DEFINITE ARTICLE (PART- 36)

 

                     Definite Article

Rule:-1.  Articles can’t be used before the names of a person or place.

Examples

1. Saif is an intelligent boy. 

2. Lucknow is the capital of India.

Note:- Articles can be used before the name of a person/place in case of comparison or when they are not known to the speaker.

Examples

1. Prem Chandra is the Shakespeare of India. (comparison)

2. Chandra Gupta is the Napoleon of India. (comparison)

3. A Saif is waiting for you at the gate. (Saif is not known to the speaker)

4. Hyderabad is the Manchester of India. (comparison)

Explanation:- In the above sentences Shakespeare, Napoleon, Saif, Manchester are used as common nouns.

Rule:-2. ‘The’ doesn’t come before the name of any state except Punjab.

Example

1. Chandigarh is the capital of the Punjab and Haryana.

Rule:-3. ‘The’ can’t be used before the names of countries.

Example

1. The India won freedom in 1947. (drop ‘the’)

Exception:- The Ukraine, The Great Britain, The Netherland, The Hague.

Note:- If Union, United, Republic and  Kingdom come with the names of the countries, the is used .

Examples

The U.S.A. , The U.S.S.R. , The Soviet Union, The Irish Republic.

Rule:-4. Definite article ‘The’ is used in the following cases.

Examples

1-Before the superlative degree.

(a)Alexander was the greatest of all kings.

(b)This is the most expensive novel that I ever bought.

2-Before comparative degree in case of a choice.

Example

a-She is the more beautiful of the two sisters.

3-Before an adverb with a comparative sense.

Examples

a-The higher you go, the cooler it becomes.

b-The more you practice, the better you become.

4- Before an adjective when it represents a class of persons.

Examples

a-The poor prefer camping to staying in hotels.

b-The old should be respected by the young.

5-Before ordinals.

Examples

a-The first two chapters of this book have been written carelessly .

b-He answered the first question willingly, the second reluctantly and the third with resentment.

6-Before physical position.

Examples

a-There was a temple on the top of the mountain.

b-The temple stands in the centre of the market.

7-Before directions.

Examples

a- Many buildings in the West of the city are set on fire.

b-The sun rises in the East.

     Before some proper nouns

A-Oceans-

The Pacific ocean, the Indian ocean, the Atlantic ocean, 

B-Seas-

The Red sea, The Dead sea, The Arabian sea, The Mediterranean sea,

The Caspian sea, The Black sea,

C-Rivers-

The Ganga, The Thames, The Niles, The Indus, The Yamuna, The Amazon

D-Canals-

The Suez canal, The Panama canal, The Sharda canal, The Manchester canal, The Albert canal etc.

E-Deserts- The Sahara desert, The desert, The Arabian desert, The Kalahari desert etc.

F-Group of islands-

The Andmans, The Nicobars, The West indies, The East indies. 

8-Religious books-

Examplez

The Gita, The Ramayana, The Mahabharata, The Bible, the Holy Quran.

9-Unique entities-

Examples

The Sun, The Moon, The Earth, The sky, The Equator, The World, The Universe etc.

10-Historical Buildings-

Examples

The Taj Mahal, The Red fort, The Qutub Minor, The Pyramids, The Golghar, The Jama Masjid, The Panch Mahal.

11. Mountain Ranges-

Examples

The Himalayas, The Alps.

12. Nationalities-

Examples

The English, The French, The Indians.

13. Bays/Gulfs-

Examples

The Bay of Bengal, The bay of China, The Gulf of Mexico .

Exception- Hudson bay

14. News Papers-

Examples

The Hindu, The Times of India, The Indian Express.

15. Movements-    

Example

The Quit India movement.

16. Names of airways/ trains- 

Examples

The Jet Airways, The Lucknow Mail, The Rajdhani Express.

17. Names of Political Parties-

Examples

 The BJP, The Congress, The BSP.

18. Musical Instruments-

Examples

 The flute, The Violin, The Guitar.

