Class 8 English Grammar Chapter 13 The Article. Articles are Demonstrative Adjectives linked to Nouns. They have a grammatical function of identifying the noun as noun rather than describing it. A, an and the are articles., A and An are called Indefinite Articles and the is called the Definite Article. The Indefinite Articles: a or an is a weakened form of one and it is called Indefinite because it does not refer to any particular person or thing. I saw a girl in the street. (Any girl = not definite). She gave me a banana and an apple. (Any banana and any apple = not definite).
Standard 8 English Grammar Chapter 13 The Article
Grade 8 English Grammar Chapter 13 The Article (A, An, The)
Class: 8 | English Grammar |
Chapter: 13 | The Article |
The Uses of the Indefinite Article
Use of A or An: The choice between A or An is determined by sound. A is used before words beginning with a consonant sound and Countable Noun or Adjective and an is used before words beginning with a vowel sound.
Use of A: Consonants with consonant sound: a boy, a pen, a hen. a poor boy, a man, a heavy blow, a European, a uniform, a one-rupee note etc.
Use of An: An is used before nouns beginning with a vowel sound as,
An ass, an active, an ant, an arrow, an M.A, an M. P., an hour, an honour
A or An is used
A | An |
---|---|
She bought a dozen apples. | Ram has an ulcer on his arm. |
A stitch in time saves nine. | An old man had seven sons. |
My elder brother is a doctor. | Sudha’s father is an engineer. |
Sh. Sukhi Ram is a professor. | Her uncle is an I.A.S. Officer. |
Use of The
When we speak of a particular person or thing as,
1. The book you want is not printed this year.
2. Let us go to the park.
3. The cow is a domestic animal.
The Definite Article with Proper Nouns: As a general rule the should not be placed before a “Proper Noun”, but the following exceptions may be carefully noted:
1. The French defeated the Germans
2. The Indians are a very brave people.
3. The English often fought the French.
Before Proper Noun when it is qualified by an Adjective or an Adjective Phrase as,
1. Kalidas is the Shakespeare of India.
2. Japan is the Great Britain of the East.
3. Sardar Patel is the Bismark of India.
4. Kashmir is the Switzerland of India.
Repetition of Article
Non repeated article | Repeated Article |
---|---|
She has a black and white dog. | She has a black and a white dog. |
The horse and Tonga is at the gate. | The horse and the Tonga are at the gate. |
The poet and painter was honoured. | The poet and the painter were honoured. |
Omission of Article
1. Honesty is the best policy.
2. Where are the children?