This document provides rules for using articles (a, an, the) in English sentences. It discusses when to use articles with countable nouns, singular vs. plural nouns, proper nouns, uncountable nouns, names of countries, languages, meals, years, days, and possessives. Examples are given for each rule and practice exercises provide opportunities to apply the rules by identifying whether sentences are true or false and correcting incorrect ones. Key aspects covered include using articles before adjectives when a countable noun follows, and not using articles in certain cases like with uncountable nouns, names, or possessives.

1. Articles
Course – B.Tech
Subject – English Communication and Life Skills
Unit - 1

2. RULE: 1
• If articles are used before an adjective then it should
have a countable noun after it; like ‘A bad boy’
• Here, bad is an adjective and boy is a countable noun.
• We cannot say or write ‘This is a bad’ because this
sentence does not have a countable noun after the
adjective, a bad ____?
• In the same way, He is a foolish boy.
• We cannot say or write ‘He is a foolish’ because this
sentence does not have a countable noun after the
adjective, a foolish ____?

3. Practice Exercise:
• Now write whether the below given sentences are True OR
False; If False then write the correct answer:
a) She is a clever.
b) This is a new flowerpot.
c) Ram’s pen is a blue.
d) That is a long answer.
e) She is a slim.

4. RULE: 2
• Articles are also used to show singular meaning –
• Like for example – we say ‘I have a Camera’ this means I have
one Camera.
• Other examples: -
• He has a book.
• She has a maid servant.
• She has an egg.
• They have an umbrella.

5. • When we are talking in Plural Sense then we
cannot use this singular sense of articles. Like
for example –
– These are a book.
– Those are a table.
• The rule 1 also applies with rule 2 –
Take for example –
• This is a new. (Wrong)
• This is a new shirt. (Correct)

6. Practice Exercise:
• Now write whether the below given sentences are True OR
False; If False then write the correct answer:
a) I have a hat.
b) You have a boxes?
c) This is a pens.
d) These are a men.
e) She likes an ear rings.

7. RULE: 3
• Articles are not used with uncountable
nouns/material nouns or before verbs when we
make general statements. Like for example –
• I love coffee. (not... a coffee or the coffee)
• Milk is rich in nutrients. (not The milk or a milk)
• We can't do without water. (not The water or a
water)
• She likes reading books. (not...the reading books
or a reading books)

8. Practice Exercise:
• Now write whether the below given
sentences are True OR False; If False then
write the correct answer:
a) She is having a tea.
b) I like to have a coffee.
c) This is a cup of coffee.
d) A wood is very useful.
e) He is a sleeping in his room.

9. RULE: 4
• We do not use articles with the names of countries/cities.
• Japan is a developed nation. (not The Japan)
• I have been to England. (not...to the England)
• India is a secular republic. (not The India)
• He has just returned from South Africa. (not …the South Africa)
• But we use 'the' if the name of the country or organization
specifically states that it is a collection of states. (For example, The
United States, The United Arab Emirates, The United Nations etc.)
• He is leaving for the United States tomorrow.
• The United Nations is an international organization of countries
created to promote world peace and cooperation.

10. Practice Exercise:
• Now write whether the below given
sentences are True OR False; If False then
write the correct answer:
a) I love the India.
b) She is staying in a Japan.
c) The Shimla is beautiful.
d) I like a China.
e) Sri Lanka is a beautiful country.

11. RULE: 5
• We do not use articles with the names of
languages. Like for example -
• Hindi is the national language of India.
• It is not easy to learn French.
• English is spoken in many parts of the world.

12. Practice Exercise:
• Now write whether the below given
sentences are True OR False; If False then
write the correct answer:
a) I am learning the English.
b) I like to speak Hindi.
c) The Marathi is a regional language.
d) He can speak the Urdu.
e) He is trying to speak in a Punjabi.

13. RULE: 6
• We do not use articles with the names of
meals.
• We have lunch at midday. (not...the lunch)
• We have dinner in the evening. (not...the
dinner)
• Breakfast is the first meal of the day. (not...the
breakfast)

14. Practice Exercise:
• Now write whether the below given
sentences are True OR False; If False then
write the correct answer:
a) I am going to have a lunch.
b) She made a dinner.
c) I have a breakfast at 7 o clock.
d) I will make pizza in dinner.
e) She ate a breakfast very early today.

15. RULE: 7
• We do not use articles with proper nouns (the
names of people, places etc.)
• Alice is an architect. (not The Alice or a Alice)
• Mary is my friend. (not The Mary)
• Delhi is the capital of India.
• But we use 'the' with plural names.
• We are having dinner with the Smiths.
• The Sharma’s are very kind.

16. Practice Exercise:
• Now write whether the below given
sentences are True OR False; If False then
write the correct answer:
a) The Anjali is very lazy.
b) A Tom is my pet dog.
c) The Ahmedabad is the Manchester of India.
d) The Mr. Patel is a manager.
e) Jaipur is known as the pink city of India.

17. RULE: 8
• We do not use articles before years.
• India won freedom in 1947. (not...in the 1947)
• I was born in 1979.
• With possessives (pronouns) and
demonstratives (this, these, that, those, such)
• We do not use articles before possessives (my,
your, their etc.) and demonstratives (this, that,
these, those).
• This is my book. (not This is a my book.)
• I like this car. (not I like the this car.)

18. • With days
• Articles are not used to talk about the coming or last
day/month.
• See you on Friday. (=Coming Friday)
• We are leaving for the US next week. (not …the next week.)
• But we use articles with the names of days of the week and
months if we are talking about particular days or months.
• We met on a rainy Friday.
• It was a wet Monday in May.
• She died on the Thursday after the accident.

19. Practice Exercise:
• Now write whether the below given sentences
are True OR False; If False then write the correct
answer:
a) We celebrate Army Day on a 15th January.
b) I went to Pune in a 2008.
c) Ram gave me a his pencil.
d) Did you know a 19th August is National
Photography Day?
e) I gave him a that cake.

20. EXERCISE B
• Fill in the blanks with suitable articles:
– He looks as stupid as _____owl.
– I bought ____ horse, _____ ox and ____ buffalo.
– The guide knows _____way.
– Copper is _____useful metal.
– The children found _____egg in the nest.
– I have come without _____umbrella.
– Aladdin had _____wonderful lamp.
– He returned after _____hour.
– I first met him _____year ago.
– _____ apple fell from a tree.

21. EXERCISE C
• Fill in the blanks with suitable
articles/adjectives:
a) She has a ___ coat.
b) He likes to have ___ ice cream on Sundays.
c) Chandigarh is a ___ city.
d) Rita has an ___ shirt.
e) He has a ___ book.

22. Recourses/References
• Advanced English Grammar By Wren and Martine
• www.authorstream.com/Presentation/daisygraceline-1383399-articles-
ppt/
• www.rafamoreno.com/Materiales/Articles.ppt
• www.slideshare.net/tarcin2009/a-anthe-ppt