Articles:
Articles are included in parts of speech. In English language, both “the” “a” and “an” are called articles. Articles combine with nouns to make noun phrases. Articles specify a noun or noun phrase. There are many uses of articles. To use articles in correct way we need to understand some rules which will enable us to use them in any sentence avoiding mistakes. We all know that “a” is used with words starting with consonants and “an” is used with the words starting with vowels. But with every vowel we do not use “an” with them. For example with the word “university” we do not use “an”. We can say articles as adjectives because they act like adjectives. Their basic function is to modify a noun or pronoun. Articles adds some meanings to noun. The is used for someting to specify. While “a” and “an” refer towards non specific noun or pronoun. Simply we can say that article is a word that always comes before a noun. Articles are of two types called definite (the) and non definite (a,an). How to choose between a, an or the? We use “a” or “an” to talk about a person or thing unknown to our listener and “the” is used to talk about a person or thing known to our listener. For example 1) My sister has two computers: a PC and a laptop. The PC is quite old but the laptop is brand new. First time we use “a” because the listener does not know about what is going in discusion. But when we use “the” its mean something specific. So “a, an” is used with something non specific and “the” is used with something specific. We explain it with another example: I planted a tree last year. The tree has grown big. Here we will discuss the rules for correct use of articles.
Rule no: 1 if a common noun is singular and its first letter gives the sound of a consonant, we use “a” before it.
Examples:
This is an book. (Incorrect)
This is a book. (Correct)
Amanda is an European girl. (Incorrect)
Amanda is a European girl. (Correct)
Rule no: 2 If a common noun is singular and its first letter gives the sound of vowel, we use “an” before it.
Examples:
That is a orange. (Incorrect)
That is an orange. (Correct)
Sami is a honest man. (Incorrect)
Sami is an honest man. (Correct)
Rule no: 3 we do not use any article before uncountable nouns.
Examples:
An iron is more useful than a gold. (Incorrect)
Iron is more useful than gold. (Correct)
The honesty is always appreciated. (Incorrect)
Honesty is always appreciated. (Correct)
Rule no: 4 When a noun is used in particular sense, we use the before it.
Examples:
This is a dog who chased me yesterday. (Incorrect)
This is the dog who chased me yesterday. (Correct)
Gold which you gave me is really pure. (Incorrect)
The gold which you gave me is really pure. (Correct)
Rule no: 5 “The” is used before the name of holy books, newspapers, magazines, nations. Religious sects, oceans, rivers, seas, deserts, historical places, well known movements and wars.
Examples:
The Quran, The Bible, the Muslims, The English, The Atlantic, The first world war, The Nile, The Sahara desert, The French revolution. The Dawn
Rule no: 6 we use “the” before the ranges of mountains but we do not use “the” before any individual mountain.
Examples:
Himalayas lie to the north of Pakistan. (Incorrect)
The Himalayas lie to the north of Pakistan. (Correct)
The highest mountain in the world is the Mount Everest. (Incorrect)
The highest mountain in the world is Mount Everest. (Correct)
Rule no: 7 we do not use “the” before the name of cities and countries. But when they are used in a particular sense, we use “the” before them.
Examples:
The Multan is an ancient city. (Incorrect)
Multan is an ancient city. (Correct)
Multan of 2020 is not the Multan of 1950. (Incorrect)
The Multan of 2020 is not the Multan of 1950. (Correct)
Rule no: 8 “The” is used before the name of unique things.
Examples:
The Sky, the Earth, the Sun, the Moon, the East, the West, the South Pole,
Rule no: 9 “The“ is used before superlative degree of adjective.
Examples:
Hina is best student in the class. (Incorrect)
Hina is the best student in the class. (Correct)
Urmila is an ablest girl here. (Incorrect)
Urmila is the ablest girl here. (Correct)
Rule no: 10 we use “the” before the comparative degree of adjective when selection is needed.
Examples:
Of the two girls, she is cleverer. (Incorrect)
Of the two girls, she is the cleverer. (Correct)
He is more stylish of the two boys. (Incorrect)
He is the more stylish of the two boys. (Correct)
Rule no: 11 we use “the” before comparative of adjective when one action results from the other. (Two actions are associated)
Examples:
Higher we go, cooler it is. (Incorrect)
The Higher we go, the cooler it is. (Correct)
Sooner you go, better it is. (Incorrect)
The Sooner you go, the better it is. (Correct)
Rule no: 12 (A) We use “the” before the names of animals and things when they represent their whole class.
Examples:
Horse runs fast. (Incorrect)
The horse runs fast. (Correct)
Mango is a sweat fruit. (Incorrect)
The mango is a sweat fruit. (Correct)
Rule no: 12 (B) We do not use “the” before man and woman when they represent the whole class.
Examples:
The man is mortal. (Incorrect)
Man is mortal. (Correct)
The man is cleverer than the woman. (Incorrect)
Man is cleverer than woman. (Correct)
Rule no: 13 “The” is used before a proper noun when we describe a noun through it.
Examples:
He is Ghalib of our time. (Incorrect)
He is the Ghalib of our time. (Correct)
Swat is Switzerland of Pakistan. (Incorrect)
Swat is the Switzerland of Pakistan. (Correct)
Rule no: 14 “The” is used before a title but when a title is written with a name, we do not use “the” before it.
Examples:
Quid-e-Azam was a great leader. (Incorrect)
The Quid-e-Azam was a great leader. (Correct)
The Quid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah was a great leader. (Incorrect)
Quid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah was a great leader. (Correct)
Rule no: 15 (A) We do not use “the” before the name of any language.
Examples:
I cannot speak the English. (Incorrect)
I cannot speak English. (Correct)
She cannot write the Arabic. (Incorrect)
She cannot write Arabic. (Correct)
(B) We use “the” before the name of nations.
Examples:
French are romantic people. (Incorrect)
The French are romantic people. (Correct)
Panjabi are brave people. (Incorrect)
The Punjabi are brave people. (Correct)
Rule no: 16 We use “the” before “whole” but we use “the” after “both and all”
Examples:
The all children were making a noise. (Incorrect)
All the children were making a noise. (Correct)
The both brothers are innocent. (Incorrect)
Both the brothers are innocent. (Correct)
Whole the city was decorated. (Incorrect)
The whole city was decorated. (Correct)
Rule no: 17 We do not use “the” before the name of diseases.
Examples:
The corona has broken out in the city. (Incorrect)
Corona has broken out in the city. (Correct)
He is suffering from the Malaria. (Incorrect)
He is suffering from Malaria. (Correct)
Rule no:18 We do not use “the” before the name of God.
Examples:
I advise you to obey the God. (Incorrect)
I advise you to obey God. (Correct)
The God is merciful. (Incorrect)
God is merciful. (Correct)
