the article prepared by : dipakbhai v. parikh principal, vakal vidyalaya , bajuwa , baroda

Prepared by :Dipakbhai V. Parikh

The Article

Prepared By : Dipakbhai V. ParikhPrincipal,

Vakal Vidyalaya, Bajuwa, Baroda.


What is an article? Basically, an article is an adjective. Like

adjectives, articles modify nouns.English has two articles: the and a/an.

The is used to refer to specific or particular nouns;

A/An is used to modify non-specific or non-particular nouns.

We call the the definite article and a/an the indefinite article.


the = definite articlea/an = indefinite article

For example, if I say, "Let's read the book," I mean a specific book. If I say, "Let's read a

book," I mean any book rather than specific book.

Here's another way to explain it: The is used to refer to a specific or particular member of a group. For example, "I just saw the most popular movie of the year."


There are many movies, but only one particular movie is the most popular.

Therefore, we use the. "A/an" is used to refer to a non-specific or non-particular member of the group. For example, "I would like to go see a movie."

Here, we're not talking about a specific movie. We're talking about any movie.

There are many movies, and I want to see any movie. I don't have a specific one in

mind.


Normally, we use a/an to refer to something for the first time. For example, “We went to a museum in Paris. We ate at

the museum too”.Indefinite Articles: a and an

"A" and "an" signal that the noun modified is indefinite, referring to any member of a

group. For example:"My daughter really wants a dog for

Christmas." This refers to any dog. We don't know which dog because we haven't

found the dog yet.


"Somebody call a policeman!" This refers to any policeman. We don't need a specific policeman; we need any policeman who is

available. "When I was at the zoo, I saw an

elephant!" Here, we're talking about a single, non-specific thing, in this case an

elephant. There are probably several elephants at the zoo, but there's only one

we're talking about here.


Remember, using a or an depends on the sound that begins the next word. So...

a + singular noun beginning with a consonant: a boy; a car; a bike; a zoo; a dog an + singular noun beginning with a vowel: an elephant; an egg; an apple; an idiot; an

orphan a + singular noun beginning with a

consonant sound: a user (sounds like 'yoo-zer,' i.e. begins with a consonant 'y' sound,

so 'a' is used); a university; a unicycle


Now see the following example: a/e/i/o/u/+’a’ U=Vowel

. There is a university in London.

Y= Consonant sound When we pronounce university “U” has a consonant sound in the beginning.


Now pronounce Umbrella & University and listen the sound carefully and feel the difference. O=Vowel

. He is a one –eyed man.

W= Consonant sound


When we pronounce ‘one’, it has a consonant sound in the beginning. Now pronounce Orange, Office & One, listen the sound carefully and feel the difference.“An” is used with Vowel sound and “A” is used with Consonant. Consonant

He is an M.L.A. AM=Vowel sound


When we pronounce M.L.A., it has a “Vowel” sound in the beginning. Now pronounce Mange, Money & M.L.A., Listen the sound carefully and feel the difference. Consonant She has given an N.D.A. exam. An= Vowel Sound


When we pronounce N.D.A. it has a “vowel” sound in the beginning. Now pronounce Number, Needle & N.D.A., listen the sound carefully and feel the difference.Uses of Indefinite Article:(1) It is to be used in singular only.(2) Any noun beginning with vowel takes An

article (In most of the cases.)Ex. An egg, an apple

(3) Any noun beginning with ‘h’ and if ‘h’ remain silent, it takes ‘an’ article. Ex.


An hour, an honest man.(4) Any noun indicates uncertain person, thing, animal, bird etc., it takes ‘a’ Ex.A cow is standing there.(5) When the noun represent the whole class in singular form ‘a’ can be used. Ex.A horse can jump.(6) In the expression of counting such as – a dozen, a couple, a score


(7) For mentioning price, motion, or quantity, article ‘a’ can be used. Ex. Twenty rupees a kilogram, twice a day.(8) When ‘one’ indicates any one only, at that time article ‘a’ can be used.(9) When we give specific noun to a personal pronoun, article ‘a’ can be used. Ex. Vinoba Bhave was a Gandhiji.(10) When we want to say something In the context of counting,.


‘a’ can be used before a noun. Ex. She could not speak a word.(11) At the time of using ‘such’ before countable singular, after such ‘a’ can be used. Ex. I have never seen such a nice picture.(12) If there is an adjective after so, between noun and adjective indefinite article can be used.


