1. The Articles
‘A’, ‘an’ and ‘the’ are the three articles
we have in the English language. ‘A’ and ‘an’
are called indefinite articles and ‘the’, the definite article. ‘A’ or
‘an’ is used with
count nouns and ‘the’ with both count and noncount nouns.
1.1 Indefinite Articles: ‘A’ and ‘An’
· We generally use them before nouns in
the singular:
a
book an elephant an interesting story a town
a country
· We use ‘a’ before nouns in the singular
beginning with consonant sounds:
a book
a cat a dog a fox a pin
a university a year
a woman a boy a girl a hair a song a wheel a zebra
a uniform, a useful
book, a European
a one-way street a one-day cricket match
a one-year course
· We use ‘an’ before nouns in the singular beginning with vowel
sounds:
an
apple an eagle an inch an oasis an usher
an
Indian an orange an umbrella an hour
an honest man an heir an honour an honourable man
Note: Remember that we use ‘a’ or ‘an’ based on the sounds and
not the
letters.
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List of vowels and consonants: Vowel sounds represented by the vowel letters
a, e, i, o, u
an army an ape an apple an account an alder an altar
an eye an eagle an ear an earl an editor an example an emblem
an island an idiot
an ocean an object an oil field an onion an order an outcome
an umbrella an usher
Consonant Sounds
b, c (k), c (s), d, f, g, g (j), h, j, k, l, m, n, p, q, r, s, t, v, w, x, y,
z , ch, th, ph (f), sh
a band a car a cell a dog a face a gap a general a heart a judge a key
a leg a man a name a one-man committee [here ‘o’ is
pronounced ‘w’ as in
‘win’ with rounded lips] a pin a queue a rat a song
a tap a uniform [here
‘u’ is
pronounced ‘y’ as in ‘you’] a van a wound a year a zero a chicken a thumb a phone
a ship
Note: f, l, m,
n, r, s, x, h are consonant sounds when they begin nouns in the singular.
But they, by
themselves, begin with vowel sounds when pronounced:
f (-ef) l(el) m(em)
n(en) r(or) s(es)
x(eks) h(ech)
and are considered
nouns in the singular. So, we use ‘an’ before them.
If
you add an ‘f’ to ‘our’ you get ‘four’.
You’re learning driving. So
you need an ‘L’ board.
My uncle is an M.P.
/i/ is an R.P. sound.
The doctor wants an x-ray of
my ribs.
My sister is an S.I.
Though there is an ‘h’ in
‘hotel’, some do not pronounce it.
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1.2 ‘A’ or ‘an’ with words that come before count nouns:
count
nouns
an army an effort an idea
an unhappy army an excellent effort an interesting idea
a large army a difficult
effort a useless
idea
an obligation an umpire a book
an obvious obligation an old umpire a bad book
a necessary obligation a young umpire an engaging book
1.3
The definite article
‘The’ is the definite article. It’s used to refer to something or
someone that has already been mentioned or is easily understood.
There were five questions in all. The
first three were easier than the last two.
1. We generally use ‘the’ before count
nouns—both singular and plural:
[We have a specific person/thing in mind.]
The stranger helped the old woman. The strangers
helped the old woman.
Note: It’s possible to say: A
stranger helped the old woman.
But here the speaker is not referring to any particular person.
2. We use ‘the’ also before a noncount noun
that is specific:
Health
is wealth. (No article because here both noncount nouns are non-specific.)
The
health of a population is the wealth of a society.
Here both noncount nouns refer to particular aspects of a society.
3. We use ‘the’ before a noun when it
appears for the second time:
I
saw a lady in front of a shop. [non-specific]
The lady entered the
shop a moment later. [specific]
Every country has a
capital.
The capital of a country
is normally a very big city.
4. when a
singular noun is used to talk about a whole class, race, group
etc.
The bear is a strong animal.
The cow is a sacred animal.
1.4
More about articles
The correct use of the articles (a/an
and the) is one of the most difficult points in English grammar. We
don’t always use articles where we should be using them. Let’s learn where and
how to use them.
1.5 ‘A’ or ‘an’
The indefinite article is also used :
[i] in the meaning of ‘any/all’:
A dog is a faithful animal.
