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The
Article
There are no articles in our Vernaculars
corresponding two those in English------ the, a, or an. It is, therefore,
naturally very difficult for beginners to know what article to use and where. There
are so many rules, apart from many exceptions to each rule, that the beginner
is often bewildered. We have, however, tried to discuss some of the most
important rules to guide the student in the use of the articles.
The Article is of two types:
1. The Indefinite Articles: a, an
2 The Definite Article: The
The Indefinite Articles: a, an
A is used:
A).
Before a consonant; as,
(Note: all
letters in English alphabet are consonants, except a, e, i, o, u, which are
known as vowels.)
a dog, a cow,
a man, a fan.
B). Before any word beginning with the U sound (pronounced as ‘Yoo’); as,
a University,
a European, a union, a useful pen, but when U is not pronounced as ‘Yoo’ it is
preceded by the article’ an’ for instance, an uncle, an urge, etc.
C). Before O (pronounced as Wa); as,
a one-sided
argument, a one-eyed man, a one-rupee notes.
D). Before a word beginning with an
aspirated h; as,
a house, a hole, (use ‘an’ in place of ‘a’ where h is silent, e.g. an honour, an honest
man).
E).
Before a descriptive noun, as,
I choose him
as a friend. we consider him a fool. his brother became a dentist.
F).
Before a noun in apposition; as,
Lahore, a city of Pakistan, was known for its famous
gun makers.
G). In the sense of the same; as,
Birds of a
feather flock together. the recruits came one at a time.
H).
‘A ‘as an article is used after however with an adjective; as,
However old a chair, it will stand the strain. However clever a man, he can make mistakes.
I). It is used also after many, never,
and not; as,
I have told
you many a time not to disturb me when I am busy.
Not a boy was present.
He answered never a word.
[There are safe, general rules, but different usages
are found in good writers. Thus, some writers use ‘a habit’ but a habitual offender,’ a history’, but and historical account. The reason is that in
history and habit, ‘h’ Is distinctly sounded, while in historical and habitual,
h is almost silent. Some writers use a before all such words.]
