An article is a word or a letter which is often used before a noun and tells about the certainty of that noun. There are two types of articles: ()_ Indefinite Article (A/An) (ii) Definite Articles (The) Articles can be used before noun, but not all nouns are used with articles. Therefore, it becomes necessary to understand the correct usage of articles. I Indefinite Articles (A, AN) Indefinite Articles are used to introduce new concepts (noun phrase) into a discourse. These articles are called indefinite because their usage implies that the thing, which is being referred to is nonspecific. For Ex - He caught a bird. (any bird). Note: Indefinite articles are generally used before "Countable Singular Nouns" For Ex - This is an apple, This isa car, She isa teacher. Uses of Indefinite Articles. Usage of 'A' 1. If the first letter of a countable singular common noun is ‘Consonant, ‘A' is used before it. For Ex- (a) Rajeev has bought a new car (b) Ihave caught a fish 2. ‘A'is used with a singular countable common noun when the noun denotes a complete class of things/Persons/ Animals etc. For Ex- A dog has four legs. In the above sentence, 'A' has been used before 'dog' because we are talking about a complete class of dogs. 3. 'A'is used before a Profession, rank, title, religion, nationality, etc. For Ex- A teacher, A Japanese, A Hindu. 4, ‘Atis used before singular countable nouns and after 'what' and 'How’, in exclamatory sentences. For Ex= (a) What a beautiful painting! (b) What a great match it was! 5. ‘A'is used before an indefinite collective noun. For Ex- A team of cricket players, A bundle of money 6. ‘A'is used to express the rate. For Ex- Ten rupees a kilo, Fifty words a minute. Note: we can also use 'per' in the place of 'a' in the above expressions. Ten Rupees per kilo, Fifty words per minute We use 'A' before an adjective, when the adjective is followed by a singular noun. For Ex- (a) Madhuri is a good dancer. (b) Lata is a melodious singer. 7.8. Whena verb is used as a noun, we use 'a' before that verb: ForEx- (a) I'l take a bath in the morning. (b) They have gone for a walk. 9. If'a'is used before a plural number, the forthcoming noun becomes singular. ForEx- (a) Five days match > a five day match. (b) Ten days trip + a ten day trip. 10. If ‘such, quite, how, rather, ete are placed before a noun, 'a' is used before that noun. ForEx- (a) [have never driven such a car in my life. (b) Ram is quite a brilliant boy. 11. If words like 'Noise, lie, hole, headache, etc’ are used in singular sense, then we use'a' before them. For Ex- (a) [have a headache today. (b) He never tells a lie. 12, A is used before some indefinite numbers: For Ex- A lot of books, A great many actors, A number of questions. Usage of ‘AN’ 1. If the first letter of a countable singular noun is a vowel, then 'An' is used before it. For Ex- (a) Heis an astronaut. (b) He ate an apple. 2. We use 'An' before some abbreviations which start with 'H, L, M,N, F, R,S, X, ete. For Ex- (a) He isan MLA. (b) She works for an N.G.O. Note: We can use ‘an’ in the place of 'a! whenever the indefinite article is followed by a noun, which starts with a 'vowel sound’, Note: Indefinite articles (‘A’/ 'An’) Are used on the basis of the ‘initial sound’ of a noun and not on the first letter of the same, because usage of ‘A/ An' depends on the initial sound of the noun and not on its spelling. For Ex- We write => 'An honest man’ (not 'A honest man’) ='An hour ago’, (not 'a hour ago’) Similarly, we write: A union. (not ‘an union’) A European (not 'an European’) ‘The Omissions of Indefinite Articles (An/An) 1. Indefinite Articles are not used with a ‘Plural Noun’ ForEx- — Acarsare parked (wrong) Cars are parked (correct) 2. Indefinite Articles are not used before the name of “meals", "Sports', Subjects’, ‘language’, etc. For Ex- (a) Harsh was absent from a dinner (wrong) Harsh was absent from dinner (correct) (6) Lam playing a Tennis (wrong) 1am playing Tennis (Correct) (©) She is teaching a Hindi right now. (wrong) She is teaching Hindi right now. (correct)3. Indefinite articles are not used before material noun. For Ex- (a) Itisa gold (wrong) Itis gold. (correct) (b) That statue is