Use of Articles

Muhammad Hamza Ehsan

2020-ag-9562
Ayesha Akhtar 2020-ag-9494
Ayesha Muneer 2020-ag-9499
 Articles
are words that define a noun as specific or unspecific.
Types of Articles
Definite Articles (The)
Indefinite Articles (A, An)

• Definite Articles
The definite article is the word the. It
limits the meaning of a noun to one
particular thing.
e.g. Please give me the hammer.
Please give me the red
hammer; the blue one is too small.
• Indefinite Articles:
The indefinite article takes two forms. It’s the
word a when it precedes a word that begins
with a consonant. It’s the word an when it
precedes a word that begins with a
vowel. The indefinite article indicates that a
noun refers to a general idea rather than a
particular thing.
e.g. My mother is an honest woman.
She is a United States senator.
 Rules for Articles
Countable Nouns Uncountable
Nouns
Rule 1: A, An No Article
Specific Identity not
known
Rule 2: The The
Specific Identity
known
Rule 3: (No Article) (No Article)
All things or things
in general
• Rule #1 - Specific identity not known: Use the
indefinite article a or an only with a singular
countable noun whose specific identity is not
known to the reader. Use a before nouns that begin
with a consonant sound, and use an before nouns
that begin with a vowel sound.
 Use the article a or an to indicate any non-specified
member of a group or category.
 I think an animal is in the garage.
That man is a scoundrel.
We are looking for an apartment.
 Use the article a or an to indicate one in number (as
opposed to more than one).
 I own a cat and two dogs.
 Use the article a before a consonant sound, and
use an before a vowel sound.
 a boy, an apple
 Sometimes an adjective comes between the article and
noun:
 an unhappy boy, a red apple
 The plural form of a or an is some. Use some to indicate an
unspecified, limited amount (but more than one).
 an apple, some apples.
• Rule #2 - Specific identity known: Use the definite
article the with any noun (whether singular or plural,
countable or uncountable) when the specific identity of
the noun is known to the reader, as in the following
situations:
 Use the article the when a particular noun has already
been mentioned previously.
 I ate an apple yesterday. The apple was juicy and delicious.
 Use the article the when an adjective, phrase, or clause
describing the noun clarifies or restricts its identity.
 The boy sitting next to me raised his hand.
 Thank you for the advice you gave me.
 Use the article the when the noun refers to something or
someone that is unique.
 the theory of relativity.
 the 2003 federal budget.
• Rule #3 - All things or things in general: Use no article with
plural countable nouns or any uncountable nouns used to
mean all or in general.
 Trees are beautiful in the fall. (All trees are beautiful in the fall.)
He was asking for advice. (He was asking for advice in general.)
I do not like coffee. (I do not like all coffee in general.)
 Use of A/An
• A union.
• An Umbrella.
• A one rupee.
• An hour.
• An heir.
• An MLA.
• An FIR.
• An Elephant.
• A European.
Use of The
1.River:
• The Ravi, The Chenab, The Jhelum.
2. Ocean:
• The Indian Ocean, The Pacific Ocean.
3.Proper noun:
• Ali , Quaid e Azam , Eman etc. When proper noun is
• Qualifier Condition: used as a common
noun to express quality
The great Britain, Akbar the great. article the is used.
• A Mohid wants to meet you.
• He is the Muhammad Bin Qasim of Pakistani
Army.
Use the with those names in
United, Union, Republic or
4.Country: Kingdom word is given.

• Pakistan , India.
• The United States of America.
• The Irish Kingdom.
5.Mountain Ranges: Here the article is used with
mountain range.
• The Himalaya. But Mount Everest is a peak
• The Alps. so here we don’t use article.
• Mount Everest.
6.Diseases:
• Fever, Cancer
• The Mumps and Measles.
7.Unique things:
• The sun , The moon , The universe.
• Don’t use articles before Parliament , Heaven, Hell, God.
8.Direction:
• The east, The west.
• He is coming from the east.
• My house faces east. If there is preposition before
direction use the article the
9.Religious books: Don’t use article if the writer’s
name is also mentioned along
• The Holy Quran, The bible with book
• Don’t use articles with Iqbal’s Bang-e-Dara.
10.Don’t use articles for nouns use after appoint,
make, elect, select, crowned, declare.
• He was elected president.
If a singular common
• He is the president of Pakistan noun express the whole
11.Common noun: category then article the
is used.
• The dog is a faithful animal.
• I have a dog. Here, universal truth
is shown so no
• Man is mortal. article is used.

• The people of this city are extremely generous.

• Cattle give us milk.
12.Abstract noun:
• Honesty is the best policy.
• The honesty shown by him during the match was
praised by all.
13.School, college, jail, bed etc:
Same purpose>>>no article
• I am going to school.
• My father is going to the school to meet my principal.
14.Political party:
Different purpose>>> article
• The congress. the is used.
15.Before musical instrument:
• The violin , The guitar.
16.Historical monuments:
• The Taj Mahal, The Red fort.
17.Sort of , kind of, variety of, type of:
• What sort of man he is. The + positive
degree express the
18.Positive Degree: entire category.
• The rich should help the poor.
19.Comparative Degree:
• The higher you go the cooler you feel.
Here the is
• He is the better of the two boys. used because
of the phrase of
20. Superlative degree: the two.

• Ali is the most intelligent student of the

class.
Thank you!