The document discusses the use of articles 'a/an' and 'the' in the English language. It explains that 'a/an' are indefinite articles and 'the' is the definite article. 'A/an' is used before singular countable nouns to refer to unspecified things, while 'the' is used to refer to specific or unique things. The choice between 'a' and 'an' depends on whether the next word begins with a vowel sound. The definite article 'the' is used in several other contexts such as referring to something already mentioned. The document also discusses situations where articles are omitted before nouns.

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Use of Articles
‘a/an’ and ‘the’
Gokhale Education Society’s
S.M.R.K. B.K. A.K Mahila Mahavidyalaya, Nasik-5.
Department of English
CC English (LL)
F.Y.B.Com. Sem I
Unit 2
Ms.Geetanjali Gitay
Asst. Professor
Dept. of English

2. Introduction
• The adjectives ‘a’ or ‘an’ and ‘ the’ are called Articles. They are actually
Demonstrative Adjectives. They modify nouns.
• There are two articles ‘a/an’ and ‘the’
Indefinite Article
‘A’ or ‘an’ are called Indefinite Article , because it usually leaves indefinite the
person or thing spoken of, as a doctor i.e. any doctor. a car i.e. any car.
Definite Article
The is called Definite Article , because it normally points out some particular
Person or thing; e.g.
He saw the doctor. Meaning, one particular doctor.
•The indefinite article is used before singular countable nouns.
e.g. a book, an orange, a girl.
•The definite article is used before singular countable nouns, plural countable
nouns and uncountable nouns.
e.g. the book, the books ,the milk.

3. ‘A’ or an’
•The choice between ‘a’ and ‘an’ is determined by the sound.
•Before the word beginning with a vowel sound (a,i,e,o,u), ‘an’ is used.
e.g. an apple, an inkpad, an elephant, an orange, an umbrella.
• ‘An’ is also used before words that begin with the alphabet ‘h’ but where it is
silent. e.g. an hour, an honest person, an heir etc.
•Before a word beginning with a consonant, ‘a’ is used.
e.g. a boy, a girl, a unicorn, a university, a mat etc.
• Even though words like ‘university’, ‘union’ etc. begin with consonant sound
and thus ‘ a’ is used before them.

4. Use of Definite Article
The Definite Article ‘the’ is used:
1. When we talk about a particular person or a thing or one already referred to.
e.g. The book you want is out of print. (Which book? The one you want.)
Let’s go to the park. (=the park in town)
The girl cried. (= the girl already talked about)
2. When a singular noun is meant to represent a whole class.
e.g. The horse is a noble animal.
The cat loves comfort.
The rose is the sweetest of all flavours.
3.The two nouns, man and woman are used in a general sense with the article ‘a’
before them.
4. Before some proper names viz. place names.
-oceans and seas e.g. The Pacific, The Atlantic
-rivers e.g. The Ganga , The Nile
-canals e.g. The Suez Canal
5. Before the names of the countries which are made up of smaller states.
e.g. The United States of America, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands etc.

5. Use of Definite Article
5. Before the things that are unique and one of a kind.
e.g. the earth, the sky, the moon, the sea, the ocean.
6.With superlatives. e.g. The best, the tallest, the hardest.
7. With ordinals. e.g. The first person to come. The ninth page of the book.
8. Before musical instruments. e.g. the flute, the guitar etc.
9. Before a noun to give force of a superlative. e.g. The verb is the word in a sentence
10. As an adverb with comparatives.
e.g. The more the merrier.
The more they get, the more they want.

6. Use of Indefinite Article
• In the original numerical sense on ‘one’.
e.g. a book, a cat, Not a word was said. Twelve inches make a foot.
A word to the wise is sufficient.
• Before the names of the professions and occupations.
e.g. My sister is a teacher. She wants to be a doctor.
• In the sense of any, to single out a individual as the representative of the class.
e.g. A cow is a useful animal. A student should listen to his teacher.
• After the word ‘such’ when it is applied to things that are countable.
e.g. I have never known such a wet season.
Such a thing has never happened before.
• When we say ‘ Few’ or ‘Little’, it means negligible quantity, when we say ‘a few’
or ‘ a little’ it means a less quantity.

7. Omission of the Article
Articles are omitted before:
1. Before names of substances or abstract nouns used in a general sense.
e.g. Sugar is bad for your teeth. Gold is a precious metal.
2. Before plural countable nouns used in a general sense.
e.g. Children like chocolates. Computers are used in many offices.
3. Before proper nouns i.e. names of people e.g. Neha, Ria , names of continents
countries, cities etc. Europe, India, Nagpur individual islands, lakes, hills etc.
4. Before names of meals. e.g. Dinner is ready, When did you have your lunch?
5. Before languages. e.g. We are studying English. I know Marathi.
6. Before school, college, church, bed, table, hospital, market, prison when
these places are visited or used for their primary purpose.
‘The’ is used with these words when we refer to them as a place or a building
rather than normal activity that goes on there.
e.g. The school is very near my home.
I went to the hospital to meet my sister.

8. Omission of the Article
7. Before names of relations, like father, mother, aunt, uncle etc.
8. Before predicative nouns denoting a unique position.
e.g. He was elected chairman of the board.
Mr. Banerji became the Principal of the college in 1995.
9. In certain phrases consisting of a preposition followed by its object. as.
at home, in hand, in debt, by night, at daybreak, at sunrise, at noon,
on demand, by water etc.

9. Thank you!
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