Articles

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                                                       Articles


What is an Articles?

An article is a short monosyllabic word that is used to define if the noun is specific or not. Articles are normally used before nouns and since they are used to speak about the noun, they can be considered as adjectives.

Look at how various dictionaries define an article to have a much clearer idea of what they are.


Types of Articles

There are three articles in English – ‘a’, ‘an’ and ‘the’. These articles are divided into two types namely:

  • Definite Article
  • Indefinite Article

Definite Article

Among the three articles, ‘the’ is said to be the definite article. A definite article is used to determine something that is specific or particular. It is also used before plural nouns and to indicate the superlative degree of comparison. Furthermore, it can be used before collective nouns as well.

For example:

  • The Sun sets in the west.

In the above sentence, the nouns ‘Sun’ and ‘west’ are proper nouns and are specific and so the definite article has to be used.

  • The children are playing cricket.

In the above sentence, the definite article is used to determine the plural noun, ‘children’.

  • This is the world’s longest river.

In the above sentence, the definite article is used to denote the superlative degree of comparison.

  • The crowd sang along with the band.

In the above sentence, the definite article is used before the collective nouns, ‘crowd’ and ‘band’.

Indefinite Article

The articles ‘an’ and ‘an’ are termed as indefinite articles. An indefinite article, as the name suggests, is used to indicate something that is not definite or specific. It can also be used before singular nouns.

Among the indefinite articles, ‘an’ is used before singular nouns that start with vowel sounds and ‘a’ is used before singular nouns that begin with consonant sounds.

For example:

  • I had an apple for breakfast.
  • Do you have an eraser?
  • I saw an aeroplane.
  • She has a pet dog.
  • My father is a doctor.
  • My brother gave me a calculator.

The Two Types of Article

Key Takeaway

"The" is called the definite article because it is used to indicate something specific.

"A" and "an" are called the indefinite articles because they are used to indicate something unspecific.

Articles Are Determiners

The articles are classified as determiners. A determiner sits before a noun to indicate quantity, possession, specificity, or definiteness.Read more about determiners.

Examples of the Definite and Indefinite Articles

Here are some more examples of the articles in use:
  • I fell over the chair again.
    • (The chair is specific. It is known to the audience.)
  • Can you pass me a chair?
    • (This means an unspecific chair, i.e., any chair.)
  • I loved the apple pie after the meal.
    • (In this example, the audience knows which apple pie is being praised, e.g., the one at last night's dinner.)
  • I love an apple pie after dinner.
    • (The audience understands that the speaker likes to eat an apple pie after dinner (any apple pie will do).)

Articles Go before Adjectives

An article often modifies a noun that is already being modified by an adjective. When this happens, the article goes before the adjective (or adjectives). For example:
  • Please open the small box first.
    • (Here, the noun "box" is being modified by the adjective "small." The definite article "the" sits before the adjective. Remember that the use of "the" tells us that we are talking about a box already known to the audience.)
  • You will get an excellent pizza at Papa Antonio's.
    • (Here, the indefinite article "an" sits before the adjective "excellent.")

Indefinite Articles Are Used with Singular Nouns

The indefinite article ("a," "an") is only for singular nouns. It is not used for plural nouns.

As the indefinite article specifies one thing (e.g., "a cup" means "one cup"), it is not used with non-countable nouns (e.g., "water," "air," "integrity"). For example:
  • I need an air. wrong cross
  • Play me a music. wrong cross
  • Give me a heat. wrong cross
Most commonly, the indefinite determiner "some" is used instead.

Articles Are Not Used with Possessive Determiners or Possessive Pronouns

Articles are not used with possessive determiners ("my," "your," "his," "her," "its," "our," "their") or possessive pronouns ("mine," "yours," "his," "hers," "ours," "theirs") as these already show that something is specific. For example:
  • Take me to the your leader. wrong cross
  • Take me to your leader. correct tick
  • Can I borrow a yours? wrong cross
  • Can I borrow yours? correct tick

Usage and Exceptions – Points to be Remembered When Using Articles

Articles are used extensively by English language users, and for this very reason, it is important to know where and where not to use them. In order to have a thorough knowledge of how to use the right articles in the right places, have a look at the following.

A or An?

The article ‘an’ is normally used before words that begin with vowel sounds. However, this is often confused with the idea that it can be used before words that start with a vowel. Look at the examples given below to understand how this works.

    • I have an umbrella.
    • This is an orange.
    • An elephant was crossing the road.

If you see here, the words ‘university’ and ‘unique’ start with a vowel. However, it does not have a vowel sound but a consonant sound ‘yu’ in the beginning. It is because of this reason that the indefinite article, ‘a’ is used instead of ‘an’.

    • Studying in a university will give you a lot of exposure.
    • This is a unique way of communicating with birds.

In the examples given below, ‘an’ is used before ‘MBA’ and ‘hour’ though they are words starting with consonants. This is because the word ‘MBA’ starts with ‘m’ which has a vowel sound (em) in the beginning. Likewise, the ‘h’ in the word ‘hour’ is silent, thus having a vowel sound in the beginning.

    • I have completed an MBA degree.
    • It took an hour to reach the airport.

Exceptions

Words starting with a vowel, but use ‘a’ instead of ‘an’:

  • One
  • University
  • Unique
  • Uniform
  • Unit
  • Eucalyptus
  • Utensil
  • Euro
  • UFO

Words starting with a consonant, but use ‘an’ instead of ‘a’.

  • Hour
  • Honest
  • Hourly
  • MBA
  • MBBS
  • MA
  • MSc
  • MMR
  • MCom
  • MLA
  • NCC
  • Honorary
  • X-ray
  • Xmas

There are also some cases in which you will have to use the indefinite article ‘the’ before a common noun. Look at the following set of sentences to understand how this works.

Example 1: My brother and I are going for a wedding reception. The reception is held in an open lawn at 7 p.m.

Example 2: I saw a dog at the end of the street. The dog came running to me.

Example 3: Tharun watched a movie yesterday. He felt that the movie was too slow.

Examples of Articles

Let us look at a few more examples to find out how articles can be used.

  • The English teacher is absent today.
  • I saw a bird sitting on the tree in front of my house.
  • Not many know how to use an oven properly.
  • Tom has a cat.
  • We are going to buy a dress for our daughter.
  • Carry an umbrella. I am sure it will rain.
  • Keren found a puppy on the road.
  • The parents have been asked to attend a meeting tomorrow.
  • The committee has decided to bring down the fuel rates.
  • Due to a hartal, the shops have been closed.

Check Your Understanding of Articles

Fill in the blanks with the appropriate articles in the following sentences:

1. Have you watched ______ new movie?

2. I have never used ______ computer.

3. Do you know _____ multiplication tables?

4. Sandra brought ______ apple.

5. Madhu has ____ teddy bear.

6. ______ chairs are all broken.

7. The janitor asked ______ students to walk carefully as ______ floor was wet.

8. I have finished reading _____ book you lent me.

9. Hari is planning to buy ____ new car.

10. He has been waiting for ___ hour.

Check your answers.

1. Have you watched the new movie?

2. I have never used a computer.

3. Do you know the multiplication tables?

4. Sandra brought an apple.

5. Madhu has a teddy bear.

6. The chairs are all broken.

7. The janitor asked the students to walk carefully as the floor was wet.

8. I have finished reading the book you lent me.

9. Hari is planning to buy a new car.

10. He has been waiting for an hour.



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