When it comes to Basic English grammar, article plays an important role. Here, we will see all about articles on English grammar.
Meaning of Article:
An article is nothing but the word used before a noun and which states whether the noun is an indefinite or a definite noun. An article establishes the noun and indicates how specific the noun is.
Types of Articles:
Article is classified into two types; they are definite article and indefinite article. The basic English grammar also teaches when an article should not be used and this is called no article.
Definite article:
The word ‘The’ is the definite article and it indicates that the noun that follows has already been defined in some way. The word ‘the’ should be used in the following types of sentences:
- When you know that the person to whom you are talking knows what particular thing / person you are talking about. For example: The banana you ate was rotten. Here, the listener knows that you are talking about banana, so you should use ‘the’ in the beginning of the sentence.
- When you have already stated the thing you are discussing about. For example, he has got two children a boy and a girl. The boy is ten and the boy is eight. Here, you have already mentioned about the boy and the girl. So, you should use ‘the’ to mention about them again.
- When you are talking about geographical area. For example, the equator, the North Pole.
- When you are talking about seas, oceans, and rivers. For example, the Indian ocean, the Nile.
- When you are mentioning something as the famous, best, etc… Here, the word ‘the’ will give a strong pronunciation. For example, he is the best painter in the world.
Indefinite article:
Indefinite articles are the words ‘a’ and ‘an’. They refer to some object not particularly known to the person to whom you are talking. The words ‘a and an’ are used in the following sentences.
- Before nouns, which introduce someone or something you have not mentioned earlier. For example, I ate an egg for lunch; I saw a fox this morning.
- When talking about the profession of a person. For example, he is a professor, I am an English teacher.
- Use the word ‘a’, when the noun about which you are talking starts with consonants. For example, a factory, a knife.
- Use the word ‘an’ when the noun about which you are talking starts with vowels. For example, an apple, an orange.
- But, the above-mentioned two rules are changed according to the pronunciation of the noun. Here, sound matters and not the spelling. For example, a university, an hour.
No article:
No articles are also called as zero articles. No article is used in the following cases.
- When talking about some general things. For example: People are worried about rising prices.
- When talking about sports. For example, Cricket is expensive.
- Before uncountable nouns when talking in general. For example, Coffee is not good for you.
Tags: basic english grammar, indefinite article, indefinite articles, pronunciation, sentences, Spelling, types of sentences