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Indefinite article
In English there are two indefinite articles, ‘a’, and ‘an’. It is an indefinite article because it refers to a non-specific person or thing.
The indefinite articles are used when we do not specify a specific / particular person / thing that we are referring to.
Example: ‘a dog’
i.e., it refers any dog, and therefore we are using the indefinite article ‘a’. We have used ‘a’ and not ‘an’, as the noun dog starts with ‘d’, which is a consonant.
When to use 'a' and 'an'?
The indefinite article ‘a’ precedes the word beginning with a consonant (the other alphabets other than the vowels)
The indefinite article ‘an’ precedes the word beginning with a vowel (a, e, i, o, u).
The indefinite articles are used before singular countable nouns.
Ehen the word begins with a vowel sound ‘an’ is used.
an apple
an orange
an honest man
an hour ago
The words ‘honest’, ‘hour’ begin with a vowel sound, as the consonant ‘h’ is not pronounced.
When the words begin with a consonant sound, the indefinite article ‘a’ is used.
a chair
a cat
a girl
a student
a song
Consonant sound 'yu'.
Some words begin with a consonant sound ‘yu’, like ‘university’, ‘union’. In that case, the indefinite article ‘a’ should be used.
a union
a university
a European
a unicorn
a ewe
a useful book
Consonant sound of 'w'.
The word one, though it starts with the vowel ‘o’, is pronounced with the consonant sound ‘w’. Therefore, the indefinite article ‘a’ is used before the word ‘one’.
I saw a one-eyed monster.
I have a one rupee note.
Consonant sound 'h'
As mentioned above, when the word starts with the consonant ‘h’, but the consonant sound ‘h’ is not pronounced, the indefinite article ‘an’ is used.
George is an honest man.
I met him an hour ago.
An heir has been born tonight.
I went to an hotel.
I went to a hotel.
The above sentences, an hotel, a hotel, both are correct.
When to use indefinite article?
1. Not the exact but in the vague sense.
I saw a musician in the park. (some musician)
A terrorist in the loose. (some terrorist)
2. When we have to use a person’s name to refer to someone of the same qualities.
A Mahatma Gandhi has come to save us.
(Someone who follows peace and helps to come out of slavery).
3. To talk about a single entity as a representation of the group.
A human being is a social animal.
A doctor should save lives.
4. To denote measurements as a whole.
A Thousand meters make a kilometer.
A Thousand milliliters make a liter.
5. To make a crisp statement, but makes quite an impression.
A word to the police and you will be behind bars.
A call and you are done.
Definite article
A definite article is used to describe something specific. It is used to refer a particular person or thing, i.e., a noun referring to a single thing or a person. The definite article is used before singular countable nouns, plural countable nouns, and uncountable nouns.
Singular countable noun – the chair, the house.
Plural countable noun – the chairs.
Uncountable nouns – the water, the sand, the sugar, the oil.
When to use 'the'?
1. The definite article ‘the’ is used before some names of places, like,
** the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the West Indies, the Lakshadweep, the Bahamas and, the Maldives.
** the Ganga, the Yamuna, the Brahmaputra.
** the Atlantic, the Pacific, the Black Sea, The Indian Ocean, The Bay of Bengal.
** the Grand Canal, the Suez canal, the Panama canal.
** The Mount Everest, The Himalayas, The Aravalli range, The Grand Canyon.
** the Artic desert, the Antarctic desert, the Sahara desert, the Gobi desert.
** the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the Unites States of America, the Gambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The countries with the words Republic and Kingdom carry the definite article ‘the’.
2. The definite article ‘the’ is used with comparatives as an adverb.
**The more you work, the more you succeed.
**I want the most of it.
** The more you rest, the better you get.
** The best is yet to come.
3. The definite article ‘the’ is used before musical instruments, like,
** I can play the piano.
** She can play the guitar.
** My sister can play the veena.
4. The definite article ‘the’ is used when we talk about a specific person or thing. Also, about a specific person or thing which we already talked about.
** We are going to the beach. (The beach which we had already decided on before).
** The man laughed. (The man which we already talked about previously).
5. The definite article ‘the’ is used before adjectives.
** The hard-working are successful. (Here hard-working is the adjective. The noun is not mentioned here, it obviously implies a person or people).
** The angry loses. (Here the adjective is angry. The noun is not specified here too but indicates men / women).
6. The definite article ‘the’ is used to imply a whole entity using a singular noun.
** The dog is faithful. (refers to all dogs in general).
** The jasmine has the sweetest smell.
7. The definite article ‘the’ is used before the superlative degree in the comparison of nouns. There are three degrees of comparison, positive, comparative and, superlative.
In the superlative, for example,
** This is the biggest cake I have ever made.
** I have the most important meeting today.
9. The definite article ‘the’ is used before the names of some books.
The Bible, the Ramayana, The Mahabaratha.
10. The definite article ‘the’ is used before the names of the things like
The Earth, The Sun, The Moon, The Universe, The Saturn, the sea, the ocean.
When to not use any article?
1. Articles should not be used before languages.
** I speak Hindi at home.
2. Articles should not be used before plural countable nouns when speaking in general.
** Mangoes are tasty.
** Tablets (Tab) are easy to handle.
3. Articles should not be used before abstract uncountable nouns.
** Honey is sweet.
** Anger kills.
** Honesty is the best policy.
** Hope is always the best.
4. Articles should not be used before the names of meals.
** Dinner is being served.
** I am having lunch now.
** Supper is at 7 o’clock.
Hope this ARTICLE is useful.
