Tips on Articles

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10 TIPS on USING ARTICLES

• Grammar Rules and Tips for using Articles

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What is an Article?

• Article used before Nouns or Noun phrases to
  limit or define them.
• Types Of Articles i) Definite Article The
  points out a particular person or thing, in the
  sense of this or that.
• Example Give me the book. (that specific book)
• ii) Indefinite Article A and An refer to
  non-specific, singular person or thing, in the
  sense of one or any.
• Example Give me a book/ an orange. (any book or
  orange)
• A used when the next word starts with a
  consonant, or before words starting in u and
  eu when they sound like you. ( a boy, a
  uniform)
• An when the next word starts with a
  vowel (a,e,i,o,u) or with a mute h. (an apple,
  an hour)

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Usage of A, An

• To refer to something for the first time Would
  you like a cup of coffee?
• With names of jobs Jyoti is a doctor.
• With identities (nationalities and religions) in
  the singular John is an Englishman.
• When referring to a day of the week but not a
  specific day I was born on a Thursday.
• To refer to an example of something The mouse
  had a tiny nose.
• With singular nouns after the words 'what' and
  'such What a lovely day!
• Referring to people when there is vagueness A
  Mr. Gupta is going to come.
• When referring to a singular object or a single
  unit of measure Id like an orange and two
  lemons, please.
• When a singular countable noun represents a
  class of things, persons or animals A son should
  be obedient.

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Usage of The

• Something which has already been mentioned The
  thief has not been caught yet.
• When there is just one of something in a place
  Where is the bathroom?
• In sentences or clauses that define or identify
  a particular person or object The man who wrote
  this book is famous.
• Before the choices in comparative degree He is
  the poorer of the two brothers.
• Before proper nouns which are unique We went to
  the Taj Mahal.
• Before dates He was born on the 10th of May.
• Give the meaning of an abstract noun to a common
  noun It brought out the beast in him.
• As an adverb in a comparative sense The sooner
  you come, the better.
• Before superlatives and ordinal numbers This
  is the highest building in Delhi.

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Cases where articles should not be used

• With the names of meals A Dinner is my favorite
  meal.
• Before uncountable nouns He gave me the advice.
• Before hobbies, professions or sports A
  Gardening is her hobby.
• Before titles when combined with names The
  Prince Charles is a Queen Elizabeth's son.
• With years The 1978 was a wonderful year.
• Before collective nouns in the general sense A
  Life is a struggle.
• Before noun complements The board appointed him
  the captain.
• Before proper nouns A Gold is good for
  investment.
• Before common nouns or abstract nouns An Honesty
  is the best policy.

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Tips on using Articles
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Tip 1 Names of countries
Tip 2 Specific geographic locations
Geographical features Definite article is used
before mountain ranges, groups of islands,
rivers, seas, oceans and canals. The Himalayas
are the largest mountain range in the world. No
article is necessary before Singular names of
countries or territories, cities, towns, states,
streets, lakes, bays, mountains, continents,
islands, languages, sports, academic
subjects. The highest mountain in the world is
the Mount Everest. (Everest is a single mountain
and not a mountain range, so no definite article
is used before it)

• Country Names Generally, definite article is not
  used with country names.
• The India is a great country.
• Use the with countries whose names include
  words like kingdoms, states, republic
• He lives in the United States of America.
• Use the with countries which have plural
  nouns as their names
• Manila is the capital of the Philippines

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Tip 3 Proper Nouns
Tip 4 For a Walk, In a Hurry, A Million
Noun acting as verbs Indefinite articles are
used before nouns but they can be used before
verbs when the verbs are acting as nouns. Words
denoting numbers A is also used before words
denoting numbers like-a million, a
dozen. Phrases Indefinite articles are also
used in certain phrases like -in a hurry, have a
mind, make a noise. I have told you a dozen
times not to go for a walk in a hurry. (here,
walk is a verb acting as a noun, so a is used
before it, like we say for a talk, for a swim
etc.)

• Peoples Names usually no article is used before
  peoples names or proper nouns.
• Example
• The Harishchandra is a legendary king.
• But A or An is used to make a common noun from
  a proper noun to express some quality associated
  to it.
• He is a Harishchandra when it comes to keep his
  promises.
• (here harishchandra represents a quality like
  utmost honesty)

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Tip 5 Little, A Little, The Little
Tip 6 Few, A Few, The Few

• Little means not much (i.e., hardly any) and has
  a negative meaning.
• There is little hope of his recovery. (There
  really isnt much hope)
• A little means some though not much and has a
  positive meaning. Used with uncountable nouns.
• There is a little hope of his recovery. (There is
  some hope of recovery)
• The little means not much, but all there is.
• The little knowledge of carpentry that he
  possessed stood him in good stead.

