Usage of Articles

1. The Articles
Articles play a very important role is ensuring that we speak and write correct English. Wrong
use of articles can sometimes lead to a change in the meaning of the word altogether. Use of
some articles depends strictly on the sound produced by them. They are determiners.
Family of the Articles:
The family of articles has only three members. They are a, an and the. However, they fall under
two groups:
a)Definite Article : A and an are known as definite articles
b) Indefinite Article : The is known as definite article whereas a and an are known as indefinite
articles.
Note: a and an are used with countable nouns. Countable nouns are those nouns that can be
counted.
The is the weaker form of that it is used to assign a definite position or place to a thing or a
person.
Use of the definite article The:
The is used before
1. The superlative degree.
2. The names of states or countries and the like having a descriptive name.
3. The names of the scriptures.
4. Name of newspapers.
5. Names of rivers, canals, seas, oceans, bays, gulfs, groups of islands etc.
6. The names of famous buildings.
7. The names of nationals, sects and communities.
8. Proper nouns used as common nouns:
9. Famous historical events.
10. The directions.
11. Names of unique things.
12. Names of the parts of the body in place of possessive adjectives.
13. Titles.
14. Comparative degree of adjective when there is a sense of proportion
15. Adjectives
Explanation:
1. The superlative degree.
He is the ablest man of the town.

2. She is the best student of the class.
(ablest and best are superlative degrees)
2. The names of states or countries and the like having a descriptive name having adjectives
before a common noun:
(i) He lives in the United Kingdom.
Reason: a. United Kingdom is a descriptive name , having an adjective – United with a
common noun Kingdom. (But the Chandigarh and the Britain are wrong because neither
Chandigarh nor Britain is a descriptive name)
3. The names of the scriptures:
The Gita a holy book. (Gita is a scripture)
4. Name of newspapers:
The Tribune is published from Chandigarh
5. Names of rivers, canals, seas, oceans, bays, gulfs, groups of islands etc.:
The Pacific Ocean is the largest ocean on the Earth.
The Brahamputra is the longest river of India.
The Persian Gulf is a narrow gulf.
6. The names of famous buildings:
The Taj is one of the best buildings in India.
7. The names of nationals, sects and communities:
(i) The English defeated the Germans in the last World War.
(ii) The rich should help the poor.
8. Proper nouns used as common nouns:
(i) Kalidas is the Shakespeare of India.
9. Famous historical events.
The Industrial Revolution changed the face of England.
10. The directions:
The sun sets in the west.
11. Names of unique things: the sun, the moon, the earth etc.
The sun and the moon are lamps of heavens.
12. Names of the parts of the body in place of possessive adjectives.
(i) Make him sit inside the car.
(ii) He hit me on the head.
13. Titles.

3. Ashoka, the Great was an Indian emperor of the Mauryan Dynasty.
14. Comparative degree of adjective when there is a sense of proportion:
The deeper the well, the cooler the water.
The 2nd form of adjective is called the comparative degree of adjective
15. Adjectives of comparative degree when selection is meant.
She is the more beautiful of the two sisters.
Note-
Third form of the Adjective is called the superlative degree.
A holy book is called a scripture
Do not use The
1. Before languages:
The English is an international language. (Incorrect)
English is an international language. (Correct)
2. Before Abstract Nouns:
The honesty is the best policy. (Incorrect)
Honesty is the best policy. (Correct)
Honest, Beauty, Truth, Love etc are abstract nouns.
If the abstract noun is particularized, i.e. the name of some person or place is attached to it, i.e.
the name of some person or place is attached to it, the will be used.
For example: The honesty shown by him was highly praised.
3. Before the names of metals.
The gold is precious metal. (Incorrect)
Gold is the precious metal. (Correct)
If the metal is particularized, the is used
For Example: The gold of India is exported to the other countries.
4. Before the name of food grains:
The rice is the favourite food of the Bengalis. (Incorrect)

4. Rice is the favourite food of the Bengalis. (Correct)
But if the name of the food grains is attached with the But if the name of the food grain is
attached with the name of a place or person, the is used.
For Example: The rice of India is exported to other countries.
5. Before the name of meals:
He enjoyed the lunch with his friends. (Incorrect)
He enjoyed lunch with his friends. (Correct)
When the meal is a particular one, we use the.
For Example: The dinner will be held at the Ashoka Hotel.
6. Before the names of games.
The hockey is a popular game. (Incorrect)
Hockey is a popular game. (Correct)
7. Before Collective nouns used in general terms:
The Parliament has passed the bill. (Incorrect)
Parliament has passed the bill. (Correct)
Mankind, Parliament, Cattle, Society, etc. are collective nouns.
(b) USE OF INDEFINITE ARTICLES A AND AN
A is used before:
1. All singular common nouns beginning with a consonant:
(i) A boy sings a song.
(ii) A black and a white cow were grazing in the field.
2. If a word begins with a vowel but gives the sound of a consonant, a should be use
before it:

