Rules For Articles | Articles a, an, the rules

Rules for Articles

Rules for Articles is given here on this page!!

Articles are words that defines a noun as specific or general. They are namely – ‘A’, ‘An’, ‘The’. Here are some rules for articles :

  • A – used before consonants
  • An – used before vowels
  • The – used for specification of a noun.
Rules for Articles

Rules for Articles

A, An, The Rules

Example:

  • The girl from the coffee shop was blonde.

With the use of ‘the’ in the sentence, we clearly bring out that the girl was a specific girl coming out from a specific coffee shop.

  • A girl from a coffee shop was blonde.

With the use of ‘a’ in the sentence, we extract that the girl could be any girl coming out of any coffee shop in general.

  • An anxious girl from a coffee shop looked around nervously.

With the use of “an” in the sentence, we indicate that the girl is described by an adjective starting with a vowel sound (“anxious”). It still refers to any girl in general, not a specific one, but the article “an” is used instead of “a” because “anxious” begins with a vowel sound.

Types of Articles

The Definite Article

  • The Definite Article from among the three articles is ‘THE’.
  • It specifies the objectivity of a noun.
  • The definite article walks you through the particularity of a noun.
  • For example, your friend might ask, “Are you willing to participate in the competition this year?” The definite article ‘the competition’ tells you that your friend is talking about a particular competition that the two of you know of.
  • The definite article can be used with singular, plural, or uncountable nouns.
  • With definite article it becomes easy to identify a noun in a sentence that might be otherwise vague or not clear in concept.

The Indefinite Article

  • The indefinite article comes in the form of two articles – ‘a’ and ‘an’. ‘A’ is used before any consonant while ‘an’ takes its place before a vowel. 
  • The indefinite articles walks you through the general idea of a noun as a contrast to definite article.
  • For example, you might ask your mom, “Should I wear a jeans to the party?” Your mom will know that you’re talking about wearing a jeans to the party. Not a particular one but jeans of any color or design.
  • “Why don’t you wear an ankle length jeans?” your mom replies back. Here the indefinite article ‘an’ talks about a jeans of ankle length but not specifying which one.

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Rules For Article

Rules for Articles

Using Indefinite Article 'A' & 'An'

Rule 1:

In the singular sequence, a common noun also has an article prior to it. But an article doesn’t necessarily need a traditional plural noun. A plural common noun will have the article ‘the’ if we want to designate the noun.

Example:

  • I ate a banana. (Refers to a random banana)
  • I ate bananas at home. (No article is required)
  • I have eaten the bananas again (Refers to the banana i have eaten earlier)
  • I have eaten the bananas again before leaving the house. (Refers to the particular bananas which I ate earlier at the house.)

Rule 2:

You can choose between the two indefinite articles – a & an – by its sound. There are some exceptional cases against the general use of ‘a’ and ‘an’

  • a university, a union, a useful book, etc.
  • a one-dollar book, a one-man army, etc.
  • an MA, a BA, an LLB, a BSC, etc.

Rule 3:

A or an – sometimes a sentence can translate a Proper noun into Common noun. Proper nouns are generally not preceded by articles but when it changes to common noun it needs an article.

Example: 

  • She regards herself as a Shakespeare. (Here, Shakespeare isn’t the person but a reference)
  • He thinks his house is a Palace.

Rule 4:

We use indefinite articles to represent a number that is generally ‘one’/’each’/’per’.

Example:

  • I am an hour late for the meeting. (One hour late)
  • I have a car. (One car)
  • The plane can travel 5m an hour ( one hour or per hour)

Rule 5:

Indefinite articles are often used before any descriptive adjectives.

Example:

  • He is a good boy.
  • What a nice car!
  • She is a brilliant dancer

Rule 6:

‘A’ sometimes precede determiners, for example,  a few, a little, a lot of, a most, etc. However, when you write a sentence using many, ‘a’ or ‘an’ is used after it.

