Articles are an essential part of English grammar. They are used before nouns, whether specific or general. Understanding the role of articles is important for speaking and writing fluent English.
Articles are words placed before a noun. They show whether the noun is about something specific or general. ‘A’, ‘An’, and ‘The’ are the three articles in English. Articles are chosen depending on the noun and the meaning of the sentence. The right use of articles makes communication clearer. We tackled the concept in our English Mastery Program, and this blog will cover all the nuances of articles that we learned in our live class.
Before we begin, understand that the correct use of articles is essential for clear communication. Wrong use can confuse the listener and even change the sentence’s meaning. Moreover, they help to form the structure of sentences, just like parts of speech.
How Many Types Of Articles Are There?
Luckily, we only have two types of articles – definite (the) and indefinite (a and an). The definite article is used for specific and already known things. Conversely, indefinite articles are used for general or unknown things. Here is a detailed explanation of the types of articles:
Definite Article – The
We use ‘the’ for a specific thing or person. It is also used while talking about a particular item that is known to both the listener and the speaker. For example, ‘the sun rises in the east’, here, ‘the’ is used before the sun and east as they are universally known things.
Definite article ‘the’ is also used with:
- Rivers, deserts, oceans, etc – ‘The Ganges’, ‘The Sahara Desert’, etc.
- Newspapers – ‘The Times of India’, ‘The Hindustan Times’, etc.
- Titles and positions – ‘The President’, ‘The Queen’, etc.
- Famous buildings – ‘The Eiffel Tower’, ‘The Great Wall of China’, etc.
Indefinite Articles – A and An
“A and An” are used for non-specific or general things mentioned for the first time. For example, ‘I saw a cat in the garden’ and ‘An owl was sitting on the branch’. Here, both things are general, being introduced for the first time.
- When to use ‘A’?
- A is used with words that start with a consonant sound.
- For example – ‘a dog’, ‘a car’, ‘a house’, etc.
- When to use “An”?
- An is used with words starting with a vowel sound (a, e, i, o, u).
- For example – ‘an owl’, ‘an umbrella’, ‘an engineer’, etc.
What Are The Basic Rules For Using Articles?
A good understanding of rules helps in using articles correctly. In some sentences, articles are not required, but in some, they must be used. Grammar rules show whether a noun needs an article or not. Some rules seem confusing, but with practice, they become easier to use. Below, we’ve listed the three most important rules for using articles:
Countable and Uncountable Nouns
- Countable nouns are the nouns that can be counted, like apple, book, car, etc. Indefinite articles (a and an) are used with such nouns, like ‘an apple’, ‘a book’, ‘a car’, etc.
For example – ‘I ate an apple’, ‘I read a book’, etc.
- Nouns that can not be counted are called uncountable nouns, like water, rice, music, etc. For such nouns, either the definite article (the) is used or no article is used, based on the situation.
For example – ‘I drink water’, ‘I ate rice for dinner’, etc.
Singular and Plural Nouns
The rules for using articles change according to the singular or plural nouns in the following manner:
- Singular nouns refer to only one item, like ‘a dog’, ‘an egg’, ‘a pen’, etc. Usually, indefinite articles (a and an) are used with these nouns.
- Plural nouns refer to more than one thing, like ‘dogs’, ‘cats’, ‘eggs’, etc. Generally, no article is used with these nouns, but sometimes ‘the’ can be used while talking about a specific group.
Specific and General References
Understanding both specific and general references is important for the correct usage of articles. Here are some things to keep in mind:
- While talking about a particular or known thing, the definite article (the) is used. Like ‘the sun’, ‘the teacher’, etc.
- Indefinite articles are used when talking about general things that are being introduced. Like ‘a student’, ‘an orange’, etc.
What Are The Most Common Mistakes In Article Usage?
There is a lot of confusion in article usage, especially while learning English. Usage of articles is very tricky; even small mistakes can change the meaning of a sentence. These mistakes are very common and occur because of improper grammar rules. Identifying and correcting these mistakes helps improve language skills.
Omission Of Articles
Articles are small words, but they make a sentence complete and clear. Without an article, the sentence looks incomplete and improper. Sometimes we don’t use an article even when needed in the sentence. Some examples of omission of articles can be seen below with the correct version:
- Omission: ‘I saw cat’, ‘Sun rises from the east’, etc.
- With article: ‘I saw a cat’, ‘The sun rises from the east’, etc.
Misuse Of Articles
Wrong usage of articles is also common, it can make the sentence confusing and incorrect. Correct use of articles depends on the rules of grammar. The reason for this might be improper knowledge of the rules or confusion about the rules. The following are examples where you can see misuse of articles with correction:
- Misuse: ‘He was a honest person’, ‘I went for a interview’, etc.
- Correct Usage: ‘He was an honest person’, ‘I went for an interview’, etc.
Overuse Of Article
Sometimes we use articles a lot, even when it is not required. Placing articles before every noun is not right, especially with plural and uncountable nouns. Overuse of articles can make the sentence heavy and loaded. Below we’ve listed some examples where articles are over-stuffed in the sentence:
- Overusage: ‘The life is beautiful’, ‘I went to the Shimla’, etc
- Correction: ‘Life is beautiful’, ‘I went to Shimla’, etc.
How Can Article Usage Be Mastered?
Articles might seem like little words, but they are very crucial for English Grammar. The usage of articles can be a bit confusing, but with the knowledge of the rules of grammar, it becomes easier. Regular practice, reading, and learning from mistakes are the keys to proper knowledge of articles. With time, both fluency and confidence will improve, and language will be perfect in terms of both writing and speaking.
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