ARTICLES

TERM PAPER
Title: ARTICLES
Subject: English Language
Name of the student: V.Sai Rama Mohan
Roll Number:18951A0385
Guide name: ESTHER RANI
Abstract:
Articles are words that define a noun as
specific or unspecific. Consider the following
examples:
After the long day, the cup of tea tasted particularly
good.
By using the article the, we’ve shown that it was one
specific day that was long and one specific cup of tea
that tasted good.
After a long day, a cup of tea tastes particularly good.
By using the article a, we’ve created a general
statement, implying that any cup of tea would taste
good after any long day.
English has two types of articles: definite and
indefinite. Let’s discuss them now in more detail.
Introduction:
What are the most used words in the English
language? They are the articles. Actually, there are
only three words which we describe as articles. Let us
learn which words they are and their correct usage in
Introduction to Articles.
Article usage errors are commonly

noted issues that can crop up, regardless of a
writer’s experience. An oft overlooked error, this can
be set right by learning the bare basics: where, how
and when to use articles.
End the Article Usage war today!
What are Articles?
To start off with, there are two types of articles in

English – Definite and Indefinite Articles.
‘The’ is the only Definite Article and the Indefinite

Articles are ‘a’ and ‘an’.
The article ‘an’ can be used when you wish to talk
about an indefinite noun that begins with a vowel
sound.
Articles precede the noun in question, and are

placed either immediately before the noun or before
the adjective or adjective phrase/clause used for the
noun. In effect, articles denote whether the noun
that’s mentioned is Definite or Indefinite.
An article is a word used to modify a noun, which is

a person, place, object, or idea. Technically, an article
is an adjective, which is any word that modifies a
noun. Usually adjectives modify nouns through
description, but articles are used instead to point out
or refer to nouns. There are two different types of
articles that we use in writing and conversation to
point out or refer to a noun or group of nouns:
definite and indefinite articles.
Methodology:
The Definite Article.
It limits the meaning of a noun to one particular
thing. For example, your friend might ask, “Are you
going to the party this weekend?” The definite
article tells you that your friend is referring to a
specific party that both of you know about. The
definite article can be used with singular, plural, or
uncountable nouns. Below are some examples of the
definite article the used in context:
Please give me the hammer.

Please give me the red hammer; the blue one is too
small.
Please give me the nail.
Please give me the large nail; it’s the only one strong
enough to hold this painting.
Please give me the hammer and the nail.
The Indefinite Article
The indefinite article takes two forms. It’s the

word a when it precedes a word that begins with a
consonant. It’s the word an when it precedes a word
that begins with a vowel. The Indefinite
Article indicates that a noun refers to a general idea
rather than a particular thing. For example, you
might ask your friend, “Should I bring a gift to the
party?” Your friend will understand that you are not
asking about a specific type of gift or a specific item.
“I am going to bring an apple pie,” your friend tells
you. Again, the indefinite article indicates that she is
not talking about a specific apple pie. Your friend
probably doesn’t even have any pie yet. The
indefinite article only appears with singular nouns.
Consider the following examples of indefinite
articles used in context:
Please hand me a book; any book will do.
Please hand me an autobiography; any
autobiography will do.
Exceptions: Choosing A or An
There are a few exceptions to the general rule of
using a before words that start with consonants
and an before words that begin with vowels. The
first letter of the word honor, for example, is a
consonant, but it’s unpronounced. In spite of its
spelling, the word honor begins with a vowel sound.
Therefore, we use an. Consider the example
sentence below for an illustration of this concept.
My mother is a honest woman.
My mother is an honest woman.
Similarly, when the first letter of a word is a vowel
but is pronounced with a consonant sound, use a, as
in the sample sentence below:
She is an United States senator.
She is a United States senator.
This holds true with acronyms and initialisms,
too: an LCD display, a UK-based company, an HR
department, a URL.
Article Before an Adjective
Sometimes an article modifies a noun that is also

modified by an adjective. The usual word order is
article + adjective + noun. If the article is indefinite,
choose a or an based on the word that immediately
follows it. Consider the following examples for
reference:
Eliza will bring a small gift to Sophie’s party.
I heard an interesting story yesterday.
Indefinite Articles with Uncountable Nouns
Uncountable nouns are nouns that are either

difficult or impossible to count. Uncountable nouns
include intangible things (e.g., information, air),
liquids (e.g., milk, wine), and things that are too
large or numerous to count (e.g., equipment, sand,
wood). Because these things can’t be counted, you
should never use a or an with them—remember, the
indefinite article is only for singular nouns.
Uncountable nouns can be modified by words
like some, however. Consider the examples below for
reference:
Please give me a water.
Water is an uncountable noun and should not be
used with the indefinite article.
Please give me some water.
However, if you describe the water in terms of
countable units (like bottles), you can use the
indefinite article.
Please give me a bottle of water.
Please give me an ice.
Please give me an ice cube.
Please give me some ice .
Note that depending on the context, some nouns can
be countable or uncountable (e.g., hair, noise, time):
We need a light in this room.
We need some light in this room.
Using Articles with Pronouns

