CBSE Class 7 English Grammar-Articles

Articles are a type of determiners. The term determiner covers several classes of words which includes Definite and Indefinite Articles, the Demonstratives and Adjectives of indefinite number and quantity, numerals and possessives. Determiners identify or specify a noun in various ways, for example, by making it definite (the child), indefinite (a child) or by indicating quantity or amount (many/three/some children) etc. Here we will discuss only the Definite and Indefinite Articles.

A,An and The are called articles. ‘A’ and ‘An’ are Indefinite articles as they are used indefinitely before countable common nouns singular numbers. ‘A’ is used with nouns beginning with consonants or consonant sound whereas ‘ An’ is used with vowels or vowel sound.

Examples:

• a man an egg
• an hour (vowel sound) a union (consonant sound)
• The’ is Definite article as it points out some particular person or thing.

Examples:

• That is the umbrella I want.
• This is the hotel where we stay.
• The cow gives us milk.
• The man whom I met was very helpful.

 Use of ‘A’

1. 1. It is used before a word beginning with a consonant; as
      a boy, a girl, a table, a year.
   2. It is used before a word beginning with a consonant; as
      a boy, a girl, a table, a year.

1. It is used before the word ‘one’ that begins with the consonant sound of ‘was’;as
   a one-eyed man, a one-rupee note
2. It is used before such ‘u’ when it sounds on yu;as
   a useful animal, a European, a university.

Use of ‘An’

1. It is used before words beginning with a vowel; as
   an aeroplane, an elephant, an inkpot, an orange, an umbrella.
2.  It is used before words beginning with a ‘h’ when it is silent; as
   an honest man, an hour.
3.  It is used before words beginning with consonants having vowel sound; as
   an M.P., an M.L.A., an F.I.R., an M. Sc., an x-ray.

Use Of ‘The’

(i)  It is used before a particular person or thing; as

• The students of this class are very punctual.
• Did Reeta get the job she applied for?
• This is the boy I met yesterday.
• Let us go to the park.

(ii)  It is used to denote a whole class or kind; as

• The dog is a faithful animal.
• The horse runs fast.T
• The tiger is young.

(iii) It is used before common nouns which are names of things unique of then- kind; as

• The sun shines in the sky.
• The earth moves round the sun.
• The moon is round today.
• The world is beautiful.

(iv) It is used before the names of directions, the dates of months; as

• The sun rises in the east.
• The sun sets in the west.
• I joined my job on the 10th of November.

(v) It is used before the superlative degrees of an adjective; as

• Raman is the best boy in the class.
• Uttar Pradesh is the most populated state of India.

(vi) It is used before the names of oceans, rivers, gulfs, seas, mountain ranges and groups of islands; as

• Patna is situated on the bank of the Ganga.
• The Indian ocean is lying to the south of India.
• The Andamans lie in the east of India.
• The Persion Gulf countries have become wealthy.
• The Bay of Bengal lies in the west of India.

(vii) It is used before the names of races or nations; as

• The Indians are found in almost all the countries.
• The English exploited the Indians.
• The Muslims keep fast during the Ramzan.
• Holi is a festival of the Hindus.

(viii) It is used before the names of newspapers, religious books, famous buildings, ships, historical events; as

• I read the Times of India daily.
• The Ramayana is the holy book of the Hindus.
• The Taj is famous for’ its beauty. .
• The Titanic got its tragic end.

(ix)  It is used before Proper nouns, Material nouns and Abstract nouns to make them Common nouns: as

• Kalidas is the Shakespeare of India.
• He is the Tagore of Hindi poetry.
• The water of this well is fresh.
• The gold of this ring is pure.

(x) It is used before the musical instruments; as

• Rehman plays the harmonium.
• Richa plays the violin.

(xi) It is used before the inventions; as

• The telephone is very useful.
• Who invented the radio?

(xii) It is used before the parts of the body; as

• He got injury in the head.
• The rod hit him in the back.

(xiii) It is used before the political parties; as

• The Congress Party, The Communist Party

Omission of the Article The

Article is omitted before-Article is omitted before-

(i) Proper Nouns; as

• Kolkata, India, Ruchika, Mt. Everest, Sunday, January.Note: But we say the Punjab, the USA, the Deccan

(ii) Arts and Sciences; as

• My favourite subject is Science.
• I like painting.

