ARTICLES
BASIC ENGLISH
BARERA QUADRI
WHAT ARE ARTICLES ?
Article are used to modify a noun (which is a
person, place, object, or idea ).
used to point out or refer to nouns.
Indicates whether or not the reference is to
specify or an unspecified entity .
TYPES OF ARTICLES
DEFINITE ARTICLES .
INDEFINITE ARTICLES .
Definite Articles :
A word that introduces a noun
explicitly is called the Definite
Article.
Article ‘The’ is Definite Article.
“THE” IS USED :
With adjectives (like rich, poor, elderly,
unemployed ) :
• Life can be very hard for the poor.
• I think the rich should pay more taxes.
To refer to a system or service:
• How long does it take on the train?
• You should tell the police
Organizations:
• the United Nations;
With countries (kingdoms, states, republics)
• the United Kingdom.
• the Kingdom of Nepal.
Newspapers:
• The daily dawn.
Well known buildings or works of art:
• the Empire State Building.
• the Mona Lisa.
• the Sunflowers.
With a superlative adjective:
• He is the tallest boy in the class.
• It is the oldest building in the town.
Only one in that place or in those surroundings:
• Look at the boy in the blue shirt over there
• Dad, can I borrow the car?
With musical instruments:
• Joe plays the piano really well.
Hotels, pubs and restaurants:
• the Ritz.
• the Ritz Hotel.
• the King’s Head.
Families:
• the Obamas.
• the Jacksons.
Indefinite Article :
used before a noun to denote that , they
can belong to any class of objects .
‘a’ and ‘an’ are called Indefinite Articles.
The use of ‘a’ and ‘an’ makes a noun/noun
phrase indefinite.
'A & AN' is used :
Article ‘an’ is used with a vowel sound
Article ‘a’ is used with a consonant sound
With countable nouns Police are searching for
• a 14 year-old girl.
We also use it to show the person or thing is one of
a group:
• She is a pupil at London Road School.
a singular noun to say or quote anything
• A man needs friends. (All men need friends)
• A dog likes to eat meat. (All dogs like to eat
meat)
what job they do:
• My brother is a doctor.
• George is a student .
LETS PRACTICE !
Complete the PASSAGE
with suitable articles :
“a” , “an” and “the”:
There was(1)___ program on television about
dangers to(2)___ environment . There was also
(3)___article about pollution in(4)___ paper .(5 )
____ozone layer will continue to disappear if we
don’t find(6)___way to stop it .(7)___world’s
weather is changing. Pollution is having
(8)___effect in our climate . Last week(9)___oil
tanker spilled oil into(10)___sea , damaging
wildlife . Some professor have signed(11)___
letter of protest and send it to(12)__government
. If(13)___earth would be(14)___ human being
than it would be in hospital .
ANSWER KEY :
1) a 8) an
2) the 9) an
3) an 10) the
4) The 11) a
5) The 12) the
6) a 13) The
7) The 14) a
“A” OR “AN” WITH ABBREVIATIONS
1) PERSONAL ASSISTANT: a PA
2) NATIONAL BROADCASTING COMPANY REPORTER_____
3) DISC JOCKEY____________
4) VERY IMPORTANT PERSON_________
5) IRISH REPUBLIC ARMY MEMBER __________
6) PERSONAL COMPUTER ____________
7) ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING ________
8) UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECT ___________
Complete the following sentences using
appropriate articles.
In some cases, no articles are needed.
1. ………………….. man is mortal.
a. A
b. The
c. No article
2. I am …………………. university student.
a. a
b. an
c. the
3. She goes to the temple in ……………….. mornings.
a. a
b. the
c. No article
Complete the following sentences using
appropriate articles.
In some cases, no articles are needed.
4. Kiran is …………………. best student in the class.
a. a
b. the
c. No article
5. ………………….. camel is the ship of the desert.
a. A
b. The
c. No article
6. This book has won ………………….. Booker prize.
a. a
b. the
c. No article
Complete the following sentences using
appropriate articles.
In some cases, no articles are needed.
7. Harishchandra was …………………. honest king.
a. a
b. an
c. the
8. I am fond of ………………. classical music.
a. a
b. the
c. No article
9. I met ..................... boy in the store.
a. a
b. an
c. the
Complete the following sentences using
appropriate articles.
In some cases, no articles are needed.
10. Gold is ....................... precious metal.
a. a
b. an
c. the
11. She returned after ………………….. hour.
a. a
b. an
c. the
12. There is ..................... . institution for ....................... blind in this city.
a. an, a
b. an, the
c. the, the
Answers:
1. Man is mortal. (No article is needed.)
2. I am a university student.
3. She goes to temple in the mornings.
4. Kiran is the best student in the class.
5. The camel is the ship of the desert.
6. This book has won the Booker prize.
7. Harishchandra was an honest king.
8. I am fond of classical music. (No article is needed.)
9. I met a boy in the store.
10. Gold is a precious metal.
11. She returned after an hour.
12. There is an institution for the blind in this city.
