What is an article? or What is a definite and indefinite article?

The words a, an, and the are special adjectives called articles.

There are two different types of articles that we use in writing and conversation.

1 Indefinite Articles - A/An - Indicate to general things or persons. The things or persons which are not sure / not particular / not certain or not specific.

2 Definite Article - The - Indicate to particular things or persons. The things or persons which are certain / specific or particular.

Indefinite Articles - A/An – A and an are the indefinite articles. In a sentence when Noun is Singular Countable Noun and it is not a definite, then Article A/An is used.

Example:

1. I have a pencil.
2. She is an artist.

(Click the topic here)

Indefinite Articles (A/An) Table

What is the difference between 'A' and 'An' indefinite articles?

‘A’ is used before a word (singular) beginning with a consonant or a vowel with consonant sound. Consonant letters in the English alphabet are B, C, D, F, G, H, J, K, L, M,N, P, Q, R, S, T, V,W, X,Y, Z.

Examples:

• A pen
• A book
• A cup
• A stamp
• A desk
• A boy
• A girl
• A dog
• A table

‘An’ is used before a word beginning with a vowel sound. Vowel letters in the English alphabet are A, E, I, O, U.

Examples:

• An apple
• An elephant
• An orange
• An orphan
• An umbrella
• An artist

Remember - ‘An’ is used on the basis of vowel sound and not only on the basis of the starting vowel letter of the word.

Examples:

• An M.L.A.
• An F.I.R.
• A house
• An X-ray
• An I.A.S.
• A young man
• An honour
• An S.S.C.
• An L.L.B.
• A useful book
• An M.B.B.S.
• An honest man

Definite Articles – The – The word "the" is one of the most common words in English. It is our only definite article. Nouns in English are preceded by the definite article when the speaker believes that the listener already knows what he is referring to. The speaker may believe this for many different reasons.

(Click the topic here)

Definite Articles (The) Table

Fill in the blanks:

(Choose the correct article in each sentence)

1. _____ (a, an, the) Indian Ocean is very deep.
2. I want _____ (a, an, the) chair to sit on.
3. Please, open _____ (a, an, the) door.
4. _____ (a, an, the) Bicycle is a common man’s vehicle.
5. Once _____ (a, an, the) hour hand of my wrist watch was dropped.
6. What _____ (a, an, the) delightful experience?
7. What _____ (a, an, the) idea!
8. My uncle is _____ (a, an, the) university reader.
9. It is very pleasant to spend holidays on _____ (a, an, the) Island.
10. _____ (a, an, the) Teacher is the maker of a nation.
11. The one eyed man gave _____ (a, an, the) one rupee note the beggar.
12. Is she _____ (a, an, the) S.S.C. student?
13. _____ (a, an, the) Lotus is the national flower of the India
14. Let me tell _____ (a, an, the) story.