Articles (a, an, the) are determiners that come before nouns. 'A' and 'an' are indefinite articles (refer to any one of a class); 'the' is the definite article (refers to a specific thing). Some sentences need no article at all — especially before proper nouns, uncountable nouns in general use, and plural nouns used generally.
'A' before consonant sounds; 'an' before vowel sounds (regardless of spelling).
'The' for specific/previously mentioned nouns, unique things, superlatives, rivers, mountain ranges.
No article before proper nouns, languages, meals, or uncountable nouns used generally.
Trick: 'a university' (yoo sound), 'an hour' (silent h), 'a one-way' (w sound).
Names of oceans, seas, rivers, and mountain ranges always take 'the'.
A — used before singular countable nouns beginning with a consonant sound: • a book, a dog, a university (note: 'u' in university sounds like 'yoo' — consonant sound) • a one-way street (note: 'one' starts with 'w' sound)
AN — used before singular countable nouns beginning with a vowel sound: • an apple, an egg, an honest man (h is silent), an hour, an umbrella, an MBA degree
THE — used before: • A specific noun already mentioned: I saw a dog. The dog was barking. • Unique things: the sun, the moon, the earth, the sky • Superlatives: the best, the tallest • Ordinal numbers: the first, the second • Names of rivers, seas, oceans, mountain ranges: the Ganga, the Pacific, the Himalayas • Musical instruments: She plays the sitar.
NO ARTICLE — used before: • Plural nouns used generally: Dogs are faithful animals. • Uncountable nouns used generally: Water is essential for life. • Names of people, cities, countries (usually): India, Delhi, Ravi • Languages, subjects: English, Mathematics • Meals: Have you had breakfast?
Rewrite the sentences inserting articles where necessary:
She is honest woman. → She is an honest woman.
Sun rises in east. → The sun rises in the east.
He is best student in class. → He is the best student in the class.
I saw elephant at zoo yesterday. → I saw an elephant at the zoo yesterday.
Give me glass of water. → Give me a glass of water.
He plays violin beautifully. → He plays the violin beautifully.
Amazon is longest river in South America. → The Amazon is the longest river in South America.
She has MBA degree from reputed university. → She has an MBA degree from a reputed university.
Man is mortal. → Man is mortal. (No article — used in general/philosophical sense)
I want to become engineer. → I want to become an engineer.
Moon was bright last night. → The moon was bright last night.
He is European by birth. → He is a European by birth.
Book you lent me was very interesting. → The book you lent me was very interesting.
Gold is precious metal. → Gold is a precious metal.
Children went to park after school. → The children went to the park after school.
She is one-act play actress. → She is a one-act play actress.
Alps are located in Europe. → The Alps are located in Europe.
Honest person is trusted by all. → An honest person is trusted by all.
Please pass salt. → Please pass the salt.
We visited Taj Mahal on our trip to Agra. → We visited the Taj Mahal on our trip to Agra.
No article is used before: plural nouns in a general sense (Dogs are faithful), uncountable nouns in general (Water is life), proper nouns like names of people, cities, countries (India, Ravi), languages and subjects (He studies English), meals (Have breakfast), and abstract nouns used generally (Honesty is the best policy — 'honesty' here takes no article).
'A' and 'an' depend on the SOUND, not the spelling. 'University' begins with a 'yoo' sound (consonant sound) → a university. 'Umbrella' begins with the vowel sound 'uh' → an umbrella. Similarly: 'a one-way street' (w sound), 'an honest man' (silent h, so vowel sound).
'The' is used before a name when referring to a specific, well-known person being identified: 'Are you the Ravi who won the award?' or 'He is the Sachin Tendulkar of our school.' Normally, no article is used before names.
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