Articles (A, An, The)

 Articles

A, An, The

Rule No 1:

Use “a” and “an” only with countable singular nouns.

(An elephant, a car)

A key (correct, singular and countable) , a keys (incorrect)

All abstract nouns are uncountable

Bravery, truth, honor

I am impressed by a bravery (incorrect)

Give me a sugar (uncountable)

Rule No 2:

Use a with consonant and an with vowel. There are few exception.

A boy  ------An umbrella

----An Hour-----a uniform---a university.

Rule No 3:

Use a and an with non-specific things and the with specific things.

(I planted a tree four years ago). (The tree is now grown up.)

I bought an umbrella. The umbrella is black in color.

Do you have a pencil?

Do you have the pencil which Salma gave you last week?

Can you please return --the----book which I had given you last week?

I bought--a---book.

I bought--The-- book which my teacher had asked me to buy.

Rule No 4:

Don’t use any article with generalized statements, fixed expressions,  universal facts.

Dog is a faithful animal.

Stars shine at night.

Meat gives us protein.

Rule No 5:

Don’t use” the”  with:

• Before the names of people places and streets

• Academic subjects: The English (incorrect)

• Nationality: the Indian (incorrect)

• Names of countries we don’t say:  The Pakistan (incorrect)

• Continents: The Asia (incorrect)

• Cities The Rawalpindi (incorrect)

• Church:  The Saint marry (incorrect)

• Games:  The cricket (incorrect)

• Languages: The Chinese (incorrect)

Rule No 6:

Use The with:

•  Chains of islands---The canary island

• Mountain ranges---The Himalaya

• Musical instruments -----The piano

• Oceans, lakes and seas---The Pacific Ocean, the Indus river, the dead sea

• Deserts ----the Sahara desert

• Directions of the globe---the North Pole

• Geographical area----the north, the south