[All dogs are
faithful animals.]
A house is a place of
shelter.
[All houses are
place of shelter.]
[ii] in the meaning of ‘one’:
A dog was barking
for a long time.
There’s a house for
sale.
Note: Though ‘a’ or ‘an’ can mean ‘one’, we can’t use
‘one’ in the place of
‘a’ or ‘an’ because there is a
difference in meaning:
One dog
was barking for a long time.
[not two or
three]
A dog was
barking for a long time.
[I’m not
definite about which dog it was.]
‘One’ is used when we
think in terms of number
and ‘a’ or ‘an’ when
we are not definite, when we
are unable to be
specific.
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[iii] When a count noun is mentioned for the first time:
I saw a
lady in front of a shop. A moment later, the lady entered the
shop.
[iv] in certain numerical expressions:
a couple a dozen
half a dozen a score (20) a gross (144)
a hundred a million
an eighth a quarter (1/4)
[v] in expressions of price, speed, ratio:
fifty rupees a
kilo sixty kilometers an
hour three times a day
[vi] in time expressions:
a while ago a moment ago Just a minute! a short time ago
[vii] with a personal name:[to mean that a person giving his/her name
as…..]
· “A Mr Rajagopalan is here
to see you.” “Show him in.”
· “Hello! Could I speak to
Anupama, please?”
“I’m
sorry. But there isn’t an Anupama at this address.”
· “I used to know a Mary Roberts.”
(=I knew one person whose name was Mary Roberts.)
· “A Mr Joshua called when you were away.”
[viii] with a personal name by way of comparison:
He thinks he’s a Kalidasa.
[He thinks he is
as great a poet as Kalidasa.]
[ix] with superlatives:
My boss is a
most ruthless person.
(My boss is a very
ruthless person.)
The
use of ‘a’ changes the comparison to emphasis: most=very
[x] with ‘few’ and ‘little’ to
give them a positive meaning:
· The
evidence against you is very strong;
yet, a
few may believe you’re not guilty.
[some]
·
The evidence against you is very strong.
Few will
believe you’re not guilty.
[Almost no
one]
· My
superior has little patience with inefficient subordinates.
[almost no]
· I’ve had a little success this
week.
[some]
Note: Most of us fail to use ‘a’ with ‘few’ when
we express
a positive thought. Remember to
use ‘a’
when you mean ‘some’, remember to
not use
‘a’ when you mean ‘not many’.
We’ve had a few replies. (some) We’ve had few replies. (not many)
Similarly,
remember to use ‘a’ with ‘little’
when you
mean ‘some’, remember to not use ‘a’
when you
mean ‘not much’.
‘What are his chances of winning the
title?’
‘A little.’
‘What are his chances of winning the
title?’
‘Little.’
And remember ‘few’ is used with count noun words
and
‘little’ with non-count words.
[xi] With nouns that go
always as a pair:
a cup and
saucer a knife and fork
[xii] in a number of phrases
like:
on an
average at a discount
It’s a pity
that… I’m in a hurry.
I have a
headache/a cold/ a cough
but I have toothache/earache/fever
[xiii] an hour }
an hourly
meeting }
an honest
person } In all these words,
‘h’ is always silent and not
an honour } pronounced and so ‘an’ is
used.
an honourable
person }
an heir }
[xiv] I’ve had a poor
education. ‘education’,
‘coffee’, ‘food’ are non-count nouns
This is a nice coffee. and so ‘a’ is not used. But ‘a’ is used if
non-count
Chappathi is a healthy
food. nouns are preceded by
qualifying expressions.
‘a long
time’ → ‘time’ is a noncount noun
but is preceded by ‘long’, so ‘a’ is used.
[xv] ‘A’ is required with cold, fever and temperature:
I have a fever, so
I’m staying in bed.
You have a
temperature, so you need to take medicine.
Do you have a cold?
1.6 ‘A’ or ‘an’
The indefinite article is not used:
[i] before a title or a position in an organization:
He was elected
president.
A woman was
appointed General Secretary of the UNO.
[ii] before names of meals at someone’s home or at a
restaurant:
Have you had
lunch? Will you be home for
supper?
But
I had a late
breakfast. Have a light lunch.
