1. Articles
Course – B.Sc.
Subject – English Communication and Life Skills
Unit - 1

2. RULE: 1
• If articles are used before an adjective then it should
have a countable noun after it; like ‘A bad boy’
• Here, bad is an adjective and boy is a countable noun.
• We cannot say or write ‘This is a bad’ because this
sentence does not have a countable noun after the
adjective, a bad ____?
• In the same way, He is a foolish boy.
• We cannot say or write ‘He is a foolish’ because this
sentence does not have a countable noun after the
adjective, a foolish ____?

3. Practice Exercise:
• Now write whether the below given sentences are True OR
False; If False then write the correct answer:
a) She is a clever.
b) This is a new flowerpot.
c) Ram’s pen is a blue.
d) That is a long answer.
e) She is a slim.

4. RULE: 2
• Articles are also used to show singular meaning –
• Like for example – we say ‘I have a Camera’ this means I have
one Camera.
• Other examples: -
• He has a book.
• She has a maid servant.
• She has an egg.
• They have an umbrella.

5. • When we are talking in Plural Sense then we
cannot use this singular sense of articles. Like
for example –
– These are a book.
– Those are a table.
• The rule 1 also applies with rule 2 –
Take for example –
• This is a new. (Wrong)
• This is a new shirt. (Correct)

6. Practice Exercise:
• Now write whether the below given sentences are True OR
False; If False then write the correct answer:
a) I have a hat.
b) You have a boxes?
c) This is a pens.
d) These are a men.
e) She likes an ear rings.

7. RULE: 3
• Articles are not used with uncountable
nouns/material nouns or before verbs when we
make general statements. Like for example –
• I love coffee. (not... a coffee or the coffee)
• Milk is rich in nutrients. (not The milk or a milk)
• We can't do without water. (not The water or a
water)
• She likes reading books. (not...the reading books
or a reading books)

8. Practice Exercise:
• Now write whether the below given
sentences are True OR False; If False then
write the correct answer:
a) She is having a tea.
b) I like to have a coffee.
c) This is a cup of coffee.
d) A wood is very useful.
e) He is a sleeping in his room.

9. RULE: 4
• We do not use articles with the names of countries/cities.
• Japan is a developed nation. (not The Japan)
• I have been to England. (not...to the England)
• India is a secular republic. (not The India)
• He has just returned from South Africa. (not …the South Africa)
• But we use 'the' if the name of the country or organization
specifically states that it is a collection of states. (For example, The
United States, The United Arab Emirates, The United Nations etc.)
• He is leaving for the United States tomorrow.
• The United Nations is an international organization of countries
created to promote world peace and cooperation.

10. Practice Exercise:
• Now write whether the below given
sentences are True OR False; If False then
write the correct answer:
a) I love the India.
b) She is staying in a Japan.
c) The Shimla is beautiful.
d) I like a China.
e) Sri Lanka is a beautiful country.

11. RULE: 5
• We do not use articles with the names of
languages. Like for example -
• Hindi is the national language of India.
• It is not easy to learn French.
• English is spoken in many parts of the world.

12. Practice Exercise:
• Now write whether the below given
sentences are True OR False; If False then
write the correct answer:
a) I am learning the English.
b) I like to speak Hindi.
c) The Marathi is a regional language.
d) He can speak the Urdu.
e) He is trying to speak in a Punjabi.

13. RULE: 6
• We do not use articles with the names of
meals.
• We have lunch at midday. (not...the lunch)
• We have dinner in the evening. (not...the
dinner)
• Breakfast is the first meal of the day. (not...the
breakfast)

14. Practice Exercise:
• Now write whether the below given
sentences are True OR False; If False then
write the correct answer:
a) I am going to have a lunch.
b) She made a dinner.
c) I have a breakfast at 7 o clock.
d) I will make pizza in dinner.
e) She ate a breakfast very early today.

15. RULE: 7
• We do not use articles with proper nouns (the
names of people, places etc.)
• Alice is an architect. (not The Alice or a Alice)
• Mary is my friend. (not The Mary)
• Delhi is the capital of India.
• But we use 'the' with plural names.
• We are having dinner with the Smiths.
• The Sharma’s are very kind.

16. Practice Exercise:
• Now write whether the below given
sentences are True OR False; If False then
write the correct answer:
a) The Anjali is very lazy.
b) A Tom is my pet dog.
c) The Ahmedabad is the Manchester of India.
d) The Mr. Patel is a manager.
e) Jaipur is known as the pink city of India.

17. RULE: 8
• We do not use articles before years.
• India won freedom in 1947. (not...in the 1947)
• I was born in 1979.
• With possessives (pronouns) and
demonstratives (this, these, that, those, such)
• We do not use articles before possessives (my,
your, their etc.) and demonstratives (this, that,
these, those).
• This is my book. (not This is a my book.)
• I like this car. (not I like the this car.)

18. • With days
• Articles are not used to talk about the coming or last
day/month.
• See you on Friday. (=Coming Friday)
• We are leaving for the US next week. (not …the next week.)
• But we use articles with the names of days of the week and
months if we are talking about particular days or months.
• We met on a rainy Friday.
• It was a wet Monday in May.
• She died on the Thursday after the accident.

19. Practice Exercise:
• Now write whether the below given sentences
are True OR False; If False then write the correct
answer:
a) We celebrate Army Day on a 15th January.
b) I went to Pune in a 2008.
c) Ram gave me a his pencil.
d) Did you know a 19th August is National
Photography Day?
e) I gave him a that cake.

20. EXERCISE B
• Fill in the blanks with suitable articles:
– He looks as stupid as _____owl.
– I bought ____ horse, _____ ox and ____ buffalo.
– The guide knows _____way.
– Copper is _____useful metal.
– The children found _____egg in the nest.
– I have come without _____umbrella.
– Aladdin had _____wonderful lamp.
– He returned after _____hour.
– I first met him _____year ago.
– _____ apple fell from a tree.

21. EXERCISE C
• Fill in the blanks with suitable
articles/adjectives:
a) She has a ___ coat.
b) He likes to have ___ ice cream on Sundays.
c) Chandigarh is a ___ city.
d) Rita has an ___ shirt.
e) He has a ___ book.

22. Recourses/References
• Advanced English Grammar By Wren and Martine
• www.authorstream.com/Presentation/daisygraceline-1383399-articles-
ppt/
• www.rafamoreno.com/Materiales/Articles.ppt
• www.slideshare.net/tarcin2009/a-anthe-ppt