Articles in English

INDEFINITE ARTICLES: a / an

1. This is used when the person or thing spoken of is not definite, specific, distinct, or unambiguous.

• • • A cow (= any cow)
    • An apple (= any apple)

2. In its original numerical sense of one:

• • • Twelve inches make a foot. (But note, we say, “There are twelve inches to the foot”)
    • Not a word was said.
    • A word to the wise
    • A bird in hand is better than two in the bush.

3. in the vague sense of a certain:

• • • A Kishore Kumar (= a certain person named Kishore Kumar) is suspected by the police.
    • One evening a beggar came to my door.

4. In the sense of any to single out a member to represent the whole class:

• • • A student should obey the teacher.
    • A cow is a useful animal.
    • A teacher has the moral duty of educating his student

5. To make a common noun of a proper noun:

• • • The Principal thought himself to be a Daniel come to judgement (A Daniel = A very wise man)

DEFINITE ARTICLE: the

1. When the subject or thing spoken of has already been referred to earlier:

• • • The book you want is out of print. (Which book? The one you want)

2. When the subject or thing spoken of is:

– A singular noun

– Is meant to represent the whole class

• • • The cow is a useful animal. (OR Cows are useful animals = without articles)
    • The cat loves comfort. (OR Cats love comfort = without articles)

3. Before some proper names

• • • The Pacific Ocean, The Ganga, The Suez Canal, The Sahara Desert, The Himalayas, The West Indies, The Unites States, The United Kingdom, The Netherlands, The Ukraine, The Hague

4. When the subject or thing spoken of is a certain book like:

The Vedas, The Puranas, The Bible, The Ramayana, The Koran,

But we say: Valmiki’s Ramayana (= without articles)

                       Illiad’s Homer (without articles)

5. When the subject or thing spoken of is unique of its kind:

• • • The Sun, the moon, the stars, the earth

6. To make a Common Noun an Abstract Noun:

• • • The warrior (the warlike or martial spirit) in him was thoroughly aroused.

7. Before a proper noun when it is qualified:

• • • The great Maharana Pratap,
    • The immortal Kalidas,
    • The Mr Roy whom you had met last night is my uncle.

8. With Superlatives:

• • • The darkest cloud has a silver lining.
    • This is the best book in applied electronics.

9. With ordinals:

• • • He was the first man to arrive.
    • The ninth chapter of the book is very interesting.

10. Before musical instruments:

• • • He can play the flute.

11. Before an adjective, where the noun is understood:

• • • The poor are always with us.

12. Before a noun to give the force of a superlative

• • • He is the man (= the chief/concerned/influential man) to talk to.

13. As an adverb with comparatives:

• • • The more the merrier (è by how much more, by so much merrier)
    • The more they get, the more they want.

OMISSION OF THE ARTICLE

1. Before the names of substances and abstract nouns (eg uncountable nouns) used in general sense:

• • • Sugar is bad for health.
    • Gold is a precious stone.
    • Wisdom is the grace of God
    • Honesty is the best policy.
    • Virtue is its own reward.

However, uncountable nouns take the definite article, the, when used in a particular sense

• • • Would you pass me the sugar, please? (= the sugar near you)
    • The wisdom of Chandragupta Vikramaditya is great.
    • I can’t forget the kindness with which he treated me.

2. Before plural countable nouns used in a general sense:

• • • Children like chocolates
    • Computers are used in offices.

Note that such nouns take on the when used in a particular meaning:

• • • Where are the children? (= our children)

3. Before most proper nouns (except those referred to earlier)

• • • Names of people (Gopal, Rahim), places (India, Brazil), mountains (Mt Everest)…

4. Before names of meals (used in a general sense)

• • • When do you have lunch?
    • Dinner is ready.

But if an adjective is used then these nouns take on the indefinite article (a/an)

• • • I had a late lunch today.
    • The dinner at Hyatt was very good.

5. Before languages:

• • • We study English.
    • They speak French at home.

6. With school, college, church, hospital, market, prison, bed, table when these places are visited or used for their primary purpose:

• • • I learnt French at school.
    • We go to church every Sunday.
    • He stays in bed till nine.
    • My uncle’s is still in hospital.

The is used when they are used in the definite sense, rather that the normal activity associated with them:

• • • The school is near my home.
    • I met him at the church.
    • The bed is broken.
    • I went to the hospital to see my uncle.

7. Before names of relations like father, mother, uncle and cook, nurse (as in our cook, our nurse)

• • • Father has returned.
    • Aunt wants to see you.
    • Cook has given notice.

8. Before positions held by one person for a limited time:

• • • He was elected chairman of the Board.
    • Mr Bannerji became principal of the college last year.

9. In certain phrases consisting of a transitive followed by its object:

• • • Catch fire, take breath, give battle, cast anchor, send word, bring word, give ear, lay siege, lose heart, set foot, leave home, strike root, take offence

10. In certain phrases consisting of a preposition followed by its object:

• • • At home, in hand, in debt, by day, by daybreak, at sunrise, at noon, at sunset, at night, at anchor, at sight, on demand, at interest, on earth, by land, by air, by train, by car, on horseback, ob foot, in jest, at ease, under ground

REPETITION OF ARTICLES

1. Note the two sentences below:

– I have a black and white dog (= I have a dog that is partly black and partly white)

– I have a black dog and a white dog (= I have two dogs, one is black and the other is white)

RULES: 

a. More than one adjective qualify the same noun – the article used before the first adjective

b. More than one adjective qualify different nouns è articles used before each adjective

Note the two sentences below:

• • • – The secretary and treasurer is absent. (Both posts are held by the same person)
    • – The secretary and the treasurer are absent. (Both posts are held by different persons)

Note the two sentences below:

• • • – The third and fourth chapters                    OR
    • – The third and the fourth chapter

In comparisons when referring to the same person / thing:

1. 1. • – He is a better orator than leader.
      • – He is a better thinker teacher than executive.

But if the reference is to different persons, &c:

• • • – He is a better mechanic than a clerk would make (= clerks would normally make good mechanics but he is better than normal)