Overview: Articles | Basic English Grammar for Competitive Exams - Bank Exams PDF Download

Introduction of Articles

Articles are the words that define and specify a noun in a sentence. In English grammar, articles help in identifying whether the noun is specific or general.

Types of Articles

1. Definite Article: Article The definite article in English grammar is 'the'. It is used to refer to a specific or particular noun.

• Example: The book is on the table.

2. Indefinite Article- Indefinite articles in English grammar are 'a' and 'an'. They are used to refer to a non-specific or general noun.

• Examples:
  I saw a bird in the park.
  She bought an apple from the market.

‘A’/ ‘An’- Indefinite Article

1: Use "a" before a consonant sound

• Examples: a book (a dog)

2: Use "an" before a vowel sound (a, e, i, o, u)

• Example: an apple (an mango)

3: Use "a" with singular countable nouns

• Examples: a pen, (a house)

4: Use "an" with singular countable nouns starting with silent 'h'.

• Examples: an hour, (an man)

5: Use "a" or "an" for occupations

• Examples: a doctor, (an engineer)

Rules Related to Articles

1. Rule: Use 'the' before singular and plural nouns when the noun is specific or particular.

• Example: The book you need is on the table.

2. Rule: Use 'the' when there is only one of something.

• Example: The Earth revolves around the Sun.

3. Rule: Use 'the' before a superlative adjective.

• Example: She is the tallest girl in the class. 

4. Rule: Use 'the' before ordinal numbers

• Example: I live on the third floor.

5. Rule: Use 'the' before a noun that represents a group or class of people or things.

• Example: The rich should help the poor.

6. Rule: Use 'the' before a nationality or language

• Example: The French are known for their cuisine.

7. Rule: Use 'the' before a musical instrument

• Example: She plays the piano very well.

8. Rule: Use 'the' before parts of the day

• Example: I will see you in the afternoon.

9. Rule: Use 'the' before names of rivers, oceans, seas, and mountain ranges.

• Example: The Ganges is a sacred river in India.

10. Rule: Use 'the' before names of newspapers and well-known books.

• Example: I read The Times of India daily.

11.Rule: Use 'the' before the names of hotels, restaurants, and theaters.

• Example: We had dinner at the Taj Hotel.

12. Rule: Use 'the' before a person's title followed by their name.

• Example: We met the Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

13. Rule: Use 'the' before names of countries that include words like 'kingdom', 'states', or 'republic'.

• Example: She is from the United Kingdom. 

14. Rule: Use 'the' before the names of famous buildings, works of art, or monuments.

• Example: The Eiffel Tower is in Paris.

15.Rule: Use 'the' before a noun that is modified by a relative clause.

• Example: The boy who broke the window is my neighbor.

16. Rule: Use 'the' before the names of certain organizations or institutions.

• Example: She works at the United Nations.

17. Rule: Use 'the' before a noun when there is a possessive adjective in front.

• Example: This is the car of my dreams.

18. Rule: Use 'the' before a noun when it is a well-known example of that noun.

• Example: The iPhone is a popular smartphone.

19. Rule: Use 'the' before a noun when it is unique within a certain context 

• Example: The teacher entered the classroom.

20. Rule: Use 'the' before a noun when it is a specific object that both the speaker and listener know.

• Example: Pass me the salt, please.

21. Rule: Use 'the' with parts of the body.

• Example: He broke the leg while playing football.

22. Rule: Use 'the' with double comparatives.

• Example: The more you practice, the better you become.

23. Rule: Use 'the' with names of decades.

• Example: She was born in the 1980s.

24. Rule: Use 'the' with direction words.

• Example: The house is to the left of the park.

Solved Exercises

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with the correct articles (a, an, the, or no article)
I have ___ cat and ___ dog. (a, a)

We use the indefinite article 'a' when talking about a non-specific cat and dog.

___ apple a day keeps the doctor away. (An)

We use the indefinite article 'an' when the following word starts with a vowel sound.

She is ___ best student in our class. (the)

We use the definite article 'the' when talking about a specific person or thing, in this case, the best student.

 ___ Pacific Ocean is the largest ocean on Earth. (The)

We use the definite article 'the' when talking about unique or specific things, such as oceans, rivers, or specific buildings.

I love listening to ___ music. (no article)

We don't use an article with abstract uncountable nouns like 'music.'

Exercise 2: Choose the correct article for each sentence
She wants to buy (a / an) umbrella.

an
We use 'an' because 'umbrella' starts with a vowel sound.

He is (a / an) honest man.

an
We use 'an' because 'honest' starts with a vowel sound, even though it starts with a consonant letter.

Can you give me (a / the) pen on the table?

the
We use 'the' because we are talking about a specific pen that is on the table.

They live near (a / the) university.

the
We use 'the' because we are talking about a specific university.

I need (a / the) new computer.

a
We use 'a' because we are talking about a general, non-specific computer.

Exercise 3: Correct the mistakes in these sentences

She is a best friend I've ever had.

She is the best friend I've ever had.
We use 'the' when talking about a superlative or specific person.

I saw an dolphin at the beach.

I saw a dolphin at the beach.
We use 'a' because 'dolphin' starts with a consonant sound.

The life is beautiful.

Life is beautiful.
We don't use an article with abstract uncountable nouns like 'life.'

She is going to a United States.

She is going to the United States.
We use 'the' with country names that include words like 'States,' 'Kingdom,' or 'Republic.'

I have the good news.

I have good news.
We don't use an article with uncountable nouns like 'news' when talking about it in general terms.