made up on an Iron. (wrong) That statue is made up of Iron. (correct) 4. Indefinite Article are not used two times for the same noun in the same sentence. For Ex- (a) Priya is a singer and a dancer. (wrong) Priya is a singer and dancer. (correct) (b) India is a great and a beautiful country (wrong) India is a great and beautiful country (correct) TI. DEFINITE ARTICLE (THE) Definite Article (the) is used when the noun with which it is used is a particular one, which is identifiable to the listener. It may also be used for a noun that has already been mentioned or is uniquely specified. For Ex- _ "Thisis the boy who played cricket.” In the above sentence, the boy has been specified to be the one 'Who played cricket’. Note: Unlike indefinite articles, the definite article can be placed before both singular and plural nouns. For Ex- (a) She called the doctor. (b) One of the boys is absent. Uses of Definite Article (Ihe) 1. Definite article (The) is used before a noun if For Ex- (a) Heis the boy who plays Guitar. is followed by a relative pronoun stressly. (b) She is the girl who plays Tennis. (©) This is the dog which I bought. 2. Definite article (The) is used before the name of commission, Rivers, Seas, Gulfs, Deserts, Direction, Canals, historical caste, Name of titles and posts, buildings and monuments, Religious books, Community, Holy Scriptures, etc. For Ex- The Ganga, The Arabian Gulf, The Pacific Ocean, The Mahabharata, The Gita, The East, The Sun, The Taj Mahal, The Brahmin, The Iron Man, The Father of the Nation. 3. The! is used before an adjective if that adjective is followed by proper noun. For Ex- Yesterday, I met the great Sachin Tendulkar. 4, The! is used before common noun whenever it is used as adjective. For Ex- When Sonam saw a hungry girl crying, the mother came in her. 5. ‘The! is used whenever two proper nouns are compared. For Ex- Prabhu Deva is the Michael Jackson of India. 6. 'The' is always used before "Superlative degree" For Ex- (a) Shyamis the fattest boy of his class. (b) Rahul is the best player of his team. 7. If comparative Degree is used for two, or, it is used in parallel, then the Definite Article (The) is used before it.For Ex- (a) The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war (b) Rajesh is the taller of the two sons 8 We use Definite article (The) before ordinals. For Ex- The latter, The former, The first, The last. 9. The is used before the word ‘Space’ only when it means ‘room’ For Ex- Well tried to get into his car but the space was not enough. The omissions of definite Article 1. Definite Article (The) is not used before the name of language and sports. For Ex- (a) The Hindi is our national language. (Wrong) Hindi is our national language (correct) (b) The Hockey is my favourite sport. (Wrong) Hockey is my favourite sport. (Correct) 2. Definite Article is not used before the name of day, month, parts of day. ForEx- (a) The Monday is the first day. (Wrong) Monday is the first day. (Correct) (b) The December is the last month. (Wrong) December is the last month. 3. 'The' is not used before the name of meals ForEx- The breakfast was very delicious. (Wrong) Breakfast was very delicious. (Correct) 4. Definite article (The) is not used before these words. “Life, money, Pride, God, Love, Society, Parliament, Death" and name of subjects. For Ex- (a) The love is as important as the air we breathe. (Wrong) Love is as important as the air we breathe (Correct) (b) The mathematics is an interesting subject (wrong) Mathematics is an interesting subject. (Correct) = But, if the words given above are particularised or if the name of the subjects is particularised, we use definite article before them. For Ex- (a) The love of mother is incomparable. (Correct) (b) The Mathematics of Priya are good. (Correct) 5. Define article should not be used before these places if we go there for the primary purpose. "Church, Mosque, Temple, School, College, Court, Prison, Hospital, Library, University, Jail {as accused)." For Ex- (a) 1 went to the temple to worship. (Wrong) Twent to temple to worship. (Correct) (b) I went to the temple to attend a marriage. (Correct) In the above sentences, we did not use ‘The! with 'Temple' as long as the purpose of our visit was primary. (ie, to worship) But, as soon as the purpose of visit changed from primary to something else (ie. From worship to marriage). The use of definite article (ie. The) becomes ‘legit’. 