English Class 10 - Articles Notes

Articles

Welcome to the chapter on Articles for Class 10. In this chapter, you will learn about the use of articles ("a", "an", and "the") in English grammar, their rules, exceptions, and how to use them correctly in sentences. By the end of this chapter, you will be able to identify and use articles accurately in your writing and speech.

Introduction

Articles are words that define a noun as specific or unspecific. There are two types of articles in English: definite ("the") and indefinite ("a" and "an").

Indefinite Articles: "a" and "an"

"a" is used before words that begin with a consonant sound.
"an" is used before words that begin with a vowel sound (a, e, i, o, u).

• a book, a car, a university (note: "university" starts with a "yu" sound, which is a consonant sound)
• an apple, an hour (note: "hour" starts with a vowel sound)

Indefinite articles are used when we talk about something for the first time or about any one of a group.

Definite Article: "the"

"the" is used when we talk about something specific or something that has already been mentioned.

• the sun, the moon, the book on the table
• the best student in the class

"The" is also used before unique things, superlatives, and when both the speaker and listener know what is being talked about.

Omission of Articles

Sometimes, articles are not used:

• Before proper nouns: India is a large country.
• Before names of languages and subjects: She speaks English.
• Before names of meals: We have breakfast at 8 am.
• Before plural nouns when talking in general: Books are useful.

Common Mistakes and Exceptions

• Use "an" before words starting with a silent "h": an honest man
• Use "a" before words starting with a "yu" sound: a European country
• Use "the" before names of rivers, seas, oceans, mountain ranges, and famous buildings: the Ganga, the Himalayas, the Taj Mahal

Practice Questions

1. Fill in the blanks with "a", "an", or "the":
   She is ___ honest girl. ___ sun rises in ___ east. I saw ___ elephant in the zoo.
2. Identify and correct the error:
   He is an European scientist.
3. Choose the correct article:
   I have ___ idea. (a/an/the)
4. Write two sentences using "the" for something unique.
5. Explain why we do not use an article in the sentence: "Water is essential for life."

Challenge Yourself

• Write a short paragraph about your school using at least five articles.
• List five nouns that do not need an article before them and use them in sentences.

Did You Know?

• "The" is the only definite article in English.
• Some languages do not use articles at all!

Glossary

• Article: A word used before a noun to show if it is specific or general.
• Definite: Clear or exact; refers to something specific.
• Indefinite: Not exact; refers to something general.
• Omission: Leaving something out.

Answers to Practice Questions

1. an, The, the, an
2. Correction: He is a European scientist.
3. an
4. Examples: The sun is bright. The Earth moves around the sun.
5. Because "water" is used in a general sense, so no article is needed.

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Master the use of articles to make your English clear and correct!