(iii)  Names of materials; as

• Her saree is made of cotton.
• Gold is costly.
• Note: But we say:
• The tea of Assam is very popular.

(iv) Abstract nouns used in general sense; as

• Honesty is the best policy.
• Health is better than wealth.

Exercise 1

Some of these sentences are right, but some of them need a/an. Put in a/an where necessary. Write ok if the sentence is already correct.

1. I have not got watch.
2.  Do you like cheese?
3.  Reena never wears hat.
4.  Are you looking for job? & m’miQWtS.
5.  Madhu does not eat meat.
6. She eats apple every day,
7. I am going to party tonight.
8. Music is wonderful thing.
9. Jamaica is island.
10. I don’t need key.
11. Everybody needs food.
12. I have good idea.
13. Can you drive car?
14. Do you want cup of coffee?
15. I don’t like coffee without milk.
16.  Don’t go out without umbrella.

Answer

1. …. a watch.
2.  OK
3.  … a hat.
4.  … a job?
5.  OK
6. . … an apple
7.  … a party.
8.  …a wonderful thing.
9. … an island.
10.  … a key.
11.  OK.
12. … a good idea
13. … a car.
14.  … a cup of coffee?
15. OK
16. .. an umbrella.

Exercise 2

Fill in the blanks with a/an or the:

1. 1. We enjoyed our holiday………………….. hotel was very nice,
   2.  Can I ask…………… question?
   3.  You look very tired. You need……………… holiday.
   4. ’Where is Om? ‘He is in ……………bathroom.’
   5. Rita ………………is interesting person. You must meet her
   6. A: Excuse me, can you tell me how to…………. get to city centre?
      B: Yes, go straight on and then take…………….. next turning left.

1. A: Shall we go out for …………….meal this evening?
   B: Yes, that is…………………. good idea.
2. It is ……………….nice morning. Let us go for…………….. walk.
3. Sushma is……………..student. When she finishes her studies, she wants to be ……………………….journalist.
4. Sushma lives with two friends in………………. flat near……….. college where she is studying ………….flat is small but she likes it.
5. Rakesh and Reena have got two children,…………… boy and ……………girl ……………..boy is ten years old and ……….girl is three.
6. Mohan works in ……………..factory. Meeta has not got ………………job at the moment.
7. ……………. man and ……………….woman were sitting opposite me ………….man was American but I think ……….woman was British.

Answer.

1. The
2.  a
3.  a
4.  the
5. an
6. The, the
7. a, a
8. a, a
9. a, a
10. a, the, The
11. a, a. The, the
12.  a, a.
13. a, a, The, the

 

Exercise 3

Put in a/an or the wherever necessary.

1. Don’t forget to turn off light when you go Out
2. Enjoy your holiday and don’t forget to send me post card.
3. What is name of this village?
4.  Canada is very big country.
5. Which is largest city in Canada?
6.  I like this room but I don’t like colour of carpet.
7. ‘Are you OK?’ ‘No, I have got headache’.
8.  We live in old house near station.
9. What is name of director of film we saw last night?

Answer

1.  Don’t forget to turn off the light when you go out.
2. Enjoy your holiday and don’t forget to send me a postcard.
3. What is the name of this village?
4. Canada is a very big country.
5. Which is the largest city in Canada?
6. I like this room but I don’t like the colour of the carpet.
7. Are you OK? ‘No, I have got a headache’.
8.  We live in an old house near the station.
9. What is the name of the director of the film we saw last night?

Exercise 4

Put in a, an or the wherever necessary. Don’t use any article where it is not necessary.

1.  My father is………………. M.A. in ………….mathematics.
2. Mumbai is…………. London of India.
3. We are going to………….. cinema.
4.  Yesterday I met…………. European playing with………………. boy.
5.  I have got ………headache.
6. ……..Ganga is……………….holy river.
7. ……….Quran is read by ………..Muslims.
8.  Rohit is ………..unique boy.
9. He is ……….most intelligent boy in the class.
10. I know how to play …………..sitar.
11. I live in …………Delhi.

Answer

1. an, X
2.  X, the
3.  the
4. a, a
5. a
6.  The, a
7. The, the
8. a
9.  the
10. the
11.  X