6. Definite Article does not come before ‘Northern’, ‘Southern’, ‘Eastern’, 'Western' and ‘directions' when we use them as adjective. For Ex- (a) He is going towards Northern India. (b) Rajasthan is in western India.i A Exercise Directions: Read each sentence to find out whether there is any grammatical error in it. The error, if any, will be in one part of the sentence. The number of that part is the answer. If there is no error, the answer is‘4’ ie. No crror, (Ignore the errors of xon, if any). 1. 2 3. 4, Ne SRESBBNRR BER REESE Number of intelligent students (1)/is good but none of the students are (2)/ obliged to their teachers. (3)/ No error (4) Ganga is one of the (1)/longest rivers which (2)/originate from the Himalayas. (3)/No error (4) Sumit said that he was employee of (1)/the gas company and (2)/had come to read the meter. (3)/No error (4) Professor Singh, a man who (1)/discovered the new drug that everyone is talking about, (2)/refused to give a press conference. (3)/No error (4) . One of my friends advised me to take (1)/a taxi, another said that (2)/there was quite good bus-service. (3)/No error (4) Never have I seen such girl in my life (1)/because she is too (2)/beautiful to be described. (3)/No error (4) Last night I bought (1)/a pen, an inkpot, a pencil and a soap (2)/from a stationary store. (3)/No error (4) . Surdas is often called(1)/Milton of India although unlike (2)/Milton, Surdas had no political ambitions. Q)/No error (4) .. Suiit is the friend (1)/of Amir’s but (2)/he is living a miserable life these days. (3)/No error (4) Inahistory of Indian (1)/rulers, Harsvardhan’s regime of (2)/a few years is one of the best periods. (3)/No error (4) . Itis only after (1)/ the war is over (2)/that people realize how bad it was. (3)/ No error (4) Of the two (1)/ answers, this (2)/ is definitely better (3)/ No error (4) . There were a number (1)/ of pretty girls in the party but it was Ragini (2)/ who remained a centre of at- traction. (3)/ No error (4) . He is the best artist (1)/ of the time but unfortunately (2)/ least recognized. (3)/ No error (4) I don’t like that type of a man (1)/ who does nothing but (2)/ find out faults in others. (3)/ No error (4) He daims to bea linguist (1)/but, in reality, he does not know even (2)/the A B C of linguistics. (3)/No error (4) A first step ina rational solution (1)/ to any problem is the (2)/ recognition of the fact that a problem exists Q)/ No error (4) It was (1)/ by a mistake (2)/ that he caught her hand.(3)/ No error (4) There orders of the Manager (1)/ may put the lives of (2)/ two thousand workers in a danger.(3)/ No error (4) The most happy marriage would be (1)/ a union of a deaf (2)/ man toa blind woman. (3)/ No error (4) John suggested to his brothers that they should (1)/ go to the school regularly (2)/ and do their home work sincerely.(3)/ No error (4) His father forbade him to go (1)/ to cinema (2)/ late at night.(3)/ No error (4) There was little (1)/ milk in the bottle and she gave it (2)/ to the baby when it started weeping, (3)/ No error(4) Thanks to an insight and persistence of the local doctor (1)/ hundreds of victims have been (2)/ able to resume a normal life.(3)/ No error (4) One should be true to one’s promises (1)/ in order to earn (2)/ name and fame in the life.(3)/ No error (4) He should mix (1)/ his authority with little (2)/ of courtesy and common sense.(3)/ No error (4) ‘The principal (1)/ asked the girls to return (2)/ to the hostel before the sunset.(3)/ No error (4) Inthe conclusion (1)/ it may be safely asserted that (2)/ the poet preaches some moral implicity. (3)/ No error (4) All the staffs of the office hold the view (1)/that Mr. Sinha isa very wise (2)/and an intelligent officer (3)/No error(4) It is very difficult (1)/ to point out the number of (2)/ the creatures living on earth.