The Adjectives "a" , "an" and "the" are usually called ARTICLES.

There are two kinds of Articles -- the Indefinite Articles ( a, an ) and the Definite Article ( the ) .

1.  THE INDEFINITE ARTICLE

The Indefinite Article is "a" or "an" .

e.g. I have a book.

      That is an umbrella.

       I am going to see a picture this afternoon.

Read the sentences carefully and notice that each bold typed article does not refer to a particular thing. It is indefinite. In the first sentence, the word "book" is possible to be any book or any kind.

"A" is used before a word beginning with a consonant sound : -

e.g. a book , a woman  ,  a bag , a tiger , a boy , all of a sudden , a cat , as a rule , a cup , a summer evening , a dog

Exceptions : a useful stick , a European girl , a one-eyed man , a uniform , a university.

"An" is used before3 a word beginning with a vowel sound " -

e.g.  an axe , an Englishman , an aeroplane , an ox , an elephant , an orange , an egg , an up-to-date hat , an ice cream , an autumn evening.

Exceptions:an hour , an honest man , an beir.

2.  The Definite Article

The Definite Article is "the". The word "the" is used when it refers to a particular or definite thing.

"The" is used ----

(a) Before nouns in a particular sense.

e.g.  The boys are ill.

        I like the teacher.

(b) Before words standing for a whole class.

e.g.  The lion is a wild animal.

       The cow is a useful animal.

(c) Before an adjective when the noun is understood.

e.g. Only the brave deserve the reward.

      The poor are happier than the rich.

(d) Before the names of rivers, canals, seas, oceans, groups of islands, and chains of mountains.

e.g.  the Red Sea, the Hwang Ho, the Indian Ocean, the Suez Canal, the British isles, the A;ps,

(e) Before common nouns that are the only ones.

e.g.  the sun , the east , the world , the north-west , the moon , the equator , the sky , the left , the earth, the right .

(f) Before Superlatives .

e.g. He is the tallest boy in class.

     Tea is the best drink in summer.

(g) Before the names of building and books.

e.g. The City Hall.

      The Bible

      The Princess Building

      The Queen's Theatre

No Articles should be used in the following cases : -

(a) Before Proper Nouns.

e.g. Mary is Mrs Lee's daughter

     London is the capital of Englanbd.

(b) Before Common Nouns used in a general sense.

e.g. Tigers and lions are wild animals.

      What kind of fruit is that ?

(c) Before Material and Abstract Nouns used in general.

e.g. Our house is built of stone.

      Honesty is the best policy.

(d) Before Nouns which are preceded by a Possessive or certain other adjectives.

e.g. Mary is her sister.

(e) In certain phrases.

e.g. in town , by train , in bed , by land , in peace , by ship , at home , by night , atnight , by tram , at school , on foot , at sunrise , on earth , at noon , on horseback , to catch fire , under ground , to leave school , aboce ground , to shake hands with , to take dinner , to set sail.