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What are Articles? Articles are small words that are often used at the beginning of Noun phrases.

Types of Articles Definite Article - the Indefinite Article a, an What are articles used for? Whether we are talking about singular or plural nouns Whether we are talking about know or unknown things Is the mistake regarding usage of articles very serious No, yet it is preferable to inculcate the habit of making correct usage of articles What are 4 common mistakes to be avoided Dont use singular countble nouns alone without an article or other determiners E.g. A cat, That Cat, The Cat, my cat, any cat, every cat, but not just cat Dont use a/ an with plural or uncountable nouns e.g. John collects stamps e.g. Our garden needs water Dont use the to talk about things in general e.g. Nurses mostly work very hard. E.g. The nurses have never gone on strike e.g. Dogs are faithful e.g. Doga creating Nuisance in the locality Dont use articles with my, this or other determiners E.g. my work demands extra time This prob cannot be solve easily A frioend of mine is coming home todat Indefinite Articles A. Use of A 1. Before a word beginning with consonants sound e.g. a boy, a dog, a student, a city, a tree etc 2. Before a word beginning with u or eu with the consonant sound y e.g. a university, a union, a unit, a useful book, a European 3. Before a word that begins with the vowel o with the sound of w or v e.g. a one rupee not, a one man show, a one eyed boy B. Use of An 1. Before a word that begins eoth a vowel havig a vowel sound e.g. an apple, an egg, an ink bottle, an umbrella, an officer etc. 2. Before a word beginning with a silent h e.g. an honourable person, an hour, an heir, an honorary worker, n honorarium, an hourly basis 3. Before an abbreviation the first letter of which begins with a consonant having a vowel sound e.g. an MLA, an FRCS, an SDC etc. C. Other functions of A/ An 1. I bought a book Wait a minute

Usage: in the sense of one 2. She comes here twice a week I paid Rs 20 a kg It costs Rs 400 a meter I visit him three times a year Usage: In the sense of every or per 3 I did not say a word against him I have a regard for you There is not a man in the town to support me Usage: in the sense of some, any or single 4. A cow is a very useful animal A cinema teaches something highly valuable Usage: Singular countable noun to represent a class of things Exception: Man is mortal Woman is the ornament od the house 5 A good deal of, A great many, a lot of, a couple of, a little, a few, a good many etc. Uasge: In certain expressions of quantity 6 I walked haf a kilometer this morning I bought one and a half kg of apples A million of them have responded Approximately a thousand were present in the party A quarter always disagrees with the proposal Usage: with certain numbers 7 What a beauty! Such a long Queue! What a strange sight! Usage: in exclamations before singular countable nouns 8 Many a time I ignore rebukes Its rather a pity that you could not attend the party Its quite a good story Usage: after the words many, rather, such, quite etc 9 This is too big a class to handle This is not so serious a problem to worry about How awkward a situation is Usage: after an adjective recede by so, too, as and how 10 Once a upon a time there lived tailor. The tailor was eking out a living stitching uniforms

I saw a coule in the corner of a restaurant The couple were discussing something serious. Usage: Before a singular countable noun which is mentioned for the first time D. Omission of A/ An 1. What weather! What scenery! I would like to have some water/ a glass of water Usage: before uncountable nouns 2. I had dinner at 8:30 p.m She has breakfast at 7 a.m Usage: before names of meals 3. They have developed a new variety of sheep Have you got a cheaper sort of radio What kind of person is she Usage: After kind of, sort of, type of, variety of E. Repetition of A/ An I have a black and a whit coat I have a black and white coat

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