A for "Articles''

As I eagerly await Paa's release today, and, wish to catch the movie when majority of the 1st week madness declines, let's get back to some business now. My profile has already revealed that I am an ID (Instructional Designer), which means I have something to do with English writing and English grammar basics. The week before last week, I was racking my brains - I was busy with a little research on the ARTICLE topic, as I had no work at all. 

Next day my manager's mail informed me that I have to take a workshop for 2 days on the English Grammar basics. The focus, of course, had to be Instructional Designing. I chose 'Articles' as one of the topics, as most of our errors arise from it. Here is an excerpt from I researched and discussed with my team in the grammar workshop. This is quite exhaustive and provides a clear idea of when to use 'a', 'an' and 'the'. Pretty clarifying!! Have fun!!


Articles – are of 2 types: Definite and Indefinite article

I. ‘the’ is used : 

1. To refer to something which has already been mentioned

Ex: An elephant and a mouse fell in love.The mouse loved the elephant's long trunk, and the elephant loved the mouse's tiny nose.

2. When both the speaker and listener know what is being talked about, even if it has not been mentioned before

Ex: 'Where's the bathroom?' 'It's on the first floor.'

3. In sentences or clauses where we define or identify a particular person or object

Ex: 'Which car did you scratch?' 'The red one.

4. To refer to objects we regard as unique

Ex: The sun, the moon, the world

5. Before superlatives and ordinal numbers

Ex: the highest building, the first page, the last chapter.

6. With adjectives, to refer to a whole group of people

Ex: the Japanese

7. With names of geographical areas and oceans

Ex: the Caribbean, the Sahara, the Atlantic

8. With decades, or groups of years

Ex: She grew up in the seventies


II. 'a' and 'an' is used: 

1. To refer to something for the first time
Ex: Would you like a drink?
2.To refer to a particular member of a group or class
a. With names of jobs
Ex: John is a doctor.

b. With nationalities and religions
Ex: Kate is a Catholic.
c. With musical instruments
Ex:Sherlock Holmes was playing a violin when the visitor arrived.
d. With names of days
Ex: I was born on a Thursday.
e. With singular nouns, after the words 'what' and 'such'

Ex: What a shame!

f. To refer to a kind of, or example of something

Ex:The mouse had a tiny nose.

g. Meaning 'one', referring to a single object or person

Ex: I'd like an orange and two lemons please.


Will be back soon with some information on Prepositions particularly 'on', 'in', 'at', 'through', and 'across'. 

Till then, pls take care and let me see if I can watch Paa soon.