THE ARTICLES

THE ARTICLES: –

They are the words that are placed before a noun to classify the noun as a definite or infinite noun. Articles are mainly of two types but the in the third form of article is used before certain words or phrase.

1. Definite Article
2. Indefinite Article
3. No Article

1. DEFINITE ARTICLE: –

They are used when the subject or object is definite in nature like ‘the sun’, ‘the man who stole my wallet’ etc. or in cases we are referring to a geographical area, seas, oceans, rivers like the equator, the north pole, The English Channel, The Ganges etc.

Herein ‘the’ is used when we know that there is just one sun so the word’ the’ is used as we are definite about the subject we are talking about or in’ the man’ we know the particular person whom we are referring.

Examples: –

• I am planning a trip to the United States of America. (Plural name of country)
• Note: I case of plural country name we do not use ‘the’ e.g.: India is a beautiful country.
• The Sharmas had invited us for a cocktail party. (Plural name)
• Note: In case of a singular name we do not use ‘the ‘but in case of plural name we can use ‘ the’ like in ‘the sharams’ in case of singular name we say e.g.: Sudha had invited me for a cocktail party. 
• The Duke of Cambridge is second in line to succeed his grandmother.ag
• Note: In a title with a name we do not use ‘the’ e.g.: Prince William is second in line to succeed his grandmother Queen Elizabeth. But we can use ‘ the’ before a title if we do not affix a name behind it.
• The sun is a huge bell of gasses.  (Since sun is a definite and a particular thing).
• The world is concerned about global warming.  (geographical area)
• Note: In case of individual name of lake, river, mountain we do not use a definite article e.g.: Pangong lake is one of the cleanest lakes in India.
• Gertredu Ederle was the first women to cross the English Channel.  (Sea, river, ocean etc.)
• I have lost the keys (the particular thing/ things).

2. INDEFINITE ARTICLE: –

They are used when the subject or object is not definite or indefinite in nature like ‘ a pen’, ‘a strange incident’ etc. or when we talk about a person ‘s profession like ‘an engineer’, a doctor’ etc.

Here ‘ a pen’ indicates any pen which is not specific in nature, ‘ a strange incident’ refers one of stranger incident a person has come across, it can be any, so here again we are referring to a general incidence not any specified incident. In case of profession like an engineer or a doctor we refer to a general profession to which a particular person belongs to.

Indefinite articles are subdivided into categories ‘a’ and an. ‘A’ is used where the word starts with a sound of English consonants like a bat, a glass, it doesn’t mean that the word should spell with a consonant but only it should be a sound of a consonant like ‘a university’ because university starts with a sound of ‘y’. The article ‘an’ is use before the word that starts with a vowels sound like an apple, an orange, an egg. It simply means that it should be a vowel sound not necessarily a vowel like an honest man, in an hour. hear the word honest or hour start with a vowel sound ‘o’ so we write ‘ an’ before such words.

I am an Indian girl. (Vowel sound)

He is a boy.  (Consonant sound)

She is a university graduate.  (Consonant sound)

I am an honest girl.  (Vowel sound)

He is a teacher. (Consonant sound)

I am an entrepreneur.  (Vowel sound)

3. NO ARTICLES: –

No articles are also known as zero articles. When we use an uncountable noun in general, or anything in general we do not use article, in addition to this when we talk about sports, profession or when we name a country in singular sense we do not use an article.

Examples: –

• Tea is good for heart. (Here ‘tea’ cannot be written as ‘a tea’ because it is an uncountable noun.)
• Happiness is an important thing. (In starting general things we do not use articles)
•  I am fond of cricket (When we talk about sports we do not use articles)
• Law and medicine are considered noble profession. (When we talk about profession, we do not use articles but we can use article before a professional like: she is an engineer)

EXERCISE -1: –

Fill ‘a’, ‘an’ or nothing (-) in the space provided:

1. I am ___________ Candian citizen.
2. ____________ starts look beautiful at night. 
3. I am ___________ engineer.
4. I play __________ tennis for my state.
5. She is _____________ good orator.
6. __________ apple you gave me was rotten.
7. She waited for me _________ hour.
8. __________ Japan is known for its technology.
9. She is ____________ most beautiful girl in our town.
10. She is ____________ hard working girl.
11. He met with ___________ accident.
12. That boy is addicted to __________drugs.
13. She is __________ University graduate.
14. He is __________boy who was short listed for a trip to NASA.
15. She gifted me ___________ umbrella.
16. I bought______________ chocolate for her.
17. ___________honesty is appreciated only by honest people.
18. __________solar eclipse has many superstition connected with it.
19. I could hear sound of __________wind.
20. It was ____________useful gift.

EXERCISE -2: –

Fill ‘a’, ‘an’.

1. This is _________ nice book.
2. He is ___________ intelligent boy.
3. It was ____________ different experience.
4. Music is __________enjoyable thing.
5. Do you prefer _________apple over ________banana?
6. She has gone out for ________party.
7. He has __________ antique piano.
8. It was _________ incredible experience.
9. I want to visit ____________ museum.
10. He was paid ____________ honorarium for his services.
11. It was __________ delightful evening.
12. I am ___________ lawyer.
13. She needs ____________introduction.
14. She is ___________loyal friend.
15. I have ___________important meeting.
16. They are in __________ problem.
17. She is __________English honors students.
18. She is asking for _____________holiday for Diwali.
19. She got ____________uniform from school.
20. She is _____________humble girl.