior(the warlike or martial spirit) in him
was thoroughly aroused.
(6) Before a Proper noun when it is qualified by an adjective
or a defining adjectival clause; as,
 The great Caesar : the immortal Shakespeare.
 The Mr. Roy whom you met last night is my uncle.
(7) With Superlatives; as,
 The darkest cloud has a silver lining.
 This is the best book of elementary chemistry.
(8) With ordinals; as,
 He was the first man to arrive.
(9) Before musical instruments; as,
 He can play the flute.
(10) Before a noun (with emphasis) to give the force of a
Superlative; as,
 The Verb is the word (= the chief word) in a sentence.
(11) As an Adverb with Comparatives; as,
The more the merrier.
(= by how much more, by so much the merrier)
The more they get, the more they want.

Use of the Indefinite Article


The Indefinite Article is used-
(1) In its original numerical sense of one; as,
 Twelve inches make a foot.
 Not a word was said.
 A word to the wise is sufficient.
 A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
(2) In the vague sense of a certain; as,
 A Kabir (= a certain person named Kabir) is suspected by
the police.
 One evening a beggar came to my door.
(3) In the sense of any, to single out an individual as the
representative of a class; as,
 A pupil should obey his teacher.
 A cow is a useful animal.

Omission of the Article


The Article is omitted-
(1) Before names of substances and abstract nouns (i.e.
uncountable nouns) used in a general sense; as,
 Sugar is bad for your teeth.
 Gold is a precious metal.
 Wisdom is the gift of heaven.
 Honesty is the best policy.
 Virtue is its own reward.
(2) Before plural countable nouns used in a general sense; as,
 Children like chocolates.
 Computers are used in many offices.
Note that such nouns take the when used with a particular
meaning; as,
 Where are the children? (= our children)
(3) Before most proper nouns (except those referred to earlier),
namely, names of people
(e.g. Gopal, Rahim), names of continents, countries, cities, etc.
(e.g. Europe, Pakistan, Nagpur), names of individual mountains
(e.g. Mount Everest), individual islands, lakes, hills, etc.

(4) Before names of meals (used in a general sense); as,


 What time do you have lunch?
 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; as,
 We are studying English.
 They speak Punjabi at home.
(6) Before school, college, university, church, bed, hospital,
prison, when these places are visited or used for their primary
purpose; as,
 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 or object rather than to the normal
activity that goes on there; as,
 The school is very near my home.
 I met him at the church.
 The bed is broken.
 I went to the hospital to see my uncle.
(7) Before names of relations, like father, mother, aunt, uncle,
and also cook and nurse, meaning 'our cook', 'our nurse', as,
 Father has returned.
 Aunt wants you to see her.
 Cook has given notice.
Exercise 1.

Complete the following sentences by filling in a or an or the as


may be suitable:-
1. Copper is --- useful metal.
2. He is not --- honorable man.
3. --- able man has not always a distinguished look.
4. --- reindeer is a native of Norway.
5. Honest men speak --- truth.
6. Rustum is ---.
7. Do you see --- blue sky.
8. Varanasi is --- holy city.
9. Aladdin had --- wonderful lamp.
10. The world is --- happy place.
11. He returned after --- hour.
12. --- school will shortly close for the Eid holidays.
13. --- sun shines brightly.
14. I first met him --- year ago.
15. Yesterday --- European called at my office.
16. Sanskrit is --- difficult language.
17. --- Ganga is --- sacred river.
18. --- lion is --- king of beasts.
19. You are --- fool to say that.
20. French is --- easy language.
21. Who is --- girl sitting there?
22. Which is --- longest river in India?
23. Rama has come without --- umbrella.
24. Mumbai is --- very dear place to live in.
25. She is --- untidy girl.
26. The children found --- egg in the nest.
27. I bought horse, ox, and --- buffalo.
28. If you see him, give him --- message.
29. English is language of --- people of England.
30. The guide knows --- way.
31. Sri Lanka is --- island.
32. Let us discuss --- matter seriously.
33. John got --- best present.
34. Man, thou art --- animal.
35. China is one of --- most industrial countries in Asia.
36. He looks as stupid as --- owl.
37. He is --- honour to this profession.
Exercise 2
Insert Articles where necessary:-
1. While there is life there is hope.
2. Her knowledge of medicine had been acquired under aged
Jewess.
3. Sun rises in east.
4. The brave soldier lost arm in battle.
5. The doctor says it is hopeless case.
6. I like to live in open air.
7. Get pound of sugar from nearest grocer.
8. Set back clock; it is hour too fast.
9. The poor woman has no rupee.
10. You must take care.
11. Eskimos make houses of snow.
12. Where did you buy umbrella?
13. Have you never seen elephant?
14. Draw map of Pakistan.
15. Have you told him about accident?
16. Parveen Shakir was great poet.
17. How blue sky looks!
18. Who wishes to take walk with me?
19. What beautiful scene this is!
20. The musician was old Muslim.
21. The river was spanned by iron bridge.
22. Moon did not rise till after ten.

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