Articles: A, An, The
A/an is the indefinite article (any one, not particular). The is the definite article (a particular person or thing).
1. A or An: decided by sound, not spelling
| Use | Rule | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| an | before a vowel sound | an hour, an honest man, an heir, an umbrella, an M.A., an F.I.R., an X-ray, an IAS officer |
| a | before a consonant sound (including 'yu' and 'w' sounds) | a university, a European, a union, a useful book, a one-rupee note, a one-eyed man, a U-turn, a B.A. |
2. Uses of A/An
- In the sense of one: Twelve inches make a foot. Not a word was said.
- In the sense of a certain: One evening a beggar came to my door.
- In the sense of any (one as representative of a class): A pupil should obey his teacher.
- In the sense of per: fifty rupees a day.
- After what, such, quite before singular countable nouns: What a scene! such a man, quite an interesting story.
- Meals with an adjective: a late lunch.
3. Uses of The
- A particular or already-mentioned thing: The book you want is out of print.
- A singular noun standing for the whole class: The cow is a useful animal.
- Rivers, oceans, seas, canals, deserts, groups of islands, mountain ranges: the Ganga, the Pacific, the Suez Canal, the Sahara, the Andamans, the Himalayas.
- Countries with Kingdom/Republic/States: the United Kingdom, the USA.
- Famous books: the Ramayana, the Vedas (but Valmiki's Ramayana).
- Unique things: the sun, the moon, the sky, the earth.
- Superlatives and ordinals: the best, the first, the third month.
- Musical instruments: play the flute.
- Adjective for a class of people: the poor, the rich.
- Proper noun with an adjective or defining clause: the great Caesar; the Mr. Roy whom you met.
- With comparatives as an adverb: The more, the merrier.
- Directions and fixed uses: in the east, speak the truth.
4. No article
- Abstract and material nouns in a general sense: Honesty is the best policy. Gold is precious.
- Plural nouns in a general sense: Children like chocolates.
- Names of persons, continents, countries, cities, individual mountains and lakes: Europe, Mumbai, Mount Everest, Chilika Lake.
- Languages, subjects, games, meals: English, Geometry, cricket, lunch.
- School, college, church, bed, hospital, prison used for their main purpose: go to school, in hospital, go to bed.
- Relations used like names: Father has returned.
- A unique post after verbs like elect/appoint: elected chairman.
- Fixed phrases: by train, on foot, at night, at home, catch fire, set sail.
- After 'kind of': What kind of bird is that?
5. Repetition of the article
- A black and white dog = one dog. A black and a white dog = two dogs.
- The Secretary and Treasurer is absent = one person. The Secretary and the Treasurer are absent = two persons.
- He is a better poet than novelist = same person in two roles.