Q.13 What are the articles? Write the uses of articles and describe the omission of the article and repetition of the article. (2008 - 09, 09 - 10, 10-11)
Related Questions -
Q. What is the difference between definite article and indefinite article? Write any two sentences using definite article. (2011 - 12) Ans. The adjectives a or an, the are usually called articles. They are really demonstrative adjectives. Thus there are two types of articles a or an and the.
Indefinite: -
A or an is the weakened form of one, and is called indefinite articles because it does not point out any definite or particular person or thing.
Definite: -
The is called the definite article because it points out some definite or thing. As a general rule, an article is placed before a common noun in the singular number.
Example: -
(i) There is a pen. (ii) Here is an umbrella.
(iii) I saw a jacket in the field. (iv) This is an inkpot.
(v) Twelve inches make a foot. (vi) A word to the wise is sufficient.
‘A’ or An used According to Sound: -
Whether to use a or an will depend on the sound of the word before which it is placed.
(a) Before a word beginning with a vowel sound as an ass, an orange, an uncle.
(b) Before a word beginning with h which is not pronounced and therefore the beginning sound of the word becomes a vowel sound as an hour, an honestman, an heir.
(c) Before individual letters spoken with a vowel sound as – an M.A, an M.P, an S.P (M. Sounds as “em” but before B.A., P.M., G.M a is used).
A is used: -
a. Before a word beginning with a consonant sound as – a woman, a yard, a horse, a man.
b. Before a word beginning with the consonant sound of “yn” though it may begin with a vowel letter.
Examples: -
A university, a union, a usage, a useful thing, a europeon, a enlogy.
c. Before a word with the sound of “wu” even though it may begin with a vowel letter as – a one rupee note, a one eyed giant.
d. Before a word beginning with a sounded h as – a horse, a hero, a holiday.
Use of A or AN According to Context: -
The indefinite articles a or an is used in the sense of –
(a) Numerical one: Give me a mango.
(b) A certain person: I saw a beggar.
(c) A class: A dog is a useful animal.
(d) The same: Two of a trade seldom agree.
(e) Any: A child generally likes to play.
(f) When a proper noun is used in the sense of common noun; A Daniel comes to judgement.
(g) Certain quantity: A lot of, a great deal of, a great many, a couple, a dozen.
(h) Certain numbers: A hundred, a million.
(i) Before “half”: One and a half kilos or a kilo and a half – holiday, a half share.
(j) Price, speed ratio: Rs 10 a dozen, 60 kilometers an hour; four times a day.
(k) Exclamation:
What a long queen !
What a pretty girl !
Such a selfish man !
What a fine day !
Use of the according to context the definite articles the is used: -
(a) When we speak of a particular person or thing or one already mentioned or one well known to us as :
Shut the box. Call the boy.
(b) When a singular noun or an adjective of quality is meant to represent a whole class as –
The lion is the king of beasts. The rich are not always happy.
(c) Before the names of rivers seas, oceans, mountain ranges, groups of islands, gulfs, cannals, plains, deserts, winds, seasons, as – The Ganga, the Arabian sea, the Atlantic Ocean, the Himalaya, the upper Jhelum Canal.
(d) Before certain geographical names. As – the Punjab, the Deccan, the Highlands.
(e) Before the names of certain books – as the Vedas, the Puranas, the Koran.
(f) Before the names of ships, aeroplanes, well known building, news – papers.
(g) Before superlatives,
The oldest
The first.
(h) Before names of things unique of their kind. As – the moon, the earth, the sea, the prime minister.
(i) Before names of important events.
(j) Before an epithet attached to a personal name. As –
Alexander the Great.
George the fifth.
(k) In many fixed phrases. As –
On the one hand.
On the other hand.
On the march.
Omission of Articles: -
The article is omitted –
(a) Before proper, material and abstract nouns (used in a general sense) as – London, gold, honesty, virtue.