19. Dates- 

Example

The 26th of Jan.

20. Army/Police- 

Examples

The Army, The police.

21. Planets- 

Examples

The Venus, The Mercury.

22. Names of Hotels-

Examples

 The Taj Hotel, The Ashoka Hotel.

23. Trophies/ Clubs-

Examples

 The World Cup, The lion club,

24. Designation- 

Examples

The President, The Chairman, The Headmaster.

25- Before titles-

Examples

 Akbar the great, Aurangzeb the austere, Napoleon the warrior. 

ARTICLE ( PART- 36)

           

                           Article

An article is basically an adjective that defines and modifies a noun.

               Articles are of two types.

1. Indefinite article:-  A, An                       2.    Definite article:- The

             Some important rules

Rule:-1. ‘A’ is used before those singular nouns that start with consonant.

Examples

A pen,        a chair,         a book,        a fan    etc .

Rule:-2. ‘A’ is also used before those words that start with vowel and give the sound of consonant.

Examples

A one eyed man,        

A university,           

A European,        

 A unique  hair style                 

 A uniform,        

 A universal truth,        

 A useful book etc.

Rule:-3. ‘An’ is used before those words that start with vowels .

Examples

An apple,           

An egg,             

An orange,            

An elephant,         

Aowl etc .

Rule:-4. ‘An’ is also used before those words that start with consonant and give the sound of vowel .

Examples

An hour,                  

An honour,              

An honest boy,                 

An heir,                              

An honorary post,            

An M.A. ,              

An M.L.A. ,         

An S.D.O. ,   

An  F.I.R. etc.

Note:- ‘A/An’ can not be used before plural and uncountable nouns.

Advice, information, accommodation, baggage, luggage, scenery, equipment, furniture, bread, money, jewelry, evidence  etc. are uncountable nouns.

Examples 

1. He gave me an information . (incorrect)

2. He gave me a piece of information. (correct)

3. She has bought a furniture for her house. (drop ‘a’)

Rule:-6. “If so, as, too, how, quite” come before an adjective, A/An should be used before the noun.

Examples

1. This is a too difficult question to solve. (incorrect)

2. This is too difficult a question to solve. (correct)

3. She is a as innocent girl as her sister. (incorrect)

4. She is as innocent a girl as her sister. (correct)

5. He is so a weak student that he can not pass. (incorrect)

6. He is so weak a student that he can not pass. (correct)

Rule:-7. If a verb is used as a noun, A/An is used before the verb.

Examples

1. He goes for a walk in the morning daily.

2. She gave her friend a pillion ride to school.

3. I have a long talk with her on this matter.

Rule:-8. A/An is also used to indicate the meaning of ‘per/every’.

Examples

1. I take two meals a day.

2. This car runs 25 kilometres a litre.

3. An apple a day keeps the doctor away.

Rule:-9. When “many, rather, quite, such” take a singular noun after them, A/An is used before the noun.

Examples

1. Many an orange is rotting in the basket.

2. It was quite a difficult puzzle. 

3. You have such a nice pen.

Rule:-10. In exclamatory sentences with “what and how” before singular countable nouns .

Examples

1. What a beautiful scene!

2. How fine a day!

3. What a pleasant surprise!

Rule:-11. A/An is also used with some phrases.

In a fix,    in a soup,    in a pickle,    in a dilemma,    in a tight corner,    in a hurry,    in a nutshell,    make a noise,    keep a secret,    at a stone’s throw,    at a loss,    take a fancy to,    take an interest,    tell a lie. 

Examples

1. Have you ever been in a tight corner?

2. My house is at a stone’s throw from here.

3. Don’t tell a lie to me.

Rule:-12. A/An can not be used in these phrases.

In hand,    to lose heart,    in jail,    by name,    by train,     all day,    on horseback,    in debt,    to give ear,    at home,    last but not least,    to catch fire,    to set on fire,   at last,    by mistake,   in danger,    to take to heart etc.