English Grammar and Composition chapter 3: Articles, a, an, the

Use of articles

1. We use a/an to talk about something for the first time. e.g. a bed, a bed-cover, a rug, a rocking chair, a sofa, a mask

   In the text above, when the speaker uses any singular countable noun, s/he uses either a or an before it.

2. We also use a/an to refer to something unspecified, e.g. not particular or specific.

   She bought some apples from a shop in the new market. In this sentence the shop in the new market is not specific as there are many shops in the new market. So, article has been used before it.

3. 'A' is used before consonants and 'an' is used before vowel.

4. 'A' is used before vowel 'U' when it is pronounced as 'you'. So, we have to use 'a' before university, but not 'an' before university.

5. 'An' is used before consonant if the first 'h' of a word is silent: an hour, an honest man etc.

6. We use the when we refer to something for the second time. e.g. This is Asma Ahmed's bed room. The room is very neatly made. (room:1^st time) (room: 2^nd time)

7. We use the when we refer to any person or object specifically. e.g. There are few windows in the room. The windows are covered with large heavy curtain.

   In the second sentence, the windows are specific in the sentence: which windows the speaker is referring to. The windows are the windows of Asma Ahmed.

8. We also use the to refer to something that has no alternative. e.g. The sun is the source of energy in the earth.

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B. Fill in the blanks in the following conversation with a, an or the if necessary.

: Do you like banana? : Hmmm...not exactly. : Would you like to have ____________banana now? : Since you don't have anything else and I'm hungry, so yes, please. : Which ____________ banana would you like to have? I have local banana and _____ the imported banana. : ____________ local banana, please. : Ok, here you are. Now I'll have _____ imported one. That is bigger.

C. Here are a few things that people generally like or dislike. Think about them and make your own statements. An example is given for you.

I usually don't like apples because they aren't fresh but yesterday the apple I ate was so fantastic.

i) ______________________________________________________________ ii) ______________________________________________________________ iii) ______________________________________________________________ iv) ______________________________________________________________ v) ______________________________________________________________ vi) ______________________________________________________________

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D. Fill in the blank spaces with a, an, the, or a cross (x) mark:

i). ________ motor vehicles and ________ greenhouses cause pollution and it damages ________ environment.

ii). All pollutions are bad but ________ pollution we cause in ________ water is perhaps the worst.

iii). I love watching ________ movies. ________movies are good sources of entertainment. Last week I saw a movie – Troy. It was fantastic.

iv. _____ Honesty and ______ sincerity are two great qualities of human life.

v) However, sometimes it appears that ________ honesty and ________ sincerity our farmers are showing everyday are not evaluated.

vi. I am a food taster. I like even ________ food of small ethnic groups. Last time ________ foods I tried in Rangamati and Khagrachari were great.

vii. ________ world is yet to ensure ________ food for all.

viii. My brother is studying ________ history. His special interests are ________ history of the Faraoh and ________ history of ________ Post-Communist Era.

E. Explain what all these people do. Follow the pattern given here:

A writer is a person who writes books or articles. Writers are persons who write books or articles.

writer farmer tour guide pilot cabin crew nurse teacher advocate event manager police performer singer reporter

Now write two sentences using a/an in one sentence and using 'the' in the other.

F. Two friends are talking to each other. Read their conversation and fill in the gaps with a, an, the, or a X (Cross).

Sara : If you have ________ flu, do you go to ________ bed or you continue your ________ study as well? Merry: Horrible flu! Sorry, I usually go to ____ . But this time I had to study as ________ exam was very near.

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Sara : we meet each other after a long time. Let's celebrate. Would you like to eat _______ lunch at a nearby restaurant, or go to _______ posh one?

Merry: Let's go to _______ one we explored last time. It should be near here.

Sara : How do you like to learn _______ English? Do you go to _______ specialist teacher or you prefer _______ coaching centres?

Merry : _____ teachers in my school are fluent as well as helpful. I also watch _______ English channels.

Sara : How do you go to your school? By______ CNG,_____ rickshaw, or on _______ bus?

Merry: I just walk.

G. Read the following text. Follow the use of articles. If they are correct, put a tick mark (√) in the blank space. If wrong, correct them. The first one is done for you.

Waiter : Do you have a reservation? √

Customer : Oh yes. My name is Jonathan Gomes.

Waiter : You have booked a table for six, right? _____

Customer : Yes. But can I have a larger table please, a table for eight? _____

Waiter : The table in the north is booked for you. And it can accommodate 8 persons. _____

Customer : That's great.

Waiter : Would you like a drink, first? _____

Customer : Yes, water please. And may I have a menu please? _____

Waiter : The menu is just beside the napkins. _____

Customer : Ok, please give us the fried rice, the mutton kabab, the vegetable with chicken, nuns and chicken sizzling. _____

Waiter : Would you like a dessert? _____

Customer : A ice cream for each. _____ By the way, manager is known to me. Can I speak to him?

Waiter : He is not here. You can speak to a floor supervisor. _____

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After some time

Customer : Can I have a bill now? _____

Waiter : Sure. I'll be back in an minute. _____

H. Read the following text and fill in the blank spaces with appropriate articles:

My father is _________(i) fisherman and we live in _________ (ii) coastal area. Every day my father goes to _________ (iii) sea with some other fishermen. Sometimes they go early in _________ (iv) morning and come back at late night. Sometimes they do not return _________ (v) couple of days. _________ (vi) most joyful moment in our life is when we hear _________ (vii) voice of our father at _________ (viii) end of _________ (ix) day. Often he comes back with some fresh fishes for us. We pass time in anxiety when _________ (x) Kalboishakhi comes. Any natural disaster is terrible. Every year some of our near and dear ones are washed away by _________ (xi) sea. They are _________ (xii) victims either of _________ (xiii) cyclones or tidal surge, or Kalboishakhi. Our women are very brave and so are we. We say good bye to _________ (xiv) men every day and don't know when they will be back. Yet we wait. Sometimes we wait for _________ (xv) whole life but they never come back.