Articles in English: Definition, Types & Uses with Examples
Articles in English - Definition and Meaning
Articles in English are used to show definiteness or indefiniteness of a noun or noun phrase, classed as determiners or adjectives and form a part of speech.
An article in English tells us that the noun that's being spoken of is either indefinite (is not known to the listener/ not referred to earlier) or definite (is known to the listener or is referred to earlier).
Simply put, it is an article that will decide whether the noun (Know about noun ) used after it is referred to earlier or not referred to or specific or nonspecific.
What Are Articles in Grammar? (in points)
1. Articles are small words.
2. Articles are parts of speech.
3. Articles are determiners or adjectives.
4. Articles show that a noun or noun phrase is definite or indefinite.
5. Articles are used before a noun or noun phrase.
Examples:
(a) A boy came to me yesterday.
(b) The boy who came to me yesterday is my friend.
In the above-mentioned examples, ‘A’ in the ‘A boy’ tells us that the boy is not known to the listener. In contrary, ‘The’ in the ‘The boy’ tells us that the listener knows the boy or saw him yesterday for example.
Types of Articles in English
There are mainly two types of articles in English. They are as follows:
1. Indefinite
2. Definite
1. An indefinite article (A or An) tells us that the noun used after it is indefinite. That is, the noun is mentioned for the first time and is not known to the listener.
Examples:
(a) A girl told me that.
(a) An egg was eaten by him.
2. The definite article (The) shows that the noun used after it is referred to earlier or known to the listener or specific.
Examples:
(a) The man who helps others is admired by them.
(b) The boy who studied well got the first rank in the entrance test.
In the examples above, ‘The’ ‘The man and The boy’ is the definite article that tells that the man or boy was referred or mentioned earlier or is a specific man or boy.
Common Uses of Articles in English
Rule 1. Indefinite articles (A and An) are used before singular countable nouns.
In the given below examples, ‘A’ and ‘An’ are used before singular countable nouns. They are ‘Man’ and ‘Oil tank’
Examples:
(a) A man is speaking to me.
(b) An oil tank was destroyed in the accident.
Rule 2. The definite article, ‘The’ is used before singular or plural countable or uncountable nouns.
‘The’ in the following examples is used for singular countable noun, plural countable noun and uncountable noun respectively.
Examples:
(a) The woman who is sitting there is my mom.
(b) The women who are sitting there are my aunties.
(c) The water in this pond is clean.
Rule 3. ‘A’ is used before nouns which start with a consonant. (letters other than a, e, i, o, u.)
‘table’, ‘girl’ and ‘laptop’ start with consonants in the following examples.
Examples:
(a) A table was sold yesterday.
(b) A girl will come to my house today.
(c) A laptop was stolen from the shop.
Rule 4. ‘A’ can also be used before nouns starting with a vowel but pronouncing as with consonants.
‘European’ and ‘unique’ start with vowels but are pronounced as with ‘Y’ in the given below examples.
Examples:
(a) A European girl got married to Ram.
(b) A unique thing is given to a unique person.
Rule 5. An is used before nouns starting with a vowel.
‘enemy’ and ‘army’ start with vowels in the examples given below.
Examples:
(a) An enemy is coming.
(b) An army sacrifices his life for the sake of his country.
Rule 6. An is also used before nouns starting with a silent ‘H’.
‘hour’ and ‘honest’ start with silent ‘h’ in the following examples.
Examples:
(a) He phoned me an hour ago.
(b) An honest man never cheats on his wife.
Exercise 1
Identify the type of articles in bold.
(a) A man did it.
(b) An honest man is liked by everyone.
(c) The girl worked hard to get good marks.
Answer keys:-
(a) Indefinite Article
(b) Indefinite Article
(c) Definite Article
Exercise 2
Fill in the blanks with appropriate articles.
(a) Once upon....time. there was....king.
(b) He is....man of letters.
(c) I have....honest friend.
(d).... girl who is talking to you is my friend.
Answer keys:-
(a) a, a
(b) a
(c) an
(d) The
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