Articles

Articles

Indefinite articles - A/AN

to specify ONE - He didn't say a word.

To specify a CERTAIN thing/person - A Peter is suspected by the police.

In the meaning of ANY - A cow is a milch animal.

To use a PROPER NOUNS as a COMMON NOUN

A Lincoln came to save us.

Definite article - THE

To refer to some PARTICULAR person or thing - Call the girl standing outside.

To indicate a WHOLE CLASS with a Singular Noun - The lion is a fierce animal.

As an adverb - the more

Before RIVERS, MOUNTAIN RANGES(not individual mountain) and GROUPS OF ISLANDS - The Alps, The British Isles

Before OCEANS, GULF, SEAS and BAYS - The Indian Ocean, the Red Sea

Before the names of some PROVINCES, COUNTRIES etc - The USA, the UK

Before the names of WELL-KNOWN BOOKS - the Bible

Before the names of NEWSPAPERS, MAGAZINES,etc - The New York Times

Before the names of PEOPLE(NATIONS), FAMILIES and ADJECTIVES formed from Proper Names - the English language

COMMON NOUN is used as an ABSTRACT NOUN - He played the fool.

Before ORDINALS and SUPERLATIVES - the seventh time, It was the hottest day of the year.

Before COMMON NOUNS which are UNIQUE - the sun, the moon, the earth, the sky

No article

Before the Common Nouns used in the widest sense. - Man is mortal.

Before Proper Nouns - Mumbai is a big city.

Before Abstract Nouns used in a general sense. - Honesty is the best policy.

Before Material Nouns - Gold is a precious metal.

Before titles coming before Proper Nouns - King George V

When the noun is the object of the verb - His clothes caught fire.

When a Preposition is followed by a noun - by hand

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