(b) Before a noun used in the widest sense as – Man is mortal. Woman is tender hearted.
(c) In certain phrases consisting hearted preposition followed by its object, as – one foot, in jail, underground, to school, at school from head to foot, from top to bottom, at home, in hand, in bed, by day, by train, by car, in dept, on earth, at noon, at sight, in town, at tea, on board, in jest, at sunset, at day break, at best, at worst.
He is in dept. Mohan is at school. Rama is still in bed.
(d) In certain phrases consisting of a transitive verb followed by its object as – Give ear, set sail, take heart, bring word, give battle, send word, catch fire take offence.
Don’t take offence at my words.
I leave office at four o¢ clock.
(e) Before nouns used as complements as – They made him prisoner. He became king.
(f) Before the names of single mountains or single island as – Everest, Sri Lanka.
(g) Before the names of continents, countries, capes, cities, towns, days, months, arts, languages.
(h) Before a common noun in the vocative case as – Come here, boy.
(i) Before common nouns when they go in pairs, as – Both husband and wife received serious injuries.
(j) Before plural nouns used to denote a class as – Boys go to school every day at nine o¢ clock. Camels are useful animals.
But it is correct to say :
The boy who go to school everyday at 9 o¢ clock returned at 3. The camels of Arabian are very strong.
Repetition of the Articles: -
Distinguish between the following sentences.
(a) I have a black and white cow. (one cow)
I have a black and a white cow. (two cows)
(b) The secretary and accountant is present. (one person)
The secretary and the accountant are present. (two person).
Q.14 Supply the appropriate Articles in the blanks in the passage given below.
Today it is not ________ easy task to define Mechanical Engineering. Since it is necessarily combined with other types of engineering. Further ______ whole field of engineering has become so complex that _______ high degree specialization has become inevitable. For example, _________ making of aircraft is known as Aeronautical Engineering; that of building bridges as Civil Engineering. _______ Civil Engineer, for instance, depends on Mechanical Engineer for production of mechine she uses.
Ans. 1. an 2. the 3. a 4. the 5. A
Related Questions -
Q. What is the difference between definite article and indefinite article? Write any two sentences using definite article. (2011 - 12) Ans. The adjectives a or an, the are usually called articles. They are really demonstrative adjectives. Thus there are two types of articles a or an and the.
Indefinite: -
A or an is the weakened form of one, and is called indefinite articles because it does not point out any definite or particular person or thing.
Definite: -
The is called the definite article because it points out some definite or thing. As a general rule, an article is placed before a common noun in the singular number.
Example: -
(i) There is a pen. (ii) Here is an umbrella.
(iii) I saw a jacket in the field. (iv) This is an inkpot.
(v) Twelve inches make a foot. (vi) A word to the wise is sufficient.
‘A’ or An used According to Sound: -
Whether to use a or an will depend on the sound of the word before which it is placed.
(a) Before a word beginning with a vowel sound as an ass, an orange, an uncle.
(b) Before a word beginning with h which is not pronounced and therefore the beginning sound of the word becomes a vowel sound as an hour, an honestman, an heir.
(c) Before individual letters spoken with a vowel sound as – an M.A, an M.P, an S.P (M. Sounds as “em” but before B.A., P.M., G.M a is used).
A is used: -
a. Before a word beginning with a consonant sound as – a woman, a yard, a horse, a man.
b. Before a word beginning with the consonant sound of “yn” though it may begin with a vowel letter.
Examples: -
A university, a union, a usage, a useful thing, a europeon, a enlogy.
c. Before a word with the sound of “wu” even though it may begin with a vowel letter as – a one rupee note, a one eyed giant.
d. Before a word beginning with a sounded h as – a horse, a hero, a holiday.
Use of A or AN According to Context: -
The indefinite articles a or an is used in the sense of –
(a) Numerical one: Give me a mango.
(b) A certain person: I saw a beggar.
(c) A class: A dog is a useful animal.
