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Indefinite Articles

The article a/an is used

1. before a singular countable noun when Note
it refers to no particular person or thing. The article a is used before a noun that
For example, starts with a consonant sound. The
y I have a car. article an is used before a noun that
starts with a vowel sound. For example,
y The computer is a machine. • a European country
y She is an advocate.
• an unusual problem
2. before a singular noun which represents • an MBA student
its whole class or species. For example, • a usual day
y A student should be disciplined. • an honourable job

y A pet should be taken care of.
3. to mean one. For example,
y The car ran at the speed of sixty kilometres an hour.
y I own a cat and three dogs.

4. to indicate membership of a group. For example,
y He is a teacher.
y Brian is a Goan.
y Richard is a practising Buddhist.

5. before phrases of time and measurements. For example,
y I go on holiday twice a week.
y Tomatoes are Rs 100 a kilo.
y Our car can go at the speed of 220 kilometres an hour.

Definite Article

The definite article is used

1. before a noun that is one of its kind. For example,

y The Pope might visit India.
y The moon is very bright tonight.
2. before a noun when we have already mentioned it. For example,

y A boy fell from a mango tree. The boy was taken to a nearby hospital.
3. before a noun which is made definite by using a qualifying phrase or clause.
For example,

y The boy in the corner is my brother.
y The child in red is very cute.
y This is the place where we first met.

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