ARTICLES

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

There are two types of articles:

(i) definite articles(ii) indefinite articles

Definite Article

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

Example: the

An Article which does not refer to any particular person or thing is known as the indefinite Article.

Example: a, an

A. THE SELECTION OF ‘A’ OR ‘AN’

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

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.

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.

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.

4. An is used before a word beginning with a vowel sound.

Example: an hour, an honour, an heir, an honourable, an honest citizen.

B.THE USE OF INDEFINITE

ARTICLE

It is used in exclamatory sentences.

Example: what a pretty girl! what a shame! what a clever boy! what a hot day!

C. ‘A’ OR ‘AN’ IS NOT USED

1. A or An is not used with a plural noun.

Example: dogs, books, girls (not a

dogs, a girls, a books)

2. With unconditional nouns.

Example: advice furniture knowledge

news business imagery

baggage luggage poetry

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)

D. THE USE OF DEFINITE ARTICLES

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.

2. Superlative Adjectives ‘The’ is used before superlative adjectives.

Example:the tallest the biggest

the largest the longest

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.

4. Historic buildings ‘The’ is used with historical buildings.

Example: the National Theatre the MUSON centre the Museum the Beach house

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

E. OMISSION OF THE ARTICLE

1. Proper nouns No Article is used with proper nouns.

Example: Japan, Bill Clinton, Dayo Ojo,

Abuja, Nigeria, Amadi Uka

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.

F. REPETION OF THE ARTICLE

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)

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.

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.

EXERCISE 1.

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.

EXERCISE 2.

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.

EXERCISE 3.

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.