Articles | English Olympiad for Class 3 PDF Download

Introduction

An article is a word used to provide information about the definiteness of a noun.

There are two types of articles:

1. Definite articles: These indicate that the noun being referred to is unique and identifiable to both the speaker and the listener.

The definite article is "the."

Rules:

• When referring to unique things in the world, use "the." Examples include "the earth," "the sun," and "the moon."
• Use "the" with holy books, rivers, seas, mountains, oceans, and groups or kingdoms of countries. Examples include "the Ramayana," "the Gita," and "the Bible."
• Use "the" with the superlative degree. For example, "He is the best dancer in our class."
• Use "the" with historical monuments. For example, "The Taj Mahal."
• Use "the" with the names of newspapers. For example, "The Times of India."
• Use "the" when referring back to someone mentioned in the previous sentence.
• Use "the" when something is unique with reference to time, position, or place.

E.g.

• Narendra Modi is the prime minister of India.
• The car in my neighbouring house has broken down.
• He lost the first bag.

2. Indefinite articles:

Indefinite articles refer to an object which is not specific and the listener is not able to identify it particularly.

• We use "a" or "an" before a noun to indicate indefinite article.
• "a" is used with words starting with a consonant sound.

E.g. A dog, a cow.

• Tricky usage: a university and not an university because "university" has the starting sound as "yu".
  • "an" is used with words starting with a vowel sound. 
  • E.g. An apple, An umbrella.
• Tricky usage: An M.A., An honest man, An hour etc.

IMP: Zero articles
When an article is not required we call it zero article.
Zero article is used:

• with proper nouns
• with means of transport
• with the common expression of time and place.
  E.g. at midnight, at office
• With common nouns when we refer to a group generally e.g. Frogs are amphibians.
• With the name of the cities and countries. If we refer to a group of countries or kingdom of a country then "the" is used. e.g. The United States of America, The Kingdom of Bahrain etc.
• With material noun when they are used in general sense like gold is precious."

Exception: If we refer to a group of countries or kingdom of a country then "the" is used. e.g. The United States of America, The Kingdom of Bahrain etc.