What are Articles

Articles are words which are used to point out or refer a noun.

There are only 3 Articles in English

1. a
2. an
3. the

 

When to use a, an, the?

 

Example 1

1. He is a doctor
   (He is one of many doctors, so we use "a")
   
   
2. He is the doctor who treated me
   (He is the specific doctor who treated me, so we use "the")

Example 2

1. This is an apple
   (This is one of many apples,
   so we use "an" )
   
   
2. This is the apple which fell on Newton
   (This is the specific apple
   which fell on Newton, so we use "the")

 

Types of Articles

They are of 2 types

1. Definite Articles
   They are used to tell about specific person, place or thing
   
   
2. Indefinite Articles
   They are used to tell about something general

 

Difference

1. I saw a cow 
   The cow was of black colour
   
   (In first line, we are talking about any one cow, not a specific cow.
   So "a" is indefinite article) 
   
   (In second sentence, we are taking about a specific cow of black color.
   So "the" is a definite article)
   
   
2. This is an elephant
   The elephant was very angry
   
   (In first line, we are talking about any one elephant, not a specific elephant.
   So "an" is indefinite article )
   
   (In second sentence, we are taking about a specific elephant who was very angry.
   So "the" is a definite article ) 
   

 

Summary

1. For specific nouns, we use "the"
2. For general nouns, we use "a" or "an"

 

Questions

You have many books, please give me .... book to read

View answer

You have many books, please give me a book to read

Explanation:

We are talking about any book, so we use "a"

Please give me .......book which I gave you yesterday

View answer

Please give me the book which I gave you yesterday

Explanation:

We are talking about specific "book" which I gave you yesterday, so we use "the"

I bought .....new car

View answer

I bought a new car

Explanation:

We are talking about a general car, it can be any car, so we use "a"

........ car is of red color

View answer

The car is of red color

Explanation:

We are talking about specific "car", so we use "the"

........... exams are starting on  10 September .

View answer

The exams are starting on  10 September .

Explanation:

We are talking about specific "exams", so we use "the"

He is ....... friend

View answer

He is a friend

Explanation:

We are talking about a general friend, so we use "a"

He is ....... friend who gave me .... gift

View answer

He is the friend who gave me a gift

Explanation:

We are talking about a specific friend who gave you general gift.

So, gift can be anything, friend is specific.

So, we use "the" with friend and "a" with gift

 

When to use "a" or "an"?

It depends upon whether the word is vowel or Consonant. 

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