Aricle

Articles are small but very important words in English grammar. They help us understand whether a noun is specific or general. Correct use of articles makes your English clear, natural, and grammatically correct. Many learners find articles difficult, but once the rules are clear, they become easy.

This article explains articles in depth, including definitions, types, rules, examples, common mistakes, and practice exercises, in simple and clear English.

What is an Article?

An article is a word used before a noun to show whether it is general or specific.

Types of Articles

1. A

2. An

3. The

1. Indefinite Articles – A and An

Types of Articles

⚠️ Important:

It depends on sound, not spelling.

✅ Examples (Sound-based)

1. a boy

2. a dog

3. a university (you-ni → consonant sound)

4. an apple

5. an umbrella

6. an hour (silent h)

Uses of A / An

1️⃣ First time mentioning something

We use a or an when we mention something for the first time, when the listener does not know which specific thing we are talking about. It helps introduce a new or unknown person, place, or thing in a sentence.

Examples:

1. I saw a dog.

2. She bought an umbrella.

3. He found a wallet

4. We watched a movie

5. They met an actor

👉 Listener doesn’t know which one.

2️⃣ One among many

We use a or an to mean one person or thing chosen from many of the same kind, not a particular one. It shows that the noun is general, not specific.

1. He is a teacher. (one of many teachers)

2. This is a pen.

3. I need an apple

4. We chose a seat

5. They saw a car

3️⃣ Profession / Job

We use a or an before a profession or job to say what someone works as. It shows the person belongs to that profession.

1. She is a doctor.

2. My father is an engineer.

3. I am a teacher

4. He became a pilot

5. She works a nurse

4️⃣ With singular countable nouns

❌ Wrong: I have pen

✅ Correct: I have a pen

5️⃣ Meaning “per” (each)

1. ₹50 a kilo

2. 60 km an hour

2. Definite Article – THE

Meaning

1. specific

2. particular

3. already known

4. only one

Uses of THE

1️⃣ When the noun is already mentioned

1. I saw a dog.

2. The dog was barking.

👉 First time → a

👉 Second time → the

2️⃣ When both speaker and listener know

1. Close the door.

2. Bring the book.

3️⃣ When there is only one

1. The sun

2. The moon

3. The sky

4️⃣ With superlatives

1. The best student

2. The tallest building

5️⃣ With ordinal numbers

1. The first prize

2. The second chapter

6️⃣ With rivers, seas, oceans

1. The Ganga

2. The Bay of Bengal

3. The Indian Ocean

7️⃣ With mountain ranges (not single mountains)

1. The Himalayas

2. The Western Ghats

❌ But:

Mount Everest ❌ no the

8️⃣ With newspapers

1. The Hindu

2. The Times of India

9️⃣ With famous buildings & monuments

1. The Taj Mahal

2. The Red Fort

🔟 With nationality (plural)

1.The Indians

2. The Americans

Common Error:

❌ I bought pen yesterday.

✅ I bought a pen yesterday.

❌ He is an university student.

✅ He is a university student.

❌ Sun rises in east.

✅ The sun rises in the east.

❌ She is doctor.

✅ She is a doctor.

❌ I speak the English.

✅ I speak English.

Common Mistakes