Few means hardly anyone and has a negative
meaning. I have few enemies. (I really dont
have any enemies) A few means small in number
but not many either. I have a few enemies. (I
have a small number of enemies) The few means
not many, but all there is. The few days I had
spent in Darjeeling were very pleasant.
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Tip 8 French, A French, The French
Tip 7 Singular vs plural forms for ordinals
Language and Origin Definitive and indefinite
articles are used with certain words depending
on their function. French is spoken in many
countries. (here French implies a language, so
no definite article is used before it) He is a
French national. (French is a adjective) The
French are a courteous people. (here French
represent a community) The French Revolution
changed the course of history. (the is used
before revolutions, events, dynasties, empires
etc.)
Ordinals These are words that express position
or rank in sequential order. E.g. first, second
etc. If there is an article before each ordinal,
use the singular noun. The second and the third
chapter is easy. If there is one article only
before both ordinals, use the plural noun. The
second and third chapters are easy.
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Tip 9 Repetition of articles
Tip 10 The Ritz Hotel, Browns Hotel
Use and absence of the We are staying at the
Ritz Hotel. (the is used before names of
hotels, pubs, restaurants etc.) We had breakfast
at the Browns hotel. (do not use the definite
article if the name of the hotel or restaurant is
the name of the owner)

• Repetition or non repetition of articles in a
  single sentence changes the meaning
• 1. She has a black and white saree. (she has only
  one saree which is partly black and partly
  white)2. She has a black and a white saree.
  (she has two sarees, one black and one white)
• 3. The Secretary and Treasurer was present there.
  (one person who is both Secretary  and
  Treasurer )4. The Secretary and the Treasurer
  were present there. (two separate persons, one
  Secretary and the other Treasurer)

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Spot the Errors
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Spot the Error

• They dont have a heir to inherit the family
  property.
• I studied the Sanskrit in high school for four
  years.
• Please give me a water to drink.
• Are you driving my the car?
• The hypertension is called the silent killer.

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Spot the Error

• They dont have a heir to inherit the family
  property.
• They dont have an heir to inherit the family
  property.
• I studied the Sanskrit in high school for four
  years.
• I studied Sanskrit in high school for four years.
• Please give me a water to drink.
• Please give me (some) water to drink.
• Are you driving my the car?
• Are you driving my car?
• The hypertension is called the silent killer.
• Hypertension is called the silent killer.

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Spot the Error

• I would like to visit an Eiffel Tower.
• They are planning an European holiday for the
  vacations.
• Mary is training to be the engineer.
• The creativity should be encouraged in children.
• I was always good at a math.

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Spot the Error

• I would like to visit an Eiffel Tower.
• I would like to visit the Eiffel Tower.
• They are planning an European holiday for the
  vacations.
• They are planning a European holiday for the
  vacations.
• Mary is training to be the engineer.
• Mary is training to be an engineer.
• The creativity should be encouraged in children.
• Creativity should be encouraged in children.
• I was always good at a math.
• I was always good at math.

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Spot the Error

• He is the pupil at Bishop Cotton High school.
• I read a Times of India every morning.
• She is learning a guitar.
• This is a best book on elementary chemistry.
• Twelve inches make the foot.

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Spot the Error

• He is the pupil at Bishop Cotton High school.
• He is a pupil at Bishop Cotton High school.
• I read a Times of India every morning.
• I read Times of India every morning.
• She is learning a guitar.
• She is learning the guitar.
• This is a best book on elementary chemistry.
• This is the best book on elementary chemistry.
• Twelve inches make the foot.
• Twelve inches make a foot.

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Spot the Error

• I can't forget kindness with which he treated
  me.
• The uncle is coming to our place next week.
• These traditions are in place since Vedic ages.
• This man is Shylock when it comes to allotting
  budget.
• The first and the second phases of election is
  over.

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Spot the Error

• I can't forget kindness with which he treated
  me.
• I can't forget the kindness with which he treated
  me.
• The uncle is coming to our place next week.
• Uncle is coming to our place next week.
• These traditions are in place since Vedic ages.
• These traditions are in place since the Vedic
  ages.
• This man is Shylock when it comes to allotting
  budget.
• This man is a Shylock when it comes to allotting
  budget.
• The first and the second phases of election is
  over.
• The first and the second phase of election is
  over.

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