Some scholars call articles the certain form of adjectives that identify whether the given noun is definite or not. Definite article means a word used to point out specific or definite things. In english, among three frequently used articles, here I’m going to answer, “How to use articles A, An, The correctly.
Meaning and examples of articles –“A, an, the”
In english grammar, “Article” is a demonstrative word that points out any definite or indefinite nouns including person, animals or things.
Mobile is an electronic gadget. (Indefinite)
Tiger is a carnivorous animal.
Alps is a folded mountain.
The batsman hit century. (Definite)
Or, the accident was too difficult to forget.
In the above examples, “A, an, and the” articles are used to indicate or show the state of nouns. Articles, “A, and an” are showing some indefinite or general nouns but article, “The” points out something special or definite.
Hence, “A and an” used to refer general or indefinite things or persons but “The” article has special role to express definiteness about things.
“A and an” articles are used before singular nouns. Article “a” is used before a noun or word having consonant sound whereas “an” for vowel sound
Use of articles “a and an” in sentences
Williams is a hearder.
He rears a big heard of cattles and sheeps.
To protect them from wild animals he keeps an old riffle always with himself.
He made a hut at the fringe of jungle.
Our Company is having a new CFO.
Here is Mr. Kevin, an economist.
He has developed an option strategy that made many Millionaires.
Let him felicitate with a bouquet of flowers.
Please make a note of important points of his lecture.
How to use definite article “The”
Now, let’s find out much deserved question, “How to use”The”article”.
Where and how to use definite article “The”
‘The’ is used either to whole class or already mentioned things or persons.
Call the person who damaged my bike.
Who damaged my bike — the person. It means that the incident has already happened.
I think she was the girl who helped me last week.
Who helped me — the girl. Now, I am meeting her second time on the same place.
The lion is the king of forest.
Or, the common are born to struggle.
Both Examples highlighting the class of something as whole.
“The” definite for geographical features
Geographical features like, mountain, oceans, rivers, group of islands, deserts, winds etc. are pointed out by definite article “The”
The Nile river
The Himalayas
The Sahara desert
The Pacific Ocean
The gulf of Mexico
The Suez canal etc.
In the comparative as well as superlative degree, before most, and best ‘the’ definite is used.
For example, The Himalaya is one of the loftiest mountains in the world.
Like, she is the best student that I ever noticed.
Before unique names of person or thing, and directions “The” is placed. The earth, the sun, the moon, the west, the east, the north, the south, etc. are the examples of unique names.
After prepositions — in, on, at, to, showing directions
Tim is running on the running track.
On the table..
In the garden…
At the margin…
At the school…
To the station..etc.
To address the names of body parts like, on the head, on the back, around the neck etc.
So far, I have explained how and where to use articles in the sentence. For your help, in this piece of writing, I have given useful examples as well.
Apart from these, like important historical events, books, titles monuments are shown by the definite article. There are a lot of things that can’t possible to mention here. So, this is the general overview of how to use The article.
Understanding determiners: Types function and examples
Reference:
https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/grammar/a1-a2-grammar/articles-a-an-the
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/a-an-and-the