Articles (A,An,The) in details: A Complete English Grammar Guide

 

 Articles (A,An,The) in details.

A, An and The – These three are called Articles. They are also classified as adjectives

because they  describe the qualities or quantities of a noun.

                                                  or

Provide additional information about particular noun.

Let us pay attention to these points:-

Point 1.

Examples- The umbrella.( But  pronounced as thee umbrella, because umbrella starts with vowel sound), The ear(Starts with vowel sound ,pronounced as thee ear)

“The”  will be pronounced as “thee”.-   If the next word starts with a vowel sound.

Point 2.

Example- The university (Here university start with consonant sound so pronounced as the university),       The year (Year starts with consonant sound).

“The” will be pronounced as “the”. -  If the next word starts with a consonant sound.

Point 3.

While using article a, an We have often followed a pattern in that -“an‟ is used when the next word starts with a vowel . And article “a‟ is Used when the next word starts with a consonant.

-          If it is so, then why do we say “An hour“. Even here first letter “h” is a consonant, then         why don’t we use “a” before it .

-          “A university” Even here first letter “u‟ is a vowel, why don’t we use “an‟.

Conclusion- The fact is; it’s not about starting of next word with a vowel or a consonant, rather it’s all about the starting of next word with a vowel sound or a consonant sound.

There are two types of Articles –

1) Definite Article [The]-      

      Definite Article “The‟ generally points out a particular person, place or thing.

2) Indefinite Article [A/An]-   

Indefinite Article “A/An‟ does not point out any particular person or thing.

Read the following and understand the concept-

Example-

Someone Comes to your door to sell something. and your father asked to you who is at the door? You enquired and came to your father and said , He is a salesman. Now your father comes at door and ask him (salesman) to come on weekend.

If the person, place or thing is unknown or being talked about for the first time, then we need to use indefinite article i.e. “a” or “an”.

 On Sunday the same salesman came and rang the bell. And same thing happened again your father asked to you to go and check at the door, you came and found the same salesman, who had visited earlier. Then you come to your father and say father, the salesman who had come earlier is at the door.

However if the person, place or thing is known and already been talked about, then we need to use definite article i.e. “the”.

Some related examples-

1) This is the book I was talking about.

2) This is a book.

3)  I found the mobile which I lost yesterday.

When to use “A” and when to use “An”

An will be used-  if the next word starts with a vowel sound.

A will be used - if the next word starts with a consonant sound.

Examples-

1. A university ( Consonant  sound)-  so “a‟ is used.
2. A year (Consonant sound) - so “a” is used .
3. An ear(Vowel sound)- so “an” is used.
4. An honest (Vowel sound)- so “an” is used.
5. A union( Consonant sound)- so “a” is used.

Where to use “The‟

• With unique People/objects.

The president, The CEO, The world, The sky, The Sun, The Earth, The Moon, etc.

• With adjectives referring  to a whole group of people. 

The young, The rich, The poor, The old, etc.

• With famous buildings, museums and monuments. 

The India gate, The Taj Mahal, The White House(Resident of USA president), The Eiffel Tower, The Globe etc.

• With superlative degrees of an adjective.  

The tallest, The lowest, The youngest ,The highest, The most,  The oldest, The richest,  etc.

• With ordinal numbers.  

The first chapter, The last lesson, The last time, The first time, The second occasion, The fourth member etc.

• With countries whose names include words like kingdom, states or republic. 

The Republic of India, the United States, the United Kingdom, The Republic of Ireland etc.

• With rivers, canals & oceans.

The Brahamputra, The Nile, The Atlantic, The pecific, the Ganga,  the Indian ocean etc.

• With the names of families.

The Tatas, The Khans, The kushwahas, The Guptas, The ambanis. etc.

• “The” is used before the word “whole‟ and after the word “all‟.

Example-

I am reading whole story. (Incorrect)

I am reading the whole story.(Correct)

 All fruits are kept in the refrigerator. (Incorrect)

All the fruits are kept in the refrigerator.  (Correct)

 

Where not to use „The‟

• "The‟ is not used before the name of any language. 

I speak the Hindi/English/Urdu. (Incorrect)

I speak Hindi/English/Urdu.(Correct)

• The‟ is not used before the name of any disease.

I am  suffering from the fever. (Incorrect)

I am suffering from fever. (Correct)

• “The‟ is not used before the name of any country.  

We live in the India. (Incorrect)

We  live in India.(Correct)

They live in the America. (Incorrect)

They   live in America.(Correct)

Thank You!