24/08/2014
Rules pertaining to usage of Articles
In English there are two types of articles:
(i) The Indefinite Articles
(ii) The Definite Article
The Indefinite Articles : A and An (Please note that ‘An’ is a variant of ‘A’.)
‘A’ and ‘An’ are to be used with Nouns that are singular. Singular Nouns are, To simply put, we can put one, two, … in front of them.
The Definite Article : The
Notes:
1. The indefinite article ‘a’ is used before:
(a) a word beginning with a letter having a consonant sound.
Examples: a book, a man, a dinner.
(b) a word that begins with a letter (like O) with the sound like ‘wa’
Examples: a one-rupee note, one-eyed man etc.
(c) a word beginning with ‘u’ or ‘eu’ giving the consonant of ‘yu’.
Examples: a university, a European.
2. The indefinite article ‘an’ is used before:
(a) a word beginning with a letter like a, e, i, o, u having a vowel sound.
Examples: an apple, an egg, an umbrella, an idiot, etc.
(b) a word beginning with ‘h’ but the pronunciation starts with a vowel.
Examples: an hair, an hour, an honest man, etc.
(c) an abbreviation, the first letter of which is ‘M’
Examples: an M.L.A., an M.P., an M.Com an S.D.O and F.R.C.S., an X-mas gift etc.
RULES REGARDING THE ARTICLES:
We use a or an:
Rule 1: If noun is singular countable, article must be used.
John is teacher ✘
John is a teacher ✔
Man came to my house yesterday ✘
A man came to my house yesterday ✔
Rule 2: a or an must be used for noun complement which includes professions.
He was great man. ✘
He was a great man ✔
He is actor ✘
He is an actor ✔
Rule 2: If we want to say something about speed or price.
Eg: I bought these onions Five rupees kilo. ✘
I bought these onions Five rupees a kilo ✔
The speed of the train is fifty miles hour ✘
The speed of the train is fifty miles an hour ✔
Rule 4: In exclamatory sentence before singular and countable nouns
Eg: What a fine sketch! ✔
What a great shot! ✔
Rule 5: Before the word ‘most’ when it is used in the sense of very or much or exceedingly.
Examples:
Sreedhar is most intelligent student. ✘
Sreedhar is a most intelligent student ✔
This is most unfortunate event. ✘
This is a most unfortunate event. ✔
Rule 6: Before a singular countable noun which is used as an example to represent a class.
Examples:
Cow is useful animal ✘
A cow is useful animal ✔
Note : It must be borne in mind that ‘man’ or ‘woman’, when used in a general sense to represent ‘mankind’ as a whole, never takes are article.
Examples:
A man is mortal ✘
Man is mortal ✔
A woman is man’s better half ✘
Woman is man’s better half ✔
Rule 11: With the words a lot of, a couple, a great many, a good deal of, a good many, a great deal of, a few, a little etc. when they mean ‘Some amount’ and ‘a small number’
Few books were in the library ✘
A few books were in the library ✔
Lot of people have attended the party ✘
A lot of people have attended the party ✔
Rule 5: In certain phrases: a cold, a pain, on an average, make a noise, make an effort, make a mistake, a fever. etc.
I’ve got cold ✘
I’ve got a cold ✔
Rule 6: With certain numbers : a hundred, a thousand, a million etc.
Rule 7: ‘A’ can be used before Mr. / Miss / Mrs. + name
Examples:
a Mr. Bose, a Mrs, Bose etc.
Note : A Mr. Bose denotes a person who is called Bose, and implies that he is a stranger to the speaker.
Mr. Bose, without ‘a’. implies that the speaker knows Mr. Bose, or knows of his existence.
Rule 8: Before a proper noun to make it a common noun.
Examples:
Mohan is a Newton of our class ✘
Mohan is a Newton of our class ✔
Rule 9: Before certain uncountable nouns preceded by nouns + of
Examples:
a piece of advice, a bit of news, a drop of water etc.
Rule 10:
After the words many, rather, such, quite etc in certain structures.
Examples:
1. Many a friend of mine is attending the party.
2. Such a show cannot be arranged now.
3. He is rather a fool to take such decisions.
A or An is not used before:
(a) Plural nouns: a books, a universities etc. ✘
(b) Uncountable nouns: an advices, an information etc. ✘
(c) Names of meals:
Examples:
Let us have a dinner ✘
Let us have dinner ✔
Note: An indefinite article can be used before names of meals when these are preceded by an adjective.
Example:
She gave me a good breakfast at 8 p.m.