(3)/ No error (4) My friend always (1)/ likes to travel by the air (2)/ since he is a very busy man. (3)/ No error (4) Dr. Rajendra Prasad was (1)/ a more famous philosopher (2)/ than a politician. (3)/ No error (4) ‘The Manager and (1)/ the Executive Director of our hotel (2)/ isa very energetic person. (3)/ No error (4)35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 1, 42. 43. 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50. . Whenever I meet (1)/ him he always makes (2)/ a mention of his father. (3)/ No error (4) Although he has (1)/ undergone a very costly treatment, (2)/ he has not been cured of a headache. (3)/ No error (4) ‘Those in hurry (1)/ should realise that speed (2)/ is no key to success in life. (3)/ No error (4) God made (1)/ earth and man (2)/ made town. (3)/ No error (4) Itis pity that (1)/ he does not behave humbly (2)/ with his parents and friends. (3)/ No error (4) Being M.A. only (1)/ he could not be appointed (2)/ to the post of a lecturer. (3)/ No error (4) He always takes (1)/ a heavy breakfast because (2)/ he generally skips lunch. (3)/ No error (4) Please go and find (1)/ out dog so that you (2)/ may not lose it forever. (3)/ No error (4) Snake we saw (1)/ was very deadly though (2)/ it left the kitchen quietly. (3)/ No error (4) Tonight I shall go (1)/ to the bed early because I (2)/ have to leave for Chennai at dawn tomorrow. (3)/ No error (4) Child needs love (1)/ and affection if he is to be brought up (2)/ asa healthy young man. (3)/ No error (4) It is said that (1)/ elephant is vindictive by nature (2)/ and never forgets his enemy. (3)/ No error (4) Itis very difficult (1)/ to get a taxi at such a hour (2)/ as it is already 10 p.m. (3)/ No error (4) Do you take (1)/ a sugar and if (2)/ so, how much? (3)/ No error (4) She lives in second storey (1)/ of the house and she has (2)/ to come down quite often. (3)/ No error (4) He knows how (1)/ to play flute, he learnt it (2)/ while he was a student. (3)/ No error (4) It is said that (1)/ he is a wise man because (2)/ he has studied Vedas.(3)/ No error (4) —_____Giisiions} 1 (1); Use ‘the Number of in place of ‘the number of’. The Number of + PCN + SV. A Number of + PCN + PV Number of students is fifty here. ®) The number of studentsis fifty here. (¥) The number of studentshave come. (x) Anumber of students have come. ~ 2. (1); Use ‘the’ before ‘Ganga’. ‘The’ is used with the name of rivers. 3. (1); Use ‘an’ before ‘employee’. 4, (1); Use ‘the man in place of ‘a man’. 5. 6. 7. 3); Use ‘quite a good bus service’ in place of ‘quite good bus service’. Structure quite/such + a/an + Adjective + SCN So /how + adjective ++ a /an + SCN is so a good girl. %) 50 good a girl. ~ Payal is such a good girl ) Such long journey ” Such long a journey. &) Such a long journey. ” (1); Use ‘Such a girl’ in place of ‘such girl’, (2); Use of ‘a soap’ is wrong here because ‘soap’ is an uncountable noun.; Use ‘the’ before ‘Milton’. ;, Use ‘a friend’ in place of ‘the friend’. ;, Use ‘In the history’ in place of ‘Ina history’. Use ‘a’ in place of ‘the’. “The war” means ‘some specific war’. |; Use ‘the’ before ‘better’. ; Use ‘the’ in place of ‘a’, The is used before construction of (Noun + of + noun). Use ‘the’ before ‘least’. ; Remove ‘a’. No error. Use ‘the first step’ in place of ‘a first step’ ; Remove ‘a’. ‘By mistake’ is used as an idiom. Remove’a’. Use ‘the union’ in place of ‘a union’. ;, Remove ‘the’ before ‘school’. ; Use ‘the’ before ‘cinema’. Use ‘a’ before ‘little’. ;, Use ‘the’ in place of ‘an’, Remove ‘the’ before ‘life’. Use ‘a’ before ‘little’. Remove ‘the’ before ‘sunset’. Remove ‘the’ before ‘conclusion’. Remove ‘an’ before ‘intelligent’. No error Remove ‘the’ before ‘air’. ; Remove ‘a’ before ‘politician’ ; Remove ‘the before ‘executive’ 34. (3); Remove ‘a’ before ‘mention’ 35. (3); Remove ‘a’ before ‘headache’ 36. (1); Use ‘a’ before ‘hurry’ 37. (3); Use ‘the’ before ‘town’ 38. (1); Use ‘a’ before ‘pity’ 39. (1); Use ‘an’ before ‘MA’ No error ; Use ‘the’ before ‘dog’ ; Use ‘the’ before ‘snake" Remove ‘the’ before ‘bed” Use ‘a’ before ‘child’ Use ‘the’ before ‘elephant’ Use ‘an’ before ‘hour’ Remove ‘A’ before ‘sugar’ Use ‘the’ before ‘second’ Use ‘the’ before ‘flute’ ; Use ‘the’ before ‘Vedas’ 40. 41. 42. 43, 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50.