5. (i) He was helped in his work by a European.
(ii) He is a one-eyed man.
(iii) It is a useful work.
An is used as follows
1. All singular common nouns beginning with a vowel (a, e, i, o, u):
(i) He is an artist.
(ii) He is an old man.
(iii) I intend to buy an umbrella.
2. If a word starts with a consonant but gives the sound of a vowel, an should be used before it:
(i) Brutus is an honorable man.
(ii) He is an honor to his profession
(iii) He is an L.L.B.
(iv) He is an M.A.
(v) You will reach there in an hour
Omission of the Article
There are some of the exampleswherearticle Thewill notbe used.
(1) Before abstractnounsand namesof substance (i.e.uncountable nouns) usedinageneral sense.
For eg.
a) In,IndiaParliamentissupreme.
b) Gold isa preciousmetal.
c) Wisdomisgiftof heaven.
d) Virtue isitsownreward.
e) Summerishot season.
Note:- Howeverarticle The can be usedwithabstract nounand namesof substance ina particular
(especiallywhenqualifiedbyanadjective oradjectivalphrase orclause).eg.
a) Wouldyoupass me the sugar? (referringtothe sugaron table)

6. b) The Wisdomof Solomonisgreat.
c) I can't forgetthe kindnesswithwhichhe treatedme.
(2) We don’tuse article The before plural countablenounsusedinageneral sense
a) Childrenlikechocolates.
b) Computersare usedin manyoffices.
A ready Reckoner on the correct use of Article
Incorrect Correct
He is a M.A. He is an M.A.
He is a L.L.B. He is an L.L.B.
He is a M.P. He is an M.P.
Mohan is a M.B.B.S. Mohan is an M.B.B.S.
Dasgupta is a historian. Dasgupta is an historian.
She is a hostler. She is an hostler.
Sachin is a heir to vast property. Sachin is an heir to a vast
property.
A hour is made of sixty minutes. An hour is made of sixty
minutes.
He is an one-eyed man. He is a one eyed man.
Please give me an one –rupee note. Please give me a one rupee
note.
He is an European. He is a Europian
It is an useful book. It is a useful book.
An university is a seat of learning. A university is a open seat
of learning.
Ganga is a holy river. The Ganga is holy river.
He is ablest man of the town. He is the ablest man of the
town.
He is a knave. He is a knave.
The gold is precious metal. Gold is a precious metal.

7. Gold of South Africa is exported to many countries. The Gold of South Africa
is exported to many
countries.
The Balmiki’s Ramayana is worth reading. Balmiki’s Ramayan is
worth reading
Hindustan Times gives the latest news. The Hindustan Times
gives the latest news.
Shakespeare is Kalidas of India. Shakespeare is the
Kalidas of England.
The man is mortal. Man is mortal.
Dog is a faithful animal. The dog is a faithful
animal.
Higher you go, cooler it is. The higher you go, the
cooler it is.
Burmese are Buddhists. The Burmese are
Buddhists.
The wheat is a wholesome meal. Wheat is the
wholesome meat.
Wheat of the Punjab is liked by all. The wheat of the
Punjab is liked by all.
The society does not permit this. Society does not
permit this.
Lunch was held at Kanishka hotel. The lunch was held at
Kanishka hotel.
The English is rich language. English is a rich
language.
Wisdom of Gandhi was famous. The wisdom of Gandhi
was famous.

8. The summer is hot season. Summer is hot season.
Summer of last year was very hot. The summer of last
year was very hot.
I enjoyed the lunch with my friends. I enjoyed lunch with
my friends.
In India, the Parliament is supreme. In India Parliament is
supreme.
Vedas are revealed books. The Vedas are
revealed books.
Horses of Arabia are in great demand. The horses of Arabia
are in great demand.
Reference
1. High School English Grammar and Composition by Wren & Martin
2. The Blue book of Grammar & Vocab by Betty Schrampfer Ajar
3. English Grammar.com