(13) If the knowledge is used for specific or special noun, article ‘a’ can be used. Ex. A knowledge of history is useful.(14) Hair is always used in plural form but if one hair is specified, article ‘a’ can be used.(15) When the material noun is used in specific meaning, article ‘a’ can be used. Ex. I read a news paper, give me a glass of milk.


Use of Article “The” (One and only One)(1) One and Only one- Part of your body:

the head, the neck, the backbone, the forehead, the tongue etc.

(2) One and Only one- In your home: the ceiling, the floor, the main gate , the kitchen, the boundary wall etc.

(3) One and Only one-In your classroom: the blackboard, the duster, the 1st boy, the last boy, the monitor, the tallest boy


-the weakest student, etc.(4) One and Only One- In your school: the Head master, the Prefect, the Head boy or girl, the head of the department, the school bell, the main gate etc.(5) One and Only One-In your play ground:The last batsman, the 3rd umpire, the goal post, (each part of the play ground) the first half of game, the match point, the man of the match, man of the series etc.


(6) One and Only One-In a university: the Vice Chancellor, the head office, the head of the department, the library, the D.E.N. etc.(7) One and Only One- In your city: the District Magistrate, the M.L.A., the Police Commissioner etc.(8) One and Only One-In your state: the Chief Minister, the Governor, the Capital of state, the State education minister etc.


(9) One and Only one: In a court: the High Court, the Supreme Court, the Judge, the Public prosecutor, the Capital punishment (once in a life) the Life imprisonment (once in a life) etc.(10) Once in a life-The date of birth, the date of death, the 1st marriage anniversary, the golden jubilee celebration, the lifetime achievement award etc.


(11) One and Only one- In your office: the boss, the head clerk, the staff in charge, the date of salary (in a month), the General Manager, the Director, the Personnel Manager etc.(12) One and Only one-In your country: the President, the Prime Minister, the Ruling party, the Home Minister, the Capital city, the boundary line, the Chief Justice, the Foreign Minister, the Defence Minister etc.


(13) One and Only one- Buildings and Monuments: the Taj Mahal, the Qutub Minar, the Buland Darwaja, the Gateway of India, the Red Fort, the Elephanta Cave, the Minakshi Temple etc.(14) One and Only one – Rivers and Oceans: the Ganga, the Yamuna, the Kaveri, the Saraswati, the Brahmaputra, the Indian Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, the Red Sea etc.


(15) One and Only one- In the world: the World Bank, the U.N.O., the SAARC, the Asia, the Europe, the British Airways, the Indian Air Force etc.(16) One and Only one- In the Universe: the Sun, the Moon, the Jupiter, the Earth, the Sky, the Heaven, the Hell etc.(17) One and Only one- Direction/Caste/Religion: the North, the South, the East, the West, the Hindu, the -


-Sikh, the Muslim, the Koran, the Gita, the Guru Granth Sahib, the Parsi, the Brahmin etc.(18) One and Only one-Historical events: The Independence day, the Republic day, the Gulf War, the World War etc.(19) One and Only one- Ordinal: the 1st boy, the last girl, the next episode etc.(20) One and Only one- Proper noun (names) qualified by Adjective:


The great king, Samudra Gupta, the brave man, Hercules etc.(21) One and Only one-Book: the Bible, the Quran, the Gita, the Mahabharata, etc.(22) One and Only one-Train/Ship etc: the Rajdhani Express, the Vaishali Express, the Punjab Mail, the Titanic etc.Note: Articles cannot be used with Material Noun, Abstract Noun, Name of a person etc.


Example: (1) Ram works hard to pass the

examination. (Name of the person)(2) White gold is precious metal. (Material

Noun)(3) Honesty is the best policy. (Abstract

Noun)(4) Man is mortal. (Common Noun)Articles can be used with Material Noun, Abstract Noun, Common Noun, Name of-


-a person etc., If some words or phrases have been used after it.(1) The man, whom you know, is a teacher. Clause (Common Noun) (2) The woman, in trouble, is a beggar. -Phrase(Common Noun)


(3) The gold, which I bought from America, Clausehas been robbed. (Material Noun)(4) The honesty, of my brother, is well- ----Phrase. -known. (Abstract Noun) ------------------The End.-----------------

the article prepared by : dipakbhai v. parikh principal, vakal vidyalaya , bajuwa , baroda

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