Articles for Class 6

What Do You Mean by Articles?

Articles are used before nouns to indicate whether the noun is specific or nonspecific.

They are classified into two categories:

Definite Articles

"The" is a definite article. It is used when we are talking about a specific person, place, or thing.

Example:

→ My son saw the dog that barks loudly every night and got scared.
→ The book on the shelf is very interesting.
→ The restaurant on Main Street is famous for its pizza.
→ The cat that I adopted is very playful.
→ The laptop you lent me works perfectly.
→ I saw the overcoat that was worn by my great-grandfather in his youth.

Indefinite Articles

"A" and "an" are indefinite articles. They are used when we are talking about a general noun. "An" is used before a vowel sound (a, e, i, o, u).

Example:

→ Jack wanted a book to read and her sister found an interesting article to work on.
→ A tall, handsome stranger approached me at the party.
→ She found an old, dusty book on the top shelf of the library.
→ An expensive, Italian sports car sped past us on the highway.
→ He bought a shiny, new bicycle for his daughter's birthday.

Uses of Articles

1. Indefinite Articles - "a" and "an"

→ "A" is used before singular countable nouns that begin with a consonant sound.

Example: They saw a at on the couch.

→ "An" is used before singular countable nouns that begin with a vowel sound.

Example: Jack is eating an apple.

2. Definite Article - "the"

→ "The" is used before singular or plural nouns to signify that we are talking about a distinct entity.

Example: That's my sister's book on the table.

→ "The" can also be used before a singular word to signify that it is one-of-a-kind.

Example: The Sun sets in the west.

→ "The" can be used before a noun when it is evident which specific noun we are discussing because it has been mentioned before. 

Example: He saw a cat. The cat was chasing its tail.

→ "The" is also used before the natural resources.

Example: The Amazon River flows through South America.

→ "The" is used with superlative adjectives to refer to the highest or lowest degree of something.

Example: It was the best movie we've seen so far.

Difference Between 'A' and 'An'

"A" and "an" come under indefinite articles which are used before nouns to indicate that we are discussing something non-specific or one of many. The main difference between them is the sound that follows them.

Let us understand with examples:

'A' is used before words starting with consonant sounds:

→ I saw a dagger in his bag yesterday. 
→ I saw an emerald dagger in his bag yesterday.

Note: how the usage changes from a to an just by adding a word.

→ Susan wants a novel to read. 
→ Susan wants an interesting novel on her birthday.

Note: how the usage changes from a to an just by adding a word.

'An' is used before words starting with vowel sounds:

→ Selena ate an
→ Selena ate a rotten apple and fell ill.
→ Selena ate the apple that was kept here on the table. Here "apple" starts with a vowel sound, "a".

Note: The use of all three articles in the same type of sentence.

→ My father is an honest person.

Here "honest" starts with a vowel sound, "o".

Note: It's not always about the letter itself but the sound that matters. For example, "an hour" is right because, while "hour" begins with a "h", we do not pronounce the "h" and thus it appears to begin with a vowel sound.

Omission of Articles

We never put articles before nouns. Articles are not usually required. This is known as "omission of articles." When discussing nouns in a more generic or non-specific manner, we eliminate articles.

1. Talking About General Things: When we discuss things in a general or non-specific manner, we frequently omit articles.

Examples:

→ I love dogs. (In general, all dogs)
→ Susan wants to be a teacher. (Not a specific teacher)

2. With Plural and Uncountable Nouns: When discussing plural and uncountable nouns in general, we omit articles.

Examples:

→ Birds can fly. (In general, all birds.)
→ Water is essential for life. (In general, all water.)

3. With Jobs and Nationalities: When it comes to jobs and nationalities, we leave out the articles.

→ Henry is a professor. (Specific teacher)