(d) The same: Two of a trade seldom agree.
(e) Any: A child generally likes to play.
(f) When a proper noun is used in the sense of common noun; A Daniel comes to judgement.
(g) Certain quantity: A lot of, a great deal of, a great many, a couple, a dozen.
(h) Certain numbers: A hundred, a million.
(i) Before “half”: One and a half kilos or a kilo and a half – holiday, a half share.
(j) Price, speed ratio: Rs 10 a dozen, 60 kilometers an hour; four times a day.
(k) Exclamation:
What a long queen !
What a pretty girl !
Such a selfish man !
What a fine day !
Use of the according to context the definite articles the is used: -
(a) When we speak of a particular person or thing or one already mentioned or one well known to us as :
Shut the box. Call the boy.
(b) When a singular noun or an adjective of quality is meant to represent a whole class as –
The lion is the king of beasts. The rich are not always happy.
(c) Before the names of rivers seas, oceans, mountain ranges, groups of islands, gulfs, cannals, plains, deserts, winds, seasons, as – The Ganga, the Arabian sea, the Atlantic Ocean, the Himalaya, the upper Jhelum Canal.
(d) Before certain geographical names. As – the Punjab, the Deccan, the Highlands.
(e) Before the names of certain books – as the Vedas, the Puranas, the Koran.
(f) Before the names of ships, aeroplanes, well known building, news – papers.
(g) Before superlatives,
The oldest
The first.
(h) Before names of things unique of their kind. As – the moon, the earth, the sea, the prime minister.
(i) Before names of important events.
(j) Before an epithet attached to a personal name. As –
Alexander the Great.
George the fifth.
(k) In many fixed phrases. As –
On the one hand.
On the other hand.
On the march.
Omission of Articles: -
The article is omitted –
(a) Before proper, material and abstract nouns (used in a general sense) as – London, gold, honesty, virtue.
(b) Before a noun used in the widest sense as – Man is mortal. Woman is tender hearted.
(c) In certain phrases consisting hearted preposition followed by its object, as – one foot, in jail, underground, to school, at school from head to foot, from top to bottom, at home, in hand, in bed, by day, by train, by car, in dept, on earth, at noon, at sight, in town, at tea, on board, in jest, at sunset, at day break, at best, at worst.
He is in dept. Mohan is at school. Rama is still in bed.
(d) In certain phrases consisting of a transitive verb followed by its object as – Give ear, set sail, take heart, bring word, give battle, send word, catch fire take offence.
Don’t take offence at my words.
I leave office at four o¢ clock.
(e) Before nouns used as complements as – They made him prisoner. He became king.
(f) Before the names of single mountains or single island as – Everest, Sri Lanka.
(g) Before the names of continents, countries, capes, cities, towns, days, months, arts, languages.
(h) Before a common noun in the vocative case as – Come here, boy.
(i) Before common nouns when they go in pairs, as – Both husband and wife received serious injuries.
(j) Before plural nouns used to denote a class as – Boys go to school every day at nine o¢ clock. Camels are useful animals.
But it is correct to say :
The boy who go to school everyday at 9 o¢ clock returned at 3. The camels of Arabian are very strong.
Repetition of the Articles: -
Distinguish between the following sentences.
(a) I have a black and white cow. (one cow)
I have a black and a white cow. (two cows)
(b) The secretary and accountant is present. (one person)
The secretary and the accountant are present. (two person).
Q.14 Supply the appropriate Articles in the blanks in the passage given below.
Today it is not ________ easy task to define Mechanical Engineering. Since it is necessarily combined with other types of engineering. Further ______ whole field of engineering has become so complex that _______ high degree specialization has become inevitable. For example, _________ making of aircraft is known as Aeronautical Engineering; that of building bridges as Civil Engineering. _______ Civil Engineer, for instance, depends on Mechanical Engineer for production of mechine she uses.
Ans. 1. an 2. the 3. a 4. the 5. A