ARTICLE PART -I

English ( Master) Articles

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ARTICLE PART -I

THEORY RELATED TO ARTICLE PART-I

Articles (a/an/the) are small words that are often used at the beginning of nouns or noun phrases.

Indefinite Article
Definite Article

Indefinite Article

‘a’ or ‘an’ is the indefinite article because it leaves indefinite the person or thing spoken of. For example, a teacher (that is any teacher).

Definite Article

‘the’ is called the definite article because it points out some particular person or thing. For example, the teacher (that is some particular teacher).
‘a’ or ‘an’ is used before a singular noun denoting profession, occupation, post, rank, degree, title, caste, community, region, nationality or political loyalty.

For example,

He is an actor.
She is a good dancer
He is a teacher.
She is a Muslim.
He is an Indian.
She is a socialist.
He is a graduate.
She is an M.Sc.

Other Examples

1.An hour
2. An honour
3. An honorable person
4 .An honest man
5. An heir
6. A house
7 .An honorarium
8. A historical monument
9 .A young man
10 .A ewe
11 .An eagle
12. A European
13 .A University
14. A unit
15 .A union
16. An Umbrella
17 .A unique planet
18 .A useful book
19. A year
20. A one-rupee note
21 .A one-eyed man
22. An orange
23. An F.O.
24 .A forest officer
25 .An M.P.
26 .A Member of Parliament

‘a’ or ‘an’ is used before an abstract noun to denote a ‘kind of quality’. For example, look at the sentences given below:

He has received a good education.
The applicant has a working knowledge of Hindi.

‘a’ or ‘an’ is used before certain uncountable nouns preceded by nouns + of.

For example,
A piece of advice, a bit of news
A drop of water etc.

‘a’ or ‘an’ is used in certain expression of quantity.

For example,
A lot of, a couple of, a great many, a good deal of, a great deal of, a great many,. A few, a little etc.
‘a’ or ‘an’ is used before an indefinite noun, so a singular countable noun mentioned for the first time takes ‘a’ or ‘an’.

For example,

This is a book
This is an apple.

Note: In a few phrases A/ An are used. Some of these phrases are: In a fix, in a hurry, in a nutshell, make a noise, make a foot, keep a secret, as a rule, at a stone’s throw, a short while ago, at a loss, take a fancy to, take an interest in, take a liking, a pity, tell a lie.
Example

(a) Twelve inches make a foot.
(b) Do not make a noise.
(c) Never tell a lie.
In few phrases A/ An are not used. Some of these phrases are: To lose heart, to set foot, to give ear, at home, last but not least, to catch fire, in hand, set on fire, by car/ bus etc., at last, by mistake, in danger, to take hear.

E.g

. (a) I go to college by bus.
(b) The house was set on fire.
1.(a) It should not be use with a plural noun.
Example