English Grammar
Basic Grammar -> Indefinite Article
| 1. | Indefinite Article : |
|---|---|
| Let us now move on to the indefinite articles: A and An. | |
| Definite articles are used before stating something that is very specific or unique. On the other hand, indefinite articles are used to refer to non-specific nouns. | |
| The use or significance of both these indefinite articles is the same, but 'a' is used before a noun which has a consonant sound. Whereas, 'an' is used before a noun which has a vowel sound. | |
| For example: | |
| Are you reading a novel? | |
| I saw an elephant while going to school! | |
| The situations or cases in which these two indefinite articles are used: | |
| Before a countable noun when the user does not exactly know what we are referring to. | |
| For example: | |
| I am looking for a red pen. | |
| Now which pen is specifically talked about, is not known. | |
| I need a cigarette. | |
| Which cigarette? The reader or hearer does not know that. | |
| Use it to indicate that something is a part of the group, or is a constituent. | |
| For example: | |
| She is a student in the Bangalore University. | |
| She is one of the students who studies in this university. | |
| Never use an indefinite article with an uncountable or plural noun. | |
| For example: | |
| I am eating a grapes. (Incorrect) | |
| I am eating grapes. (Correct) | |
| I am drinking a water (Incorrect) | |
| I am drinking water (Correct) | |
| Use it while conveying what someone is, or what they do. | |
| For example: | |
| She is a teacher. | |
| My mother is a housewife. | |
| Use indefinite articles with a singular noun to say something that represents all things of that kind. | |
| For example: | |
| A dog likes drinking milk. | |
| All the dogs like drinking milk. |