2. • The words a or an and the are 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 of; as, A doctor; (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
3. A or An
• The choice between a and an is determined by sound.
• Before a word beginning with a vowel sound an is used; as, An enemy,
an ink-pad, 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, also a university,, a union, a
European, a ewe, a unicorn, a useful article.
• because these words (university, union, etc.) begin with a consonant
sound, that of u.
• Similarly we say, A one-rupee note, such a one, a one-eyed man.
because one begins with the consonant sound of w.
4. The Definite Article
• The Definite Article the is used when we talk
about a particular person or thing.
• 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)
•
5. • When a singular noun is meant to represent a
whole class; as, 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 two nouns man and woman can be used in a
general sense without either article. Man is the
only animal that uses fire. Woman is man's mate.
6. • (3) Before some proper names, viz., these kinds of
place-names: (a) oceans and seas, e.g. the Pacific,
the black Sea (b) rivers, e.g. the Indus, 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) also: the Ukraine, the
Netherlands (and its seat of government the Hague)
7. Exercise
• 1. Copper is --- useful metal.
• 2. He is not --- honorable man.
• 3. --- able man has not always a distinguished look.
• 4. --- reindeer is a native of Norway.
• 5. Honest men speak --- truth.
• 6. Rustum is ---.
• 7. Do you see --- blue sky.
• 8. Makkah is --- holy city.
• 9. Aladdin had --- wonderful lamp.
• 10. The world is --- happy place.
• 11. He returned after --- hour.
• 12. --- school will shortly close for the Eid holidays.
• 13. --- sun shines brightly.
• 14. I first met him --- year ago.
• 15. Yesterday --- European called at my office.
• 16. Sanskrit is --- difficult language.
• 18. --- lion is --- king of beasts.
8. • 19. You are --- fool to say that.
• 20. French is --- easy language.
• 21. Who is --- girl sitting there?
• 22. Which is --- longest river in Pakistan?
• 23. Ali has come without --- umbrella.
• 24. Karachi is --- very dear place to live in.
• 25. She is --- untidy girl.
• 26. The children found --- egg in the nest.
• 27. I bought horse, ox, and --- buffalo.
• 28. If you see him, give him --- message.
• 29. English is language of --- people of England.
• 30. The guide knows --- way.
• 31. Sri Lanka is --- island.
• 32. Let us discuss --- matter seriously.
• 33. John got --- best present.
• 34. Man, thou art --- animal.
• 35. China is one of --- most industrial countries in Asia.
![• When a singular noun is meant to represent a
whole class; as, 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 two nouns man and woman can be used in a
general sense without either article. Man is the
only animal that uses fire. Woman is man's mate.](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/articles-1-250420060715-1d778558/85/Articles-and-there-uses-in-the-sentence-in-easy-way-5-320.jpg)
