What are articles in English Grammar?

Articles are words that identify a noun as being specific or unspecific. See following examples: After the long journey, the cup of tea tasted particularly good. By using the article the, we’ve shown that it was one specific Journey that was long and one specific cup of tea that tasted good.

In English, there are 03 articles:

1. A,
2. An, and
3. The.

Articles are used before a noun or noun equivalents and a class of adjectives.

Types of Articles

There are two types of Articles in English Grammar. They are as follows:

1. Indefinite Articles: The Indefinite Articles (A, An) are used when we mention something for the first time in speaking or writing.
2. Definite Article: The definite article (the) is used before a noun to indicate that the identity of the noun is already known to the reader or speaker.

In short, ‘The’ is the Definite  Article. We use it when we talk of a particular person or thing. ‘A’ and ‘An’ are Indefinite Articles. We use “A” and “An” articles when we don’t speak of any particular person or thing.

Rules for using Indefinite Articles ‘A’

A and An are Indefinite Articles. They suggest people or things that are not particular. Here are the rules for using indefinite articles: A, An.

Rule-1

• ‘A‘ is used before the countable singular number.

For example, a dog, a car, a banana, a house, a notebook. etc.

Rule-2

• ‘A‘ is used before a word begins with a consonant alphabet. For example a laptop, a chair, a table, a fan, a mouse, a calendar, etc.

For example a laptop, a chair, a table, a fan, a mouse, a calendar, etc.

Rule-3

• ‘A‘ is used before a word begins with a consonant sound even it has a vowel alphabet in the beginning. .

For Example a university, A European, etc.

Rules for using Indefinite Articles ‘An’

Rule-1

• ‘An‘ is used before a countable noun in the singular number beginning with a vowel alphabet:

For example, an elephant, an airport, an ant, an apple, an ice cream, etc.

Rule-2

• ‘An‘ is used before a word begins with a vowel sound. Like, with a silent ‘h‘:

For example, an honest man, an hour journey,

The Rules for using Definite Article ‘The’

Rule-1

We use ‘The’ before a person or thing already mentioned in speaking or writing.

For examples:

My favorite teacher gifted me a pen. Do you know? I have kept the pen carefully as it was given to me as a gift.

Rule-2

‘We use “The” before a person or thing already mentioned or well known “or” a particular person/thing, well-known places, things, books, newspapers, magazines, etc.

For examples:

1. The Taj Mahal,
2. The Bible,
3. The Bhagvat Gita,
4. The Times of India,
5. The Hindu, etc.
6. The Bible is the holy book of Christians.
7. The Hindu is one of the famous newspapers in India.
8. Give me the blue T-shirt.

Rule-3

‘The’ is used before a Common Noun (Singular Number) to show a class.

For examples:

The tiger is our national animal. The lion is the king of Forest.

Rule-4

‘The’ is used before an Adjective with a plural number, to show a class.

For examples:

The poor people suffer a lot. The deaf can not listen. The dumb can not speak.

Rule-5

‘The’ is used before the Superlative Degrees of Adjective.

For examples:

Rohan is the tallest boy in our class. John is the best player on our team. Madhu is the most beautiful girl in her family. This is the best book that I have ever read.

Rule-6

‘The’ is used before the unique things that exist.

For examples:

All the planets move around the sun

Rule-7

‘The’ is used before names of rivers, oceans, mountain ranges, etc.

For examples:

The Himalayas are the longest mountain range in the world. The Bay of Bengal is situated in the eastern part of India. The Ganges is the holy river.

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