THE DEFINITE & INDEFINITE ARTICLES

THE DEFINITE & INDEFINITE ARTICLES

What is the Definite Article THE?

The Definite Article ‘the’ generally specifies and identifies. It answers the question: ‘Which one?’ Is specifies a person, place, or thing already mentioned.

The definite article ‘the’ means this, that. It answers the question which one?. It can be used with both singular and plural nouns. A noun is first introduced with the indefinite article and the definite article is used to refer to it again.

When to Use The Definite Article THE?

1. “The” is used in the superlative degree.

For example:

The greatest

The largest

The worst

2. “The” is used with the names of:

River 

For example:

The Amazon

Seas

For example:

The Black Sea

Oceans

For example:

The Atlantic Ocean

Bays

For example:

The Guanabara Bay

Banks

For example:

The Bank of America

Hotels

For example:

The California Hotel

3. The words ‘King’ and ‘Queen’.

For example:

The King of Morocco

The Queen of Sweden

But “the” is not used before the words ‘King‘ and ‘Queen‘ if they are followed by the name of the king or queen.

King Mohammed VI (the Sixth)

Queen Silvia

4. Put “the” before the names of musical instruments.

For example:

I taught myself how to play the piano.

He played the tune on the horn.

5. Do not put “the” before the names of single mountains or hills.

For example:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Nanda Devi

But “the” must be put before the names of mountain ranges or ranges of hills.

For example:

The Eastern Ghats

The Aravalli

6. Use “the” with ordinals.

For example:

The first: He was the first person to set foot on the moon.

The eighth: The elevator broke down and we had to walk up the eighth floor.

7. We say all day, all night; but all the morning, all the afternoon, all the evening, all the week.

8. Use “the” before the names of municipal or government departments and before the names of shops, business houses, industrial concerns; banks, etc. except when they begin with a personal noun.

For example:

The Ministry of Defence

The Sydney Opera House

The Anantara Hua Hin Resort

The Agricultural Bank of China

9. “The” may be used before a name which ends in Road, but it may also be omitted.

For example:

Susie used to live on Dudley Road.

I meet him at a club in the Steve Road.

10. Purpose for which the building exists visit or inspection.

For example:

Go to church – go to the church

Go to university – go to the university

Go to court – go to the court

Go to prison – go to the prison

When “the” is omitted, the reference is to the purpose for which the building exists.

For example:

He had to go to hospital for treatment.

I’m going to go to court to get custody of the children.

With “the” the reference is merely to the building. It is the visit or inspection that is referred to, not the actual purpose.

For example:

I’m going to the hospital to visit my brother.

We went to the court and asked for a delay to continue preparing our defense.

11. Do not put “the” before the names of substances if they are used in a general sense.

For example:

Gold will not buy everything.

Oil does not mix with water.

Flowers grow along the side of the wall.

But “the” must be used if the reference is to a particular kind of specimen of the substance.

For example:

The gold mined here is of poor quality.

The oil from the vats is used for cooking.

12. “The” is used before a singular noun to express what we call the generic singular, i.e. the one thing mentioned is taken to represent all of the kind.

For example:

The whale is in danger of becoming extinct.

An exception to the above rule is the noun man when it is used to denote the human race as a whole.

13. “The” is used before common nouns which are names of things unique or their kind. (Before a noun of a thing which exists only one)

For example:

The world

The sea

The sky

14. When to Use The? “The” is used before an adjective when the noun is understood.

For example:

Jeans are popular among the young.

15. “The” is also used as an adverb with comparatives.

For example:

The longer you keep this wine, the better it tastes.

The more you care, the more you have to lose.

There are two indefinite articles, a and an. These are used with a noun when a specific noun is not being pointed at.

Examples:

A lion  (any lion)

An ant (any ant)

What are indefinite articles (A / an)?

The words “a” and “an” are called indefinite articles. We can use them with singular nouns to talk about any single person or thing. Deciding which indefinite article to place in front of a word depends upon the initial sound of the word, not the first letter of the word.

When to Use “A”

‘A’ is used before words beginning with a consonant sound. For example:

A man

A hat

A lamp

A teacher

A cat

A book

When to Use “AN”

The article ‘an’ should be placed before words that begin with a vowel sound. The initial sound should be a, e, i, o, or u. For example:

An apple

An egg

An island

An article

An umbrella

An hour

Rule #1:

‘A’ must be used before words which begin with a vowel symbol pronounced with the same sound as the ‘y’ or a ‘w’-like sound. For example:

A Euro

A unicycle

A union,

A unique

A united

A university

A user

A unicorn

Rule #2:

Sometimes, ‘an’ is found before words beginning with the letter ‘h’.

Silent ‘h’ : ‘an’ is used before these words. For example:

An hour

An honor

An heir

An heirloom

An hourly

An honorarium

An honesty

An honorary

But this practice is going out. If ‘h’ is pronounced, ‘a’ is used:

A hamburger

A hall

A hat

A hacksaw

A horse

A house

Rule #3:

We use ‘an’ before abbreviations that begin with vowel sound. For example:

An M.A.

An M.Sc.

An M.B.B.S.

An M.L.A.

An N.C.C Officer

An M.Com.

An M.C.A

An M.B.A

Rule #4:

A or an must be used before a singular noun standing for things that can be counted.

For example:

He was sitting in a chair.

She had a bottle in each hand.

Did you bring an umbrella?

I would like an apple.

Rule #4:

A or an must be used before the names of professions. For example:

She is a director.

Peter is an actor.

Rule #6:

Words like hero, genius, fool, thief, and liar take the indefinite article. For example:

We all regarded him as a hero.

I suspect he is a thief.

Rule #7:

The following word has indefinite article. Such + a/an + noun (or) Such + a/an + adjective + noun. For example:

Such a policy

Such a long trip

Such a great teacher

Such an attractive woman

Rule #8:

The following word has indefinite article. so + adjective + a/an + noun. For example:

So boring a book

So beautiful an actress

Rule #9:

‘Few’ and ‘Little’ are negative meaning. ‘A few’ and ‘a little’ are positive and mean ‘some‘. For example:

He is young and has little experience of life.

Sweeten the mixture with a little honey.

He had few coppers in his pocket.

I went to spend a few days at the seaside.

Rule #10:

In its original numerical sense of one. For example:

Not a word was said.

Twelve inches make a foot.

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

I have a novel with an intricate plot.

Rule #11:

A / an = one thing or person.

For example:

She works in a hospital.

There’s a problem with the drains.

I’ve got a puppy.

There was a girl sitting next to him.

Rule #12:

We use a an when we say what a thing or a person is. For example:

“Coca Cola” is a beverage.

Badminton is an indoor game.

A dog is a domestic animal.

Mary is a shy girl.

Rule #13:

We use a / an for jobs, etc. For example:

She works as a nurse in a hospital.

John is a fireman.

I want to be a doctor.

She is a cashier in a bank.

Note: The indefinite articles are not used before plural nouns, proper nouns, abstract nouns, uncountable and material nouns. For example:

A dog is a faithful animal.

Dogs are faithful animals.