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An article is a word that modifies a noun. A noun can be a person, a place, an object, or an idea. An article is basically an adjective that changes the nouns. An article is also used instead to highlight or relate to nouns.
Types Of Articles
There are two types of articles that are used in communication to indicate a noun or group of nouns. They are as follows:
1. The definitive article
2. The indefinite article
The definitive article: The word “the” is a definite article that relates to a particular noun or group of nouns. Example: The frog is in the puddle.
The indefinite article: The words “a” and “an” are indefinite articles. Each one of these articles makes reference to a noun, but the noun would not be a particular individual, location, item, or concept. It can be any noun from a list of nouns. Example: An incident in past.
Rules Relating To Articles:
Rules relating to the definite article usage “the“:
‘The’ is used:
Before nouns that have been introduced more than once.
to designate a specific person, place, or thing
Used before the superlative adjective.
To emphasize what is distinct.
With nouns that have been modified in such a way that their distinctiveness is outlined.
Prior to being a member of a specific group of people.
To add a plural meaning to certain adjectives.
With national adjectives that end in ch, sh, se, or ss.
Prior to a noun that has been made definite by the addition of a phrase or clause
Before the parts of the body
Rules relating to the indefinite article “A“:
A is used:
Before a word that begins with a consonant
Giving the consonant sound before a word beginning with u or eu.
Before a word starting with a vowel (especially O), use the sound w.
Rules relating to the indefinite article “An“:
An is used:
Prior to a word that begins with a vowel and has a vowel sound.
Before a word that begins with a silent h.
Before an abbreviation, the first letter should be a consonant with a vowel sound.
Sample Questions:
Choose the correct article and fill in the blank:
1. He is ……….. African.
A.The
B.No article
C.An
D. A
Answer: C
2. Do you take ……… ice in a milkshake?
A.An
B.A
C.The
D. No article
Answer: D
3. ……….. Ganges is considered to be a sacred river.
A.The
B.A
C.An
D. No article
Answer: A
4. Emily is ……….. shortest girl in the batch.
A.An
B.The
C.A
D. No article
Answer: B
5. Harry is ……….. Eggetarian.
A.The
B.An
C.A
D. No article
Answer: C
6. My manager was ……….. honest man.
A.Norticle.
B.A
C.The
D. An
Answer: D
7. Cabbage costs Rs.30 ……….. kilo.
A.The
B.A
C.Noarticle
D. An
Answer: B
8. She has been residing in ……….. U.S.A. for ten years.
A.The
B.An
C.A
D. No article
Answer: A
9. The local council leader congratulated ……….. players who won the match.
A.No Article
B.A
C.The
D. An
Answer: C
10. Her sister is ……….. Dietician.
A.An
B.A
C.The
D. No article
Answer: C
Practice Sets:
Find the error for the below statements; if no error is found, the answer shall be (E).
1. (A) It will be post /(B) the play /(C) that audience understand /(D) how good or bad it was /(E) No error.
Answer: Option (B)
Explanation: ‘A play’ should be used in place of ‘the play because we are not talking about any particular play. Hence article ‘a’ will be used in place of the.
2. (A) Of these three /(B) bikes, the blue one /(C) is certainly /(D) best /(E) No error.
Answer: Option (D)
Explanation: ‘The best’ is to be used in place of ‘best’. As we make a choice, we use ‘the’ before any degree of comparison.
3. (A) Priya is not unlucky /(B) to lose /(C) few buddies she developed /(D) during her vacation at Mumbai /(E) No error.
Answer: Option (C)
Explanation: ‘The’ is to be used before few. As ‘the few’ means ‘some’ and ‘few buddies’ means ‘almost no buddies’
4. (A) Raja felt overjoyed /(B) because an acquaintance of his /(C) had told him /(D) a very pleasant news /(E) No error.
Answer: Option (D)Explanation: ‘a’ should not be used, since ‘news’ is an uncountable noun.
Conclusion
Articles are used in front of a noun or a pronoun, but one should keep in mind that all the nouns are not accompanied by articles. As a result, recognizing the proper usage of articles becomes essential. Practice a list of practice sets to help understand the concept of Articles in English.
