Junior secondary students

2. Articles are structure words
that signal nouns which begin
with different sounds. The
nouns they signal may be
singular or plural.

3. There are two types of articles:
(i) definite articles
(ii) indefinite articles

5. An Article which is used to
refer to a person or thing is
known as the Definite
Article.
Example: the

7. An Article which does not
refer to any particular
person or thing is known as
the indefinite Article.
Example: a, an

9. The selection
between ‘a’ and
‘an’ is
determined
by sound.

10. 1. A is used before a word
beginning with a consonant
sound.
Example:
a boy, a man, a human
being, a table, a horse, a
yard, a young man.

11. 2. A is used before a
word beginning with ‘h’
and also with ‘y’ and ‘u’.
Example: a horse, a
historical novel, a human
being, a youth, a unit, a
union, a European.

12. 3. A is used before a word
beginning with a ‘w’ sound.
Example: a one legged
sailor, a one man tribunal, a
one dollar note, a one way
ticket, such
a coin.

13. 4. An is used before a word
beginning with a vowel
sound.
Example: an hour, an
honour, an heir, an
honourable, an honest
citizen.

15. It is used in exclamatory sentences.
Example:
what a pretty girl!
what a shame!
what a clever boy!
what a hot day!

17. 1. A or An is not used with a
plural noun.
Example:
dogs, books, girls (not a
dogs, a girls, a books)

18. 2. With unconditional nouns.
Example:
advice furniture knowledge
news business imagery
baggage luggage poetry

19. But these words may be used with:
some, any, a little, a lot of, a bit, an item
of.
Example:
some advice, any news, a piece of
information,
a knowledge of English is useful.
(Correct)

21. 1. Unique things
The Definite Article ‘the’ is used with
unique things in nature.
Example:
the sun, the sea, the moon, the earth
The sun rises in the east.
The earth moves round the sun.

22. 2. Superlative Adjectives
‘The’ is used before superlative
adjectives.
Example:
the tallest the biggest
the largest the longest

23. 3. Double Comparatives
‘The’ is used with double
comparatives.
Example:
The more I read, the more I like.
The more I earn, the more I spend.
The more I eat, the less I like.

24. 4. Historic buildings
‘The’ is used with historical buildings.
Example:
the National Theatre the MUSON
centre
the Museum the Beach house

25. 5. Names of countries
‘The’ is used with the names of certain
countries and provinces.
Example:
the Yorubas the United Kingdom
the United States the Deccan

27. 1. Proper nouns
No Article is used with proper
nouns.
Example:
Japan, Bill Clinton, Dayo Ojo,
Abuja, Nigeria, Amadi Uka

28. 2. Unique posts
No Article is used before unique posts.
Example:
He was elected president of the
association.
He became principal of the college.
She was elected chairman of the
company.

30. 1. When two adjectives qualifying the
same noun are connected by ‘and’, the
Article must be used with the first
adjectives.
Example:
The blue and yellow skirt. (one skirt)
This is an English and French
dictionary. (one dictionary)

31. 2. When two adjectives are qualifying
different nouns, the Article must be
used with each adjectives.
Example:
The first and the last poems.
The green and red skirts.
The Yoruba and Igbo language.

32. 3. When two nouns refer to different
persons or things, the Article must be
used with each noun.
Example:
I met the editor and the journalist.
I had an interview with the novelist and
the critic.

34. Fill in the blanks with suitable Articles:
1. Iron is ___ useful metal.
2. My father is ___ honourable man.
3. Honest men speak ___ truths.
4. Jerusalem is ___ holy place.
5. Malta is ___ island.
6. I first met Ada ___ year ago.
7. ____ French defeated the Germans.
8. We never saw such ___ terrible accident.
9. We read ___ Bible everyday.
10. My friend is ___ European.

36. Correct the following sentences:
1. Victoria has beautiful face.
2. Camel is the sheep of the desert.
3. Adaku is efficient teacher.
4. My uncle is a minister.
5. I gave her lot of money.
6. He gave me an advice.
7. The man is a social animal.
8. Rich should be honoured.
9. We must help poor and love them.
10. I read Times Newspaper daily.

38. Correct the following sentences:
1. The gold is a precious metal.
2. The health is wealth.
3. I appreciated courage of Bukola.
4. The Ibadan is a beautiful place in
Nigeria.
5. Niger is a long river.
6. I like the tennis.
7. I worship gracefulness of woman.
8. The father returned home.
9. Sun rises in the east.
10. The Nature is the best physician.