I was
invited to a dinner given to welcome our new Chairperson.
[iii] before non-count nouns like:
advice information news
baggage furniture equipment
[iv] before material nouns:
Iron is a metal. We need paper for printing.
[v] before abstract nouns :
beauty honesty
sincerity fear happiness
[vi] before nouns following ‘kind of’ and ‘sort of’:
What kind of man
is he? What sort of game is this?
[vii] in expressions like:
· by/at [dawn/daybreak/dusk/noon/night/sunrise/sunset]
· by hand
· in summer/winter/autumn
· before/after breakfast/lunch/dinner/supper/tea/brunch
{town
· be at}{school
· be in} {bed · go to}{sea
· go to} {hospital
{prison/jail
{class
· be
in/be at church
· go to college · during
break/recess
· live on/off campus · be in court · take someone to court
· come/go/leave home · be(at) home · feel at home
· travel} {bicycle
· leave }by {bus
· come } {car
· go }
{boat
{train
{plane
{radio
· communicate by {telephone/telex
{post (BrE)
{mail (AmE)
{satellite
· by hand · on foot · in turn · out of step · on top of · by way of
· at dawn’daybreak
· at sunrise/sunset
· at or around
noon/midnight
· at/by night
1.7
More about the uses of the definite article
1. We generally use ‘the’ before count nouns—both singular and plural:
[We have a specific person/thing in mind.]
The
stranger helped the old woman. The strangers helped the old woman.
Note: It’s possible to say: A
stranger helped the old woman.
But here the speaker is not
referring to any particular person.
2. ‘The’ is used when both the speaker and the hearer know the objects
being referred
to (in the immediate situation):
Bring the candle.
The roses are very
beautiful.
I missed both the lectures
this morning.
We returned the video
recorder.
Put it on the table.
I spoke to the airlines.
3. ‘The’ is used when there is no doubt about
the noun even in a general situation:
The Prime Minister is arriving today.
The Home Minister is making a
statement in the Parliament today.
4. ‘The’ is used when there is no doubt
about the reference:
I pulled him by the hair.
She patted her on the back.
How are the children?
The sun rose late today.
[similarly, the moon, the earth, the sky, the weather etc.]
5. ‘The’ is used with expressions
relating to
i. mass communication:
the
nine o’clock news in the paper(s) on the radio on (the) TV
ii. transport and communication:
the
bus, the train the post(BrE)/the
mail(AmE) the telephone
iii. professional/business
establishments:
the
dentist’s/the dentist the barber’s/the
barber at/to the chemist’s/chemist
the butcher’s/the butcher the hairdresser’s/the hairdresser
iv. ordinals:
When
the first flight to Delhi tomorrow?
When does the last train for
Chennai leave?
Let’s reat the next chapter.
My wife and I have the same
interests.
He’s the only survivor.
Of the three sports magazines
available, this is the best.
v. body parts:
I
gave him a pat on the back.
I shook him by the hand. (I
shook his hand./ I shook hands with him.)
My wife complains of pain in
the hip/knee.
vi. unpleasant conditions of the body(eg
aches, pains, wounds):
I
have a cold in the head.
He kicked me on the shin.
He held me by the throat.
How’s the back?
Let’s look at the arm.
6. ‘The’ is used in
The
more, the merrier. The less said, the
better. The sooner, the better
7.
We use ‘the’ before nationality names, names of birds or animals when we
are
thinking of them as a category or
group:
The dog is a faithful animal.
(=All dogs are faithful animals.)
The Chinese belong to the
yellow race.
The fox is believed to be
cunning.
8. We use ‘the’
before a noun made specific by the addition of a phrase or clause:
The
water in this well is dirty.
The man who is receiving
his room key is a suspect in a murder case..
There
is the woman (that) I have been talking to you about.
9.
We use ‘the’ before superlative
adjectives/adverbs:
He
works the hardest. [adverb]
Jupiter is the
largest planet. [adjective]
10. We use ‘the’ before the names of
• famous buildings
The Eiffel Tower
The
Great Wall of China
• rivers, seas, oceans
The Kaveri The Godavari The Ganges
The Amazon
The Indian Ocean The Bay of Bengal The Arabian Sea
• mountain ranges
The Himalayas The Alps
• groups of islands
The West Indies
• certain organizations
The UNO The UNESCO
• political parties
The DMK The AIDMK The Congress Party The Communist Party
• countries
the U.S.A. the U.K.
the U.S.S.R. the U.A.R.
