Articles: A, An, The | Basic English Grammar for Competitive Exams - Bank Exams PDF Download

Indefinite and Definite Articles

Indefinite Articles—a, an
an—used before singular count nouns beginning with a vowel (a, e, i, o, u) or vowel sound:

• an apple, an elephant, an issue, an orange

a—used before singular count nouns beginning with consonants (other than a, e, i, o, u):

• a stamp, a desk, a TV, a cup, a book

Definite Article—the
Can be used before singular and plural, count and non-count nouns

Indefinite Article (a, an)

• a pencil
• an orange

Used before number collectives and some numbers:

• a dozen
• a gallon

Used before a singular noun followed by a restrictive modifier:

• a girl who was wearing a yellow hat

Used with nouns to form adverbial phrases of quantity, amount, or degree:

• I felt a bit depressed.

Definite Article (the)

• Please close the door.
• I like the clothes you gave me.

Used to indicate a noun that is unique:

• Praise the Lord!
• The Columbia River is near here.

Used to designate a natural phenomenon:

• The nights get shorter in the summer.
• The wind is blowing so hard.

Used to refer to a time period:

• I was very naïve in the past.
• This song was very popular in the 1980s.

Used to indicate all the members of a family:

• I invited the Bakers for dinner.
• This medicine was invented by the Smiths.

Q. Choose the correct article in each sentence.
(i) Did you bring ____ (a, an, the) umbrella?

an

(ii) Are you looking for ____ (a, an, the) shampoo?

the

(iii) I checked ____ (a, an, the) mailbox again.

the

(iv) Can I have ____ (a, an, the) spoon please?

a

(v) I was born into ____ (a, an, the) poor family.

a

(vi) She will come back in ____ (a, an, the) hour.

an

(vii) Have you been to ____ (a, an, the) Space Needle Tower in Seattle?

the

(viii) I would love to talk to one of ____ (a, an, the) managers.

the

(ix) What ____ (a, an, the) amazing view!

an

(x) The helicopter landed on ____ (a, an, the) roof of a building.

the