Articles: A, AN, THE | English Grammar for IELTS
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#ielts #grammar-for-ieltsArticles: A, AN, THE | English Grammar for IELTS
Rea this blog to gain the understanding for Articles for IELTS Grammar including a video which explain the topic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Xh-7HdXCv0&t=13s
Definite Article: The
- The definite article is used before singular and plural nouns when the noun is specific or particular.
- The signals that the noun is definite, that it refers to a particular member of a group.
- Example: The boy sitting next to me raised his hand.
The apple that I ate in the morning was juicy.
Rule: Use the definite article the with any noun (whether singular or plural, count or noncount) 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
WHERE TO USE ‘THE’?
Do use the before:
- names of rivers, oceans and seas: the Nile, the Pacific
- points on the globe: The Equator, the North Pole
- geographical areas: The Middle East, the West
- deserts, forests, gulfs, and peninsulas: the Sahara, the Persian Gulf, the Black Forest, the Iberian Peninsula
WHERE NOT TO USE ‘THE’?
Do not use the with: streets, parks, cities, states, counties, most countries, continents, bays, single lakes, single mountains, islands
- Japan
- Chico
- Mt. Everest
- San Francisco Bay
Indefinite Articles: A & An
The indefinite article (a, an) is used before a noun that is general or when its identity is not known. There are certain situations in which a noun takes no article.
a (before a singular noun beginning with a consonant sound)
an (before a singular noun beginning with a vowel sound)
EXAMPLES:
- Please hand me a book; any book will do.
- Please hand me an autobiography; any autobiography will do.
- Eliza will bring a small gift to Sophie’s party.
- I heard an interesting story yesterday.
- Please give me a bottle of water.
- Please give me an ice cube.
Exceptions: Choosing A or An
There are a few exceptions to the general rule of using a before words that start with consonants and an before words that begin with vowels. The first letter of the word honor, for example, is a consonant, but it’s unpronounced. In spite of its spelling, the word honor begins with a vowel sound. Therefore, we use an. Consider the example sentence below for an illustration of this concept.
Incorrect: My mother is a honest woman.
Correct: My mother is an honest woman.
Similarly, when the first letter of a word is a vowel but is pronounced with a consonant sound, use a, as in the sample sentence below:
Incorrect: She is an United States senator.
Correct: She is a United States senator.
This holds true with acronyms and initialisms, too: an LCD display, a UK-based company, an HR department, a URL.
Use the indefinite article a or an only with a singular count 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.
Use the article a or an to indicate one in number (as opposed to more than one).
- I own a cat and two dogs.
Rule- Specific identity not known:
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– All things or things in general:
Use no article with plural count nouns or any noncount 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.)
Choose the correct article: a, an, the or x (no article)
- Are you coming to party next Saturday?
- I bought new TV set yesterday.
- I think man over there is very ill. He can't stand on his feet.
- I watched video you had sent me.
- She was wearing ugly dress when she met him.
- I am crazy about reading history books.
- She is nice girl.
- Do you want to go to restaurant where we first met?
- He is engineer.
- He thinks that love is what will save us all.
Answers:
Choose the correct article: a, an, the or x (no article)
- Are you coming to the party next Saturday?
- I bought a new TV set yesterday.
- I think the man over there is very ill. He can't stand on his feet.
- I watched the video you had sent me.
- She was wearing an ugly dress when she met him.
- I am crazy about reading x history books.
- She is a nice girl.
- Do you want to go to the restaurant where we first met?
- He is an engineer.
- He thinks that x love is what will save us all.
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