Articles: A, an and the are called articles. Generally these are used before a noun. These are also called 'Determiners' in Modern English Grammar.
There are two types of articles.
1. Indefinite articles: A and An are called indefinite articles. These are used to make the position of a noun Indefinite or uncertain.
Ex - He saw an old man.
There was a king.
2. Definite Article: The is called Indefinite article. It is used to make the position of a noun definite or certain.
Position of Articles:
1. A/ An/ The + Noun
Ex - I have a book.
The cow has a tail.
2. A/ An/ The/ + Adjective + Noun
Ex - She is an intelligent girl.
Tendulkar is the best player.
3. A/ An/ The/ Adverb + Adjective + Noun
Ex - She is a very intelligent girl.
He is the very best player.
4. Such/ What/ Many/ Quite/ Rather + A/ An + Adjective + Noun
Ex - Such a beautiful girl.
What a big fool!
Many a good book.
5. Such/ What/ Many/ Half/ Rather + A/ An + Noun
Ex - Such a girl.
Many an inkpot.
6. All/ both/ double/ + The/ + Noun
Ex - All the girls.
Double the amount.
7. All + Both/ Double/ Exactly/ Just + The + Adjective + Noun
Ex - All the famous singers.
Exactly the wrong colour.
8. How/ So/ Too/ As + Adjective + A/ An+ Noun
Ex - How a beautiful girl is she?
Devan Babu is too weak a man.
Uses of Articles:
Uses of A/ An:
1. A/ An is used before the noun denoting indefinite person/ animal/ thing.
2. An is used before the word which has vowel sound and A is used before the word which has consonant sound.
Ex - She is an ideal girl.
She is a beautiful girl.
Some More Uses of A/ An:
1. A/ An is used in some special phrases.
Ex - A team of, A gang of, A crowd of, An army of, An assembly of, A flock of etc.
2. A is used in the expressions denoting number or quantity.
Ex - A lot of, A great number of, A good many of, A good deal of, A great many of etc.
3. A/ An is used in the meaning of one(1).
Ex - Mukesh has a(1) dog.
Binay has an(1) apple.
4. A/ An is used in the meaning of 'Any'.
Ex - There was a(any) king of Magadh.
Veena did not give her husband an(any) apple.
5. A/ An is used in the meaning of Each/ Every or per.
Ex - Mr. Dhananjay earns Rs 10,000/- a(per) month.
Mr. Thakur walks five kilometres an(each/every) hour.
6. A is used in the meaning of 'on'.
Ex - He found her a(on) bed.
He went a(on) hunting.
7. A/ An is used in the meaning of 'All'.
Ex - A(all) dog has a short tail.
A(all) cow has along tail.
8. If a Proper noun is used as a common noun, A/ An is used before the Proper noun.
Ex - He is a Kalidas.
You are a Tendulkar.
9. A is used before Most if it means very.
Ex - He is a most(very) handsome boy.
That was a most(very) interesting story.
10. If two adjectives are joined with 'and' referring to the same person or thing and are used before a singular countable noun, then A/ An is used before the first adjective.
Ex - A black and white cow.
A tall and handsome boy.
11. If two adjectives are joined with 'and' referring to two different persons or things and are used before a singular countable noun, then A/ An is used before both the adjectives.
Ex - A black and a white cow.
An honest and an intelligent teacher.
12. To denote the same person or thing by two singular nouns joined with 'and', article A/ An is used before the first singular noun.
Ex - A clerk and cashier.
An uncle and guardian.
