Articles
Adjectives ‘a, anand the’ are usually called Articles
‘a’ and ‘an’ are called indefinite articles.
‘the’ is called definite article.
The choice between ‘a’ and ‘an’ is determined by the sound.
Before a word beginning with a consonant sound ‘a’ is used.
‘an’ is used before the word beginning with vowel sound.
e.g. a university, a European, a unicorn, an M.A teacher
2.
USE OF THEDEFINITE ARTICLE
1. When we talk about a particular person, thing or one already referred to
e.g. The book you want is out of print.
Let’s go to the park.
2. When a singular noun is meant to represent the whole class.
e.g. The cow is a useful animal.
The rose is the sweetest of all flowers
The cat loves comfort.
The horse is a noble animal.
Men and women can be used in a general sense without either articles.
Man is the only animal that uses fire.
woman is man’s mate.
3.
a. Oceans andSeas e.g. The Pacific, The Atlantic, The black sea
b. Rivers e.g. The Nile, The Ganga, The
Chanab
c. Canals e.g. The Suez Canal, The Panama
Canal
d. Deserts and Peninsulas e.g. The Sahara, The Thar
e. Group of Islands e.g. The West Indies, The Bahamas,
The Maldives,
The Philippines, The Netherlands
f. Gulfs e.g. The Persian gulf, The Gulf of
Mexico
g. Bays e.g. The Bay of Bengal,
h. Straits e.g. The strait of Gibraltar, The strait
of Malacca
i. Mountain Ranges e.g. The Himalayas, The Karakoram Range
j. Few names of countries e.g. (republics and kingdoms) The Irish Republic,
5.
4. Before namesof Certain books
e.g. The Bible, The Quran, The Vedas, The Ramayan
5. Before names of Heavenly bodies (directly linked with earth)
e.g. The Earth revolves around the Sun but the Moon does not revolve around
Mars
6. Before a proper noun when it is qualified by an adjective
e.g. The great Ceaser, the immortal Shakespeare
6.
7. With Superlatives
e.g.The darkest cloud has a silver lining.
This is the best book of elementary chemistry.
8. With ordinals
e.g. He was the first man to arrive
the ninth chapter of the book is very interesting.
9. Before Musical Instruments
e.g. He can play the flute.
He likes to play the piano
8. With direction (region)
e.g. The north is cooler than the south.
7.
10. As anadverb with comparatives
Ali is taller than Akhram.
e.g. The more they get, the more they want.
The sooner you come, the better it is.
Ali is the taller of the two.
11. Before an adjective when the noun is understood
poor people = The poor = plural noun
e.g. The poor are always with us
The rich dominate the poor.
The powerful dominate the poor.
12. When idiomatically liken a proper name to another
e.g. He is the Shakespeare of the class.
8.
USE OF THEINDEFINITE ARTICLE
1. In its original numerical sense of one
e.g. Not a word was said.
A word to the wise is sufficient
2. In the vague sense of a certain
e.g. One evening, a bagger came to my door.
An Ali is suspected by the police.
3. In the sense of any to single out an individual as the representative of a
class
e.g. A pupil should obey his teacher
9.
OMISSION OF ARTICLES
1.Before names of substances and abstract nouns (uncountable nouns)
e.g. Sugar is bad for your teeth
Gold is a precious metal
Wisdom is the gift of heaven
The gold of Saudi Arabia is pure.
2. Before countable nouns used in general sense
e.g. Children like chocolates.
Computers are used in many offices
10.
3. Before mostproper nouns.
a. Names of people e.g. Ali, Ahmad
b. Name of continents e.g. Asia, Africa, America
c. Name of countries e.g. Pakistan, India
d. Name of cities e.g. Islamabad, Faisalabad, New
York
e. Names of lakes e.g. Lake Superior, Lake Victoria
f. Individual Mountains e.g. Mount Everest
g. Individual Islands e.g. Liberty Island
h. Names of hills e.g. Cypress hills, Malabar Hills
11.
4. Before namesof meals
e.g. What time do you have lunch?
Dinner is ready.
5. Before languages
e.g. We are studying English.
They speak Punjabi at home.
6. Before school, college, church, bed, table, hospital, market, prison
(when these places are visited or used for primary purpose)
e.g. I learnt French at school.
They go to church on Sunday.
He stays in bed till nine
12.
7. Before namesof relations like father, mother, aunt, uncle
e.g. Father has returned
Aunt wants you to see her.
8. Before predicate nouns denoting a unique position
e.g. He was elected chairman of the board.
Mr. Ali became principal of the Boys Government College.
9. Phrases consisting of a preposition followed by its object.
e.g. At home, in hand, at noon, by river, by train, on foot, under ground
13.
Exercise
The Beijingis the capital of the China. (x)
Beijing is the capital of China.
He has failed in the English. (x)
He has failed in English.
She is best singer I have heard. (x)
She is the best singer I have heard.
A man is mortal. (x)
Man is mortal.
Moon does not revolve around the Venus. (x)
The moon does not revolve around Venus.
I am going to store to buy a milk. (x)
I am going to store to buy milk.
He is engineer. (x)
He is an engineer.
I need pen to write. (x)
I need a pen to write.