Possessive pronouns can help identify whether
you’re talking about specific or nonspecific items. As
we’ve seen, articles also indicate specificity. But if
you use both a possessive pronoun and an article at
the same time, readers will become confused.
Possessive pronouns are words like his, my, our, its,
her, and their. Articles should not be used with
pronouns. Consider the examples below.
Why are you reading the my book?
The and my should not be used together since they
are both meant to modify the same noun. Instead,
you should use one or the other, depending on the
intended meaning:
Why are you reading the book?
Why are you reading my book?
Omission of Articles
Occasionally, articles are omitted altogether before

certain nouns. In these cases, the article is implied
but not actually present. This implied article is
sometimes called a “zero article.” Often, the article is
omitted before nouns that refer to abstract ideas.
Look at the following examples:
Let’s go out for a dinner tonight.
Let’s go out for dinner tonight.
The creativity is a valuable quality in children.
Creativity is a valuable quality in children.
Many languages and nationality are not preceded by
an article. Consider the example below:
I studied the French in high school for four years.
I studied French in high school for four years.
Sports and academic subjects do not require articles.
See the sentences below for reference:
I like to play the baseball.
I like to play baseball .
My sister was always good at the math .
My sister was always good at math .
Discussion:
Don't Underestimate These Three Little
Words
Put simply, an article is a word that combines with a

noun. Articles are actually adjectives because they
describe the nouns that they precede. In English,
there are only three articles: the, a, and an. However,
the three are not interchangeable; rather, they are
used in specific instances.
Results:
That's a very good question. Fortunately,
the answer is quite simple. It's about listening to the
words you're using. The rule for article usage is as
follows:
Use a before nouns (or adjectives) that start with a

consonant sound.
Use an before nouns (or adjectives) that start with a

vowel sound.
Here are some examples from our English editing

professionals:
Please give the dog a cookie.

(The noun cookie starts with a consonant sound,
so a must be used.)
Please give the dog a delicious cookie.

(Our editing professionals have put the
adjective delicious in front of cookie, but as you can
see, delicious still starts with a consonant sound,
so a must still be used.)
That's an old car. (In this case, the word after the
article is old, which starts with a vowel sound.
Consequently, our English editors must use an.)
Conclusion:
Rule #1 - Specific identity not
known: Use the indefinite article a or an only with a
singular count noun whose specific identity is not
known to the reader. Use a before nouns that begin
with a consonant sound, and use an before nouns
that begin with a vowel sound.
Rule #2 - Specific identity known: Use

the definite article the with any noun (whether
singular or plural, count or noncount) when the
specific identity of the noun is known to the reader.
Rule #3 - All things or things in

general: Use no article with plural count nouns or
any noncount nouns used to mean all or in general.
Bibliography (reference):
I. http://www.butte.edu/departments/cas/tipsheets/
grammar/articles.html
II. https://www.scribendi.com/advice/using_articles_a
_an_the.en.html
III. https://www.grammarly.com/?utm_source=chButto
n&utm_medium=content&utm_id=Yj2D2yXXlmKfSm

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TERM PAPER

Article usage errors are commonly

End the Article Usage war today!

What are Articles?

To start off with, there are two types of articles in

‘The’ is the only Definite Article and the Indefinite

Articles precede the noun in question, and are

An article is a word used to modify a noun, which is

Please give me the hammer.

The Indefinite Article

The indefinite article takes two forms. It’s the

Article Before an Adjective

Sometimes an article modifies a noun that is also

Indefinite Articles with Uncountable Nouns

Uncountable nouns are nouns that are either

Using Articles with Pronouns

Occasionally, articles are omitted altogether before

Put simply, an article is a word that combines with a

Use a before nouns (or adjectives) that start with a

Use an before nouns (or adjectives) that start with a

Here are some examples from our English editing

Please give the dog a cookie.

Please give the dog a delicious cookie.

Rule #2 - Specific identity known: Use

Rule #3 - All things or things in

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