THE ARTICLE

Articles are sometimes regarded as a distinct part of speech. But, properly speaking these are merely adjectives. An article is
always placed with a noun like other adjectives.

KINDS OF ARTICLES
There are two kinds of articles; the indefinite article and the definite article.
(I) INDEFINITE ARTICLE
A and An are called Indefinite Articles because they do not particularize a noun but generalize it; as,
I bought a table. (Here, a table means any table)
We read a book. (Here, a book means any book)
He ate an apple. (Here, an apple means any apple)
(II) DEFINITE ARTICLE
The is called the Definite Article because it particularizes a noun.
I saw the doctor who treated me.
(the doctor not any doctor but some particular doctor).
Where is the book which I gave you?
(the book not any book but some particular book).
THE USE OF INDEFINITE ARTICLE
The Indefinite Article A or An is properly speaking, a Numeral Adjective for it originally means one.
Examples:
A player can be tall or short. (any player).
An anchor came to see the stage. (any anchor)
Choice between A and An
The choice between A and An is determined by the sound.
A is used before a word beginning with a consonant sound; as,
a boy, a horse, a useful book, a European
An is used before a word beginning with a vowel sound; as,
an ass, an inkpot, an hour, an apple, an officer
EXERCISES 1
1. Say whether a and an should be placed before the following:
(i)
__________island
(ii)
__________ big city
(iii)
__________ umbrella
(iv)
__________ honest man
(v)
__________university
(vi)
__________ orange
(vii)
__________ hour
(viii)
_________ M.N.A
(ix)
__________ heir
(x)
__________ European
(xi)
___________outstanding performance
(xii)
___________ L shaped street
(xiii)
__________ iron will
(xiv)
__________ piece of advice
(xv)
__________ intelligent boy
(xvi)
___________ewe

THE USE OF THE DEFINITE ARTICLE

The is used;
(i) Before a noun made definite by the addition of a phrase or clause; as,
The girl in blue dress.
The man with the banner the boy that I met.

(ii) Before a noun which has become definite as a result of being mentioned a second time:
His car struck a tree; you can still see the mark on the tree

(iii) When a singular noun is meant to represent a whole class; as,

The dog is a faithful animal.
The rose is the sweetest of all flowers.

(iv) But the noun man and woman when used to denote the whole class never have either article; as,
Man is mortal. Woman is mans mate.

The pen which I gave you.

(v) With the names of rivers, seas, oceans, gulfs, groups of Islands and mountain ranges; as,
The Ravi, The Chenab, and The Indus
The Arabian Sea, the Atlantic Ocean

(vi) Before the name of divine books or newspapers; as,

The muslims read the Holy Quran.
The Nawa-i-Waqt is published from Lahore.

(vii) Before common nouns which are names of heavenly bodies; as,
The moon shines in the sky.
The earth moves round the sun.

(viii) Before an Adjective used as a Noun; as,

People always appreciate the brave.
The rich do not like the poor.

(ix) When a Proper Noun is used as a Common Noun; as,

Lahore is the Paris of Pakistan.
He is the Newton of my class.

(x) Before Superlatives; as,

He is the best boy of my class.

(xi) As an adverb before adjectives in the comparative degree; as,

The more we get, the more we desire.
The slower you move, the greater time you take.
(xii) Before musical instruments; as,
He can play the flute.

(xiii) Before the names of directions; as,

The sun rises in the East and sets in the West.

(xiv) Before words denoting natural phenomena; as,

The day follows the night.

(xv) With ordinals; as,

He was the first man who came to see me.
This is the sixth edition of this book.

(xvi) With the qualitative names of Allah.

The Kind, The Merciful etc.

(xvii) With an abstract or material noun to specify; as,

The gold of Africa

The life of Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH)

The Omissions of the Article

The is omitted: Before a common noun used in its widest sense; as,
Man is mortal.
What kind of flower is it?
Before abstract, material and proper noun; as,
Honesty is the best policy.
Gold is a precious metal.
When a common noun is used in the plural number and is not particularized; as,
Boys play football.
Before names of relations; as,
Father has returned.
Before languages; as,
I learnt French from school.
Before names of drinks, meals; such as,
Dinner is ready.
EXERCISES 2
Fill in the blanks with a or the.
(i)
The sun sets in _________ west.
(ii)
Japan is _________ big island.
(iii)
We belong to one and _________ same village.
(iv)
_________ place where I met him.
(v)
_________ health of my father is falling.
(vi)
Naseem is _________ cleverer of the two.
(vii)
Do not make _________ noise.
(viii)
This is ________ shortest of all the roads.
(ix)
________ honesty of this man is praise worthy.
(x)
He is ________ Newton of our class.
(xi)
It is _______ unique idea.
(xii)
________ Ravi is a famous river.
(xiii)
I have ______ piece of work at home.
(xiv)
I saw a man. _______ man was tired and .
(xv)
This is _______ first edition of this book.
(xvi)
_______ whale is in danger of becoming extinct.
(xvii)
_______ Man is the only animal that uses fire.
(xviii)
Why do the rich hate _____ poor?
(xix)
These passengers are bound for _______ British Isles.