Articles
Articles are used before noun.
There are two articles: Definite & Indefinite
The a, an
Use of the definite article – ‘the’
1. To points out some particular thing or person.
E.g. He saw the doctor -meaning a particular doctor.
2. Before things which there is only one
E.g. the sun, the moon, the stars, the east
3. Before a noun being mentioned for a second time.
4. Before superlatives.
E.g. the most significant point.
5. Before a noun made by a qualifying clause.
E.g. the boys who came here yesterday.
Use of the indefinite articles – ‘a, an’
Before a word beginning with a vowel sound and if a singular
‘an’ is used:
Eg: an enemy, an umbrella, an hour.
Before a word beginning with a consonant sound and if a
singular ‘a’ is used.
Eg: a boy, a woman, a horse, a university.
University and horse begin with a consonant sound.
Indefinite Determiners- “some”
E.g. some birds can fly very high in the sky.
‘The’ is not used:
Before nouns like school, hospital, prison,church visited for their primary purpose:
E.g. His son goes to school at ten. (means his son goes to
school to learn.)
His son went to the school. (means his son went to the
school not to learn but for something else )
Before plural nouns when they are used in a general or universal sense.
E.g. Man is mortal.