.
ARTICLES
The
Adjectives ‘a’ or ‘an’ and ‘the’ are usually called Articles.
There
are two Articles-‘a’ (or ‘an’) and ‘the’
‘a’ or ‘an’ is called the Indefinite Article, because it usually leaves indefinite the person
or thing spoken of; as,
A
doctor, means, any doctor.
‘The’
is called the Definite Article,
because it normally points out some particular
person or thing; as,
He
saw the doctor; meaning some particular doctor.
The
indefinite article is used before singular countable nouns,
E.g.
A book, an orange, a girl
The
definite article is used before singular countable nouns, plural countable
nouns and uncountable nouns,
E.g. The book, the books, the milk
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A OR AN
107.
The choice between a and an is determined by sound. Before a word beginning with a vowel sound an is used; as,
An ass, an enemy, an inkstpad, an orange, an umbrella, an hour, an honest man, an heir.
It
will be noticed that the words hour, honest, heir begin with a vowel sound, as
the initial consonant h is not pronounced.
Before
a word beginning with a consonant sound a is used, as,
A boy, a reindeer, a woman, a yard, a horse, a hole, a university, a union, a European, a ewe, a unicorn, a useful article.
because
these words begin with a consonant sound, that of yu.
Similarly
we say,
A one-rupee
note, such a one, a one-eyed man.
Because
one begins with the consonant sound of w.
(1) The Indefinite
Article is used in its original numerical sense of one; as,
Twelve
Inches make a foot. Not a word was said. A word to the wise is sufficient
A
bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
(2) The
Indefinite Article is used in the vague sense of a certain; as,
A Kishore
Kumar (- a certain person named Kishore Kumar) is suspected by the police.
One
evening a beggar came to my door.
(3) In the
sense of any, to single out an
individual as the representative of a class; as
A pupil
should obey his teacher..
A cow is a
useful animal.
(4) To make a
common noun of a proper noun; as,
A Daniel
come to judgment! (A Daniel = a very wise man)
USE OF THE DEFINITE ARTICLE
(1) The Definite
Article the is used, when we talk about a particular
person or thing, or one already referred to (that is,
when it is clear from the context which one we mean); as,
The
book you want is out of print. (Which book? The one you want)
Let’s
go to the park. (= the park In this town)
The
girl cried. (the girl = the girl already talked about)
(2) The
Definite Article the is used, when a singular noun is meant to represent a whole class;
The cow is a
useful animal. Or we may say, "Cows are useful animals.
The horse is
a noble animal
The cat loves
comfort.
The rose is
the sweetest of all flowers.
The banyan is
a kind of fig tree.
Do
not say, "a kind of a fig tree This is a common error.]
(3) The Definite
Article the is used, before some proper
names, viz., these kinds of place-names
(a)
oceans and seas, e.g. the Pacific. the Black Sea
(b)
river, e.g. the Ganga, the Nile
(c)
canals, e.g. the Suez Canal
(d)
deserts, e.g. the Sahara
(e)
groups of islands, e.g. the West Indies
(f)
mountain-ranges, e.g. the Himalayas, the Alps
(g)
a very few names of countries, which include words like republic and kingdom
(E.g.
the Irish Republic, the United Kingdom, the Ukraine, the Netherlands & the
Hague)
(4) The
Definite Article ‘the’ is used
before the names of certain books; as,
The
Vedas, the Puranas, the liad, the Ramayana,
But
we say
Homer's
liad, Valmikl's Ramayana.
(5) The
Definite Article ‘the’ is used
before names of things unique of
their kind; as,
The
sun, the sky, the ocean, the sea, the earth.
[Note-Sometimes
‘the’ is placed before a Common noun
to give it the meaning of an
Abstract
noun; as,
At
last the warrior (the warlike or
martial spirit) in him was thoroughly aroused.
(6) The
Definite Article ‘the’ is used
before a
Proper noun when it is
qualified by an adjective or a
defining adjectival clause; as,
The
great Caesar: the immortal Shakespeare,
The
Mr. Roy whom you met last night is my uncle.
(7) With
Superlatives; as,
The
darkest cloud has a silver lining.
This
is the best book of elementary chemistry.
(8) With
ordinals; as,
He
was the first man to arrive.
The ninth
chapter of the book is very interesting.
(9) Before
musical instruments; as,
He
can play the flute.
(10) Before an
adjective when the noun is understood; as,
The poor are
always with us.
OMISSION OF THE ARTICLE
(1)
The Article is omitted before names of substances
and abstract nouns (i.e. uncountable
nouns) used in a general sense; as,
Sugar
is bad for your teeth.
Gold
is a precious metal.
Wisdom
is the gift of heaven.
Honesty
is the best policy.
Virtue
is its own reward.
Note:
Uncountable nouns take the when used in a particular sense (especially when
qualified by an adjective or adjectival phrase or clause); as,
Would
you pass me the sugar? (= the sugar on the table)
The
wisdom of Solomon is great.
I
can't forget the kindness with which he treated me.
(2) The
Article is omitted before plural
countable nouns used in a general
sense; as,
Children
like chocolates.
Computers
are used in many offices.
Note that such
nouns take the when used with a
particular meaning: as,
Where
are the children? (= our children)
(3) The
Article is omitted before most proper
nouns (except those referred to earlier), namely, name of people (e.g.
Gopal, Rahim), names of continents, countries, cities, etc. (e.g. Euro,
Pakistan, Nagpur, names of individual mountains (e.g. Mount Everest),
individual islands, lakes, hills, etc.
(4) Before
names of meals (used in a general
sense), as,
What
time do you have lunch?
Dinner
is ready.
Note:
We use a when there is an adjective before breakfast, lunch, dinner, etc. we
use the when we specify.
I
had a late lunch today.
The
dinner we had at the Tourist Hotel was very nice.
(5) Before languages; as,
We
are studying English.
They
speak Punjabi at home.
(6) Before
school, college, church, bed, table, hospital, market, prison, when these
places are visited or used for their primary purpose; as,
I
learnt French at school.
We
go to church on Sundays.
He
stays in bed till nine every morning.
My
uncle is still in hospital.
(7) Before names of
relations, like father, mother, aunt, uncle, and also cook and nurse, meaning
'our cook, 'our nurse', as,
Father
has returned.
Aunt
wants you to see her.
Cook
has given notice.
(8) Before
predicative nouns denoting a unique position, i.e., a position that is normally
held at one time by one person only; as,
He
was elected chairman of the Board.
Mr.
Banerjee became Principal of the College in 1995.
(9) In
certain phrases consisting of a transitive verb followed by its object; as,
to
catch fire, to take breath, to give battle, to cast anchor, to send word, to
bring word, to give ear, to lay siege, to set sail, to lose heart, to set foot,
to leave home, to strike root, to take offence.
(10) In
certain phrases consisting of a preposition followed by its object; as,
at
home, in hand, in debt, by day, by night, at daybreak, at sunrise, at noon, at
sunset, at night, at anchor, at sight, on demand, at interest, on earth, by
land, by water, by river, by train, by steamer, by name, on horseback, on foot,
on deck, in jest, at dinner, at ease, underground, above ground.
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