The words
a or an and the are called Articles.
There are
two Articles – a or an and the.
A or an is called the
Indefinite Article, because it usually leaves indefinite the person or thing
spoken of.
Example: a teacher; that is, any teacher.
The is called the Definite Article,
because it normally points out some particular person or thing.
Example: He saw the teacher; meaning some
particular teacher.
The
indefinite article is used before singular countable nouns.
Examples:
a ball, an
orange, a woman etc.
The definite
article is used before singular countable nouns, plural countable nouns and uncountable
nouns.
Examples: the pen, the pens, the milk etc.
A or An:
The
choice between a and an is determined by sound. Before a word
beginning with a vowel sound an is used.
Examples:
an elephant, an ink-pad, an orange, an hour, an honest man, an heir etc.
The words
honest, hour, heir begin with a vowel sound, as the initial consonant h
is not pronounced.
Before a
word beginning with a consonant sound a is used.
Examples:
a boy, a girl, a deer, a woman, a horse, etc.
Also, a
university, a union, a European, a unicorn, a useful article etc. because
although these words (union, university, European) begin with a vowel but these
vowels have a consonant sound, that of yu.
Similarly,
we say: a one-dollar coin, such a one, a one-eyed man etc. because the word
one begins with the consonant sound of w.
Use of
the Definite Article:
The
Definite Article is used:
1. When
we talk about a particular person or thing, or one already referred to (that
is, when it is clear from the context which one we mean).
Examples:
a. The
phone you want is out of stock. (Which phone? The one you want)
b. Let’s
go to the park. (= the park in this city)
c. The
boy yelled. (the boy already talked about)
2. When a
Singular noun is meant to represent a whole class.
Examples:
a. The
lion is a ferocious animal.
b. The
cow is a gentle animal.
c. The
rose is the sweetest of all flowers.
The two
nouns man and woman can be used in a general sense without either
article.
Examples:
1. Man is
the only animal that uses fire.
2. Woman
is man’s mate.
But in
present-day English a man and a woman (or men and women)
are more usual.
Example:
A woman is more patient than a man.
3. Before
some proper nouns, viz., these kind of place-names:
a. oceans
and seas, e.g. the Pacific, the Black Sea.
b. rivers,
e.g. the Ganges, the Nile.
c.
canals, e.g. the Suez Canal.
d. deserts,
e.g. the Sahara.
e. groups
of islands, e.g. the West Indies.
f. mountain-ranges,
e.g. the Himalayas, the Alps.
g. a very
few names of countries, which include words like “republic” and “kingdom”, e.g.
the United Kingdom, the United States of America, the Netherlands.
4. Before
the names of certain books.
Examples:
The vedas, the Puranas, the Ramayana, the Bible, the Quran.
5. Before
names of things unique of their kind.
Examples:
the sun, the sky, the ocean, the sea, the earth.
6. Before
a proper noun when it is qualified by an adjective.
Examples:
The great Caesar, the immortal Shakespeare.
7. With
superlatives.
Examples:
The best, the fastest, the smallest.
8. With
ordinals.
Examples:
The first man to arrive, the ninth chapter of the book.
9. Before
musical instruments.
Examples:
The flute, the piano, the cello.
10.
Before an adjective when the noun is understood.
Examples:
The poor, the rich.
11.
Before a noun (with emphasis) to give it the force of a superlative.
Example:
The Verb is the word (= the chief word) in a sentence.
Use of
the indefinite article:
The
indefinite article is used:
1. In its
original numerical sense of one.
Examples:
a. Twelve
inches make a foot.
b. Not a
word was said.
c. A bird
in the hand is worth two in the bush.
2. In the
vague sense of a certain.
Examples:
a. A
Mayank Tripathi (= a certain person named Mayank Tripathi) was arrested by the
police.
b. One
evening a beggar came to my door.
3. In the
sense of “any”, to single out an individual as the representative of a class.
Examples:
a. A
student should obey his teacher.
b. A cow
is a useful animal.
4. To
make a common noun of a proper noun.
Example:
A Bhagat Singh came to free India (A Bhagat Singh = a brave man).
Omission
of Articles:
The
article is omitted:
1. Before
names of substances and abstract nouns (i.e. uncountable nouns) used in a
general sense.
Examples:
a. Sugar
is bad for your teeth.
b. Gold
is a precious metal.
c. Wisdom
is the gift of heaven.
d.
Honesty is the best policy.
Note:
Uncountable nouns take “the” when used in a particular sense (especially when
qualified by an adjective or adjectival phrase or clause)
Examples:
a. Would
you pass me the sugar? (= the sugar on the table)
b. The
wisdom of Socrates is great.
c. I
still remember the kindness with which he treated me.
2. Before
plural countable nouns in a general sense.
Examples:
a. Children
like chocolates.
b.
Computers are used in many offices.
Note:
Such nouns take the when used with a particular meaning.
Example: Where
are the children? (= our children)
3. Before
most proper nouns (except those referred to earlier).
Examples:
a. Names
of people.
Examples:
Rahul, Pankaj, Afsana.
b. Names
of continents, countries, cities etc.
Examples:
Europe, India, Mumbai.
c. Names
of individual mountains and islands, lakes, hills.
Examples:
Mount Everest, Baikal lake.
4. Before
names of meals.
Examples:
Lunch, dinner. (At what time do you have dinner? Lunch is ready.)
5. Before
languages.
Examples:
English, Russian, French. (We are studying English.)
6. Before
school, college, university, church, bed, hospital, prison when these places
are visited for their primary purpose.
Examples:
a. I
learnt Sanskrit at school.
b. We go
to church on Sundays.
c. He
stays in bed till seven every morning.
d. She is
still in hospital.
Note:
The is used with these words when we refer to them as a definite place,
building or object rather than to the normal activity that goes on there.
Examples:
a. The
school is near my home.
b. I met
her at the church.
c. The
bed is new.
d. I went
to the hospital to see my uncle.
7. Before
names of relations, like father, mother, aunt, uncle, and also cook and nurse,
meaning “our cook”, “our nurse”.
Examples:
a. Father
has returned.
b. Uncle
wants to see you.
c. Cook
has given notice.
8. Before
predicative nouns denoting a unique position, i.e., a position that is normally
held at one time by one person only.
Examples:
a. He was
elected chairman of the board.
b. Mr.
Sharma became Principal of the college in 1969.
9. In
certain phrases consisting of a transitive verb followed by its object.
Examples:
To catch fire, to take breath, to give battle, to send word, to lay siege, to
set sail, to lose heart, to leave home, to take offence.
10. In
certain phrases consisting of a preposition followed by its object.
Examples:
At home, in hand, in debt, by day, by night, at daybreak, at sunrise, at noon,
on demand, by land, at dinner, above ground.
