There are three articles in English. They are – ‘a’, ‘an’, and ‘the’. They are not a distinct
Part of Speech. They are really adjectives. ‘The’ is a short form of the ‘this, that, these and those’ and therefore is a Demonstrative Adjective. ‘a’ and ‘an’ are short forms of the Indefinite Pronoun ‘One’ and are therefore called Indefinite
Articles. They are called Indefinite because they do not refer to any
particular person or thing.
The indefinite articles – “a” and “an” are used in
English to refer to a nonspecific or
unidentified item or person. ‘a’ is
used before words that begin with a consonant.
Examples: a boy, a
student, a book, etc.
But if the word begins with a vowel and it is pronounced as a
consonant, “a” is used before it.
Examples:
a European, a university, a union, a unit, a uniform, a useful
thing, a eulogy, etc.
“an” is used before words that begin with a vowel
sound.
Example : an
orange, an elephant, an apple
But if the word begins with a consonant and it is pronounced as
a vowel sound, “an” is used before it also.
Example : an hour,
an heir, etc.
Uses of the Indefinite Articles – ‘a’ and ‘an’:
1.
Before Singular Countable
Nouns: The indefinite article ‘a’ or ‘an’ is
used before singular countable nouns when you are referring to one item out of a group or class.
Examples:
a.
I bought a book yesterday.
b. She wants to adopt a cat.
c.
Raju is eating an apple.
2.
Before the Singular
Common Noun Used for the First Time:
Example: There was a jungle. A king lived in that jungle.
3.
Generalizations: The indefinite article – ‘a’ or ‘an’ is used to make generalizations about a whole class of things or people.
Examples:
a.
A dog is a loyal companion.
b. A teacher educates
students.
c.
An elephant is a huge animal.
4.
Sometimes ‘a’ or ‘an’
is used meaning ‘one’:
Examples:
a.
Rome was not built
in a day.
b.
A stitch in time saves nine.
c.
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
5.
Sometimes ‘a’ or ‘an’
can be used meaning ‘any/single’:
Examples:
a.
He did not speak a word in his defence.
b.
There was not a man who supported me.
6.
‘a’ or ‘an’ can be
used meaning ‘every/per’ to show ratio or rate :
Examples:
a.
He makes fifty thousand a year.
b.
Her salary is Rs. 50000/- a month.
c.
She got package of five lakh an annum.
d.
The car can go up to 200 miles an hour.
e.
I can type at a
speed of 60 words a minute.
7.
‘a’ or ‘an’ can be
used meaning ‘the same’:
Examples:
a.
Birds of a feather flock
together.
8.
Sometimes
the word ‘most’ is used to mean very, at that time the indefinite article – ‘a’
is used before ‘most’.
Examples:
a.
Dr. Kalam was a most renowned scientist in
India.
b.
Rakesh is a most intelligent student
in our class.
9.
Before the certain
thing about which we cannot speak certainly, the indefinite article ‘a’ or ‘an’
is used.
Examples:
a.
I saw a hawker in the street.
b.
I saw an animal in the
jungle.
c.
He saw a flower in the garden.
10. The article – a or
an is used Before Degrees.
Examples: an M.A.,
a B. A., an M.B.B.S., a B.Com., etc.
11. When a Proper Noun
is Used as a Common Noun (as a metaphor), ‘a’ or ‘an’ is used before it.
Example:
a.
He is a Walmiki.
b.
He is a second Newton.
c.
He is a Shakespeare.
12. Professions and
occupations: When mentioning
someone’s profession or occupation for the first time, you can use the
indefinite article.
Examples:
a.
He is an architect.
b.
She wants to be a doctor.
13. Describing someone’s
nationality, religion, or political affiliation:
Examples:
a.
He is an American.
b.
She is a Buddhist.
c.
He is a Democrat.
It is important to note that the choice between “a” and “an” depends on
the sound that follows the article.
“A” is used before words starting with a consonant sound, while
“an” is used before words starting with a vowel sound.
The Indefinite Articles – ‘a’ and ‘an’ are not used in the
following situations:
1. Before Plural Nouns
E.g. a students, an apples (Incorrect)
2. Before Material Nouns:
E.g. a gold, a sugar, a milk, etc. (Incorrect)
3. Before Abstract Nouns:
E.g. a love, a knowledge, etc. (Incorrect)
4. Before Proper Noun:
E.g. a Ramesh, a Mohini, etc. (Incorrect)
5. Before Uncountable Nouns:
E.g. a tea, a milk, a sugar
