What is an article?
An article is a small set of words that is (such as a, an, and the) used with nouns.
Articles can be categorized into two types.
- Definite Article
- Indefinite Article
Definite Article
- A definite article is used to talk about something that is specific or particular.
Example:- Please call the boy. Here the person is calling a particular boy.
- we use the definite article with a superlative adjective or superlative degree of comparison:
She is the tallest girl in the class.
Justin is the fastest runner on the track team.
3. We use the definite article when we use a noun to represent a group.
Example:– The monkey is not really a dangerous animal. (It means, monkies are not really dangerous animals.)
The kangaroo is found only in Australia. (Kangaroos are found only in Australia.)
4. We use the definite article when we talk about musical instruments:
- Raheem plays the piano really well.
- He is learning the Drum.
5. We use the definite Article “the” to refer to a system or service:
How long does it take on the train?
I heard it on the radio.
You should not inform the police.
6. We use the definite article, “the” with adjectives like rich, poor, elderly, and unemployed to represent groups of people:
The rich ( rich people) have more money than the poor (poor people).I think the rich should pay more taxes.
The indefinite article: ‘a’ and ‘an’
- We use the indefinite article, a/an, with singular unidentified/ nonspecific nouns: a girl, a boy, an orange, an apple, etc.
For example:- “Please call a boy from the class”. Here the boy can be anyone from the class. Not a specific boy.
2. We use a before a consonant sound (b, c, d, f, g, h, j, k, etc.): a dog (starts with /d/), a bird(starts with /b/)
My daughter really wants a doll for Christmas.
She is a beautiful girl.
3. We use an before a vowel sound (a, e, i, o, u):
an apple (starts with /æ/), an hour (starts with /au/)
For example:- There is an elephant in the zoo.
These are some important rules that can help you while preparing for your examination.