A, an and the are called articles. These words say something about the noun that follows them.
Basic English Grammar rules can be tricky. In this article, we’ll get you started with the basics of sentence structure, punctuation, parts of speech, and more.
Exercise on Articles for Class 6 CBSE With Answers
Uses Of Articles With Examples
Given below are some rules for the use of articles:
1. We use a before a singular countable noun beginning with a consonant.
Examples:
- a man, a chair, a plate, a dