The adjectives 'a', 'an' and 'the' are usually called Articles. They are infact "Demonstrative Adjectives". These articles are classified into two types 1) Indefinite Articles and 2) Definite Article.
1) INDEFINITE ARTICLES:
'A' and 'AN' are treated as indefinite articles, because it does not point out any definite or particular person or thing.
These are weakened form of "ONE". They are only used before a singular countable nouns. 'A' and 'AN' are not used with uncountable Nouns. A singular countable Noun always takes an article 'or' an adjective.
An article combines with Noun to indicate the type of reference being made by Noun.
An article is sometimes called a Noun marker also:
Eg:- I play a game (any game)
We saw an Elephant
Raju is a boy.
Rani is an intelligent girl.
2) DEFINITE ARTICLE:
'The' is a definite article; because it points out some definite or a particular person or thing. 'The' is used before a singular or plural Noun, whether countable or uncountable. When that Noun is specifically identified or its identity is already understood.
As a general rule, a common Noun in the singular number should have an article before it.
Eg:- I have seen an 'a' the umbrella.
As an exception, 'A' and 'An' are used with some of the uncountable Nouns.
Have a drink/a meal/a bath/a shower/a shave/a rest/a talk/a walk/a sleep/a conversation/a dream/a surprise/a chat/ a quarrel/a fight/a tussle/a swim/a ride/a good day/a bad day/a head ache/a disagreement/a cold/a cough/a try/a good education/make a noise/make a mistake/in a hurry/in a diagram, etc.
Usage of 'A':
Article 'A' is used before a Noun whose first letter sound as consonant irrespective of the first letter being a vowel or consonant.
Eg:- a boy, a doctor, a girl, a system etc.,
a useful book, a university, a European, a unit, a ewe etc.,
a one-eyed man, a one rupee note, such a one etc.
Usage of 'An':
Article 'An' is used before a Noun/word. Whose first letter sounds as vowel irrespective of the first letter being a vowel or consonant;
Eg:- an eye, an idiot, an ox, an egg, an idea, etc.,
an honest man, an hour, an M.A., an hier, an x-ray etc.,
an RTC-Bus, an M.L.A., an M.P.,
an umbrella, an uncle,
an historical novel, an heroic deed, an hotel.
Sometimes 'A' or "An' is used before a noun to indicate a class.
A child should obey her parents.
An ant is an industrious creature.
Sometimes 'A' is used as a preposition.
Eg:- Anil went a voyage/on voyage.
Tomatoes sell at one kilo a rupee/One rupee.
I get five thousand rupees a month/Every month.
'A' is used before other determinatives like few, little,
a few = a small number(it has a positive meaning) a little,
a little = A small amount.
There are a few mangoes in the basket.
There are a lot of books on the shelf.
There is a little milk left in the bottle.
A few boys passed the examination.
There is a little water in the pot.
'A' or 'An' is also used in certain exclamatory sentences beginning with 'what' 'OR' before singular countable Nouns in the exclamatory sentence.
Eg:- What a comment she has made!
What a amazing beauty it is!
What a beautiful picture it is!
The indefinite article 'a' or 'an' is used before singular nouns that come immediately after verbs in sentence.
Eg:- He wanted to be a teacher.
My brother wants to be an engineer.
You are a stupid person to miss such a fine opportunity.
In adverbials or adjuncts introuduced by 'as' 'for' etc., the indefinite article 'a' or 'an' is used.
Wrong:As a teacher of post graduate classes he was great success.
Right : As a teacher of post graduate classes, he was a great success.
Wrong: As a trainer, he was responsible for in-service training.
Right : As a trainer, he was responsible for an in-service training.
Wrong: She was punished for being plagiarist.
Right : She was punished for being a plagiarist.
Nouns that come after verbs are often used without the indefinite articles ('a' or 'an) when a contrast between different capacities of a person is expressed.
Wrong: Bharat Ratna Abdul Kalam is first an Indian and a Scientist next.
Right : Bharat Ratna Abdul Kalam is first Indian and scientist next.
Wrong: A.K.Ramanujam is known as a translator and as a poet.
Right : A.K.Ramanujam is known as translatior and as poet.
Indefinite article is used before certain words such as 'cold', 'headache' and 'noise'.
He has a bad headache.
Don't make a noise.
Indefinite article is used in the expressions of price, speed etc.,
The scooter runs at 50 km an hour (per hour).
These mangoes cost Rs.50 a dozen (Every dozen).
2) DEFINITE ARTICLE:
i) Definite article 'The' is used before;
Before Examples:
1) The names of mountain ranges. The Himalayas, The Aravalis.
2) The names of Rivers. The Ganga, The Brahmaputra, The Godavari.
3) The names of Bay. The Bay of Bengal, The Hudson Bay.
4) The names of Gulfs. The Persian Gulf, The Gulf of Mannar.
5) The names of Seas. The Black Sea, The Arabian Sea.
6) The names of Oceans. The Atlantic Ocean, The pacific Ocean.
7) The names of group of islands. The Anadamans, The Indonesia.
8) The names of News papers. The Hindu, The Asian age, The times of India.
9) The names of Ships. The Titanic.
10)The Names of Holy Books. The Bible, The Bhagavat Geeta, The Quran.
11)The names of Noted Public Places. The Secretariat, The I-Max, The High Court.
12)The names of Trains. The Ajantha Express, The Rajadhani.
13)The names of plans. The Airbus.
14)The names of space Crafts. The Discovery, The Atlantis.
15)The names of Canals. The Kakatiya Canal, The Sarswathi Canal.
16)The names of Deserts. The Thar Desert, The Gobi desert, The Sahara.
17)The names of musical Instruments. The Guitar, The Violin.
18)The names of Hotels & Restaurants. The Taj, The Oberoi.
1) INDEFINITE ARTICLES:
'A' and 'AN' are treated as indefinite articles, because it does not point out any definite or particular person or thing.
These are weakened form of "ONE". They are only used before a singular countable nouns. 'A' and 'AN' are not used with uncountable Nouns. A singular countable Noun always takes an article 'or' an adjective.
An article combines with Noun to indicate the type of reference being made by Noun.
An article is sometimes called a Noun marker also:
Eg:- I play a game (any game)
We saw an Elephant
Raju is a boy.
Rani is an intelligent girl.
2) DEFINITE ARTICLE:
'The' is a definite article; because it points out some definite or a particular person or thing. 'The' is used before a singular or plural Noun, whether countable or uncountable. When that Noun is specifically identified or its identity is already understood.
As a general rule, a common Noun in the singular number should have an article before it.
Eg:- I have seen an 'a' the umbrella.
As an exception, 'A' and 'An' are used with some of the uncountable Nouns.
Have a drink/a meal/a bath/a shower/a shave/a rest/a talk/a walk/a sleep/a conversation/a dream/a surprise/a chat/ a quarrel/a fight/a tussle/a swim/a ride/a good day/a bad day/a head ache/a disagreement/a cold/a cough/a try/a good education/make a noise/make a mistake/in a hurry/in a diagram, etc.
Usage of 'A':
Article 'A' is used before a Noun whose first letter sound as consonant irrespective of the first letter being a vowel or consonant.
Eg:- a boy, a doctor, a girl, a system etc.,
a useful book, a university, a European, a unit, a ewe etc.,
a one-eyed man, a one rupee note, such a one etc.
Usage of 'An':
Article 'An' is used before a Noun/word. Whose first letter sounds as vowel irrespective of the first letter being a vowel or consonant;
Eg:- an eye, an idiot, an ox, an egg, an idea, etc.,
an honest man, an hour, an M.A., an hier, an x-ray etc.,
an RTC-Bus, an M.L.A., an M.P.,
an umbrella, an uncle,
an historical novel, an heroic deed, an hotel.
Sometimes 'A' or "An' is used before a noun to indicate a class.
A child should obey her parents.
An ant is an industrious creature.
Sometimes 'A' is used as a preposition.
Eg:- Anil went a voyage/on voyage.
Tomatoes sell at one kilo a rupee/One rupee.
I get five thousand rupees a month/Every month.
'A' is used before other determinatives like few, little,
a few = a small number(it has a positive meaning) a little,
a little = A small amount.
There are a few mangoes in the basket.
There are a lot of books on the shelf.
There is a little milk left in the bottle.
A few boys passed the examination.
There is a little water in the pot.
'A' or 'An' is also used in certain exclamatory sentences beginning with 'what' 'OR' before singular countable Nouns in the exclamatory sentence.
Eg:- What a comment she has made!
What a amazing beauty it is!
What a beautiful picture it is!
The indefinite article 'a' or 'an' is used before singular nouns that come immediately after verbs in sentence.
Eg:- He wanted to be a teacher.
My brother wants to be an engineer.
You are a stupid person to miss such a fine opportunity.
In adverbials or adjuncts introuduced by 'as' 'for' etc., the indefinite article 'a' or 'an' is used.
Wrong:As a teacher of post graduate classes he was great success.
Right : As a teacher of post graduate classes, he was a great success.
Wrong: As a trainer, he was responsible for in-service training.
Right : As a trainer, he was responsible for an in-service training.
Wrong: She was punished for being plagiarist.
Right : She was punished for being a plagiarist.
Nouns that come after verbs are often used without the indefinite articles ('a' or 'an) when a contrast between different capacities of a person is expressed.
Wrong: Bharat Ratna Abdul Kalam is first an Indian and a Scientist next.
Right : Bharat Ratna Abdul Kalam is first Indian and scientist next.
Wrong: A.K.Ramanujam is known as a translator and as a poet.
Right : A.K.Ramanujam is known as translatior and as poet.
Indefinite article is used before certain words such as 'cold', 'headache' and 'noise'.
He has a bad headache.
Don't make a noise.
Indefinite article is used in the expressions of price, speed etc.,
The scooter runs at 50 km an hour (per hour).
These mangoes cost Rs.50 a dozen (Every dozen).
2) DEFINITE ARTICLE:
i) Definite article 'The' is used before;
Before Examples:
1) The names of mountain ranges. The Himalayas, The Aravalis.
2) The names of Rivers. The Ganga, The Brahmaputra, The Godavari.
3) The names of Bay. The Bay of Bengal, The Hudson Bay.
4) The names of Gulfs. The Persian Gulf, The Gulf of Mannar.
5) The names of Seas. The Black Sea, The Arabian Sea.
6) The names of Oceans. The Atlantic Ocean, The pacific Ocean.
7) The names of group of islands. The Anadamans, The Indonesia.
8) The names of News papers. The Hindu, The Asian age, The times of India.
9) The names of Ships. The Titanic.
10)The Names of Holy Books. The Bible, The Bhagavat Geeta, The Quran.
11)The names of Noted Public Places. The Secretariat, The I-Max, The High Court.
12)The names of Trains. The Ajantha Express, The Rajadhani.
13)The names of plans. The Airbus.
14)The names of space Crafts. The Discovery, The Atlantis.
15)The names of Canals. The Kakatiya Canal, The Sarswathi Canal.
16)The names of Deserts. The Thar Desert, The Gobi desert, The Sahara.
17)The names of musical Instruments. The Guitar, The Violin.
18)The names of Hotels & Restaurants. The Taj, The Oberoi.
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