Example:

  • I have a few pens lying around on the table.
  • There is a little water in the bottle
  • Many a man tried to rescue the girl, but none could.

Rules for Articles

Using Definite Article 'The'

Rule 1:

‘The’ is used to define anything specific or particular hence the name definite article.

Example:

  • The lady is standing. ( a particular lady)
  • I heard the dog barking. (a specific dog who was barking)
  • Where is the book that i had lent you last month. (a specific book)
  • I gave her a dress but she ripped the dress. (‘a dress’ becomes the dress’ in the second clause because the dress was not general anymore. It was the specific one that I lent.)

Rule 2:

At some places we can use ‘the’ to specify a particular group or class.

Example:

  • The cows are domestic animal. (Refers to the whole group of cows.)
  • The millenials are an advanced generation
  • The honest are always honored (The+adjectives = plural noun)
  • The genius are always valued

Rule 3:

To specify or particularize any non countable nouns, we can use ‘the’

Example:

  • The stars in the sky shine so bright
  • The sand in the desert is too hot.
  • The water in this bottle is cold

Rule 4:

‘The’ article is used to address anything that is exclusive or unique (one of a kind).

Example:

  • The earth is round
  • The sun shines bright
  • The poles have a cold temperature.

Rule 5:

Generally, using ‘the’ for regional nouns relies on the scale and plurality of the objects referred to by such nouns. Except in some situations,’ The’ is commonly used everywhere.

Let’s take a look at the exceptions first.

‘The’ must not precede:

Names of:

  • Continents: America, Asia, Europe, Australia etc.
  • Countries: India, France, Spain
  • States, cities, towns, or streets.
  • Singular lakes, bays, mountains – Mount Everest, Mount Fuji, etc.
  • Languages: Spanish, Russian, English,  (You can use ‘the’ before languages to portray the people from such places)
  • Sports, discipline/subject: mathematics, english, history, geography.

‘The’ must precede.

After listing the exceptions, let’s now see which geographical divisions can precede with ‘the’. 

Names of:

  • Oceans, gulfs, seas, and rivers: the Pacific, the Atlantic, the Nile, the Murray River,
  • Countries with United states or islands: the United States of America (the USA), the UK, the UAE,
  • Great lakes: the Great Lakes, the African Great Lakes
  • Mountain ranges: the Himalayas, the Alps, the Andes, etc.
  • Groups of Islands: the West Indies, the Andamans, etc

Also Check Out

SAMPLE ARTICLE QUESTIONS

Question: 1

Choose the correct article from the options given below.

 _______ moon looks beautiful tonight. 

  1. A
  2. An
  3. The
  4. No Article

Explanation:
When referring to a unique celestial body like the moon the definite article “the” is used.

Question: 2

Choose the correct article from the options given below.

Laura is studying hard to clear _______ engineering entrance exam.

  1. A
  2. An
  3. The
  4. No article

Explanation:
Since”the” is used as the definite article to indicating specifically –  “engineering entrance exam”.

Question: 3

Choose the correct article from the options given below.

Arnold is _______ honest person; he never tells lies.

  1. A
  2. An
  3. The
  4. No article

Explanation:
When a noun begins with a vowel sound the indefinite article “an” is used. In this case “honest” begins with a vowel sound (“o”).

Question: 4

Choose the correct article from the options given below.

_______ Nile River is the longest river in Africa.

  1. A
  2. An
  3. The
  4. No article

Explanation:
The sentence is talking about a specific river “the” is used as the definite article to indicate that it is referring to the Nile River specifically.

Question: 5

Choose the correct article from the options given below.

I found ____ interesting book at ____ Lucknow public library yesterday.

  1. an / a
  2. the/a
  3. an/the
  4. the/the

Explanation:
“Interesting” starts with a vowel sound so we use the indefinite article “an” before it.
We use the definite article “the” before “library” because it refers to a specific library.