• musical instruments
the violin
• deserts
the Kalahari the Sahara
11. We ‘the’ before adjectives that refer to people as a group:
the
poor the rich the weak
the strong the sick the old
the young
the dead the blind
the deaf the innocent the guilty
There are special schools for the
blind and the deaf.
The rich must support the poor.
The strong must protect the weak.
The young should respect the old.
It’s improper to
speak ill of the dead.
12. We use ‘the’ before the name of a
person in plural
[to
refer to the family by the name of the husband/father]:
the Smiths the Joneses the Raghavans the Gopalans
13. We use ‘the’ before the
name of a person with a qualifying phrase:
I
don’t want the Mr Smith of the Accounts Section; I want the Mr Smith of the
Sales Section.
14. We
use ‘the’ in certain statements of comparison:
The more I listen to your father, the more I like him.
The harder you work, the more
you’ll be paid.
The sooner the work is finished,
the better.
15. We use ‘the’ before the names of ‘people’ of certain countries to
refer to them as
a whole:
The
British = people from Britain The Dutch = people from the Netherlands
The Chinese = people from China The Swiss = people from Switzerland
The Japanese = people from Japan The Irish = people form Ireland
The French = people from France
1.8
‘The’ is not used:
i. before indefinite or
non-specific plural nouns:
I
don’t like strangers. Women need to be protected.
ii.
before
non-specific non-count nouns:
Without money we can’t provide education. People fear death.
iii.
before
non-specific nouns like:
home church
chapel market school
He went to the church. [to see the
priest, for instance] He went to church. [to pray]
She didn’t go to college today.
[to study] She went to the college. [to
pay fees, for instance]
iv.
before
non-specific meals:
Have you had breakfast? Let’s have lunch. I’ve come to invite you for tea.
v.
before
non-specific names of seasons and festivals:
Winter
is a cold season. We celebrated
Ramzan/Christmas/Deepavali.
vi. before predicative superlatives:
He is happiest when he is working.
[very happy]
Your help was most valuable.
[very/extremely useful]
vii.
before names
of languages, months, days that are not modified:
Can
you speak French? He knows
Japanese.
January is the first month of the
year. No one works on Sundays.
viii. before names of meals
used in general sense:
come
to dinner/lunch/tea with us.
ix. before plural nouns used
in a general sense:
Books
are my best friends.
x. with words like school, church,
prison when the sentences talk about their
purpose:
I
didn’t go to school yesterday. (to learn)
They have gone to church. (to pray)
The accused was sentenced and
sent to prison. (to serve punishment)
But
I
didn’t go to the school yesterday. (to visit)
They have gone to the church now.
(to visit)
I went to the prison. (to visit a
prisoner)
xi. with
words like cook, nurse, teacher, father when the imply ‘our……’”
Father
said I could play cricket this weekend.
Teacher was pleased with my
performance.
Coach is unhappy with your
bowling.
xii. in
stock phrases:
by land/by air/by sea at daybreak/at sunset by way of beyond reach
in place of in case of shake hands with catch fire at home
out of doors
1.9 ‘A’ and ‘one’
The indefinite article ‘a’ these
meanings: ‘any’ and ‘one’:
A
triangle has three sides. (=any)
I have a sister and two brothers.
(=one)
But ‘a’
cannot always be used instead of ‘one’.
i. ‘a
handkerchief’ means ‘any handkerchief’.
‘one
handkerchief’ means ‘no more than one’.
ii. ‘a’
is more common in an informal style while ‘one’ is used
when we are speaking more
precisely:
I
want to live for a hundred years.
The journey took exactly one
hundred days.
iii. Only
‘one’ can be used to show ‘contrast’:
A
man showed me the way.
One man said ‘no’, while the
others said ‘yes’.
iv. Only
‘one’ is used when we refer to a particular time:
I
spent a night in Delhi.
One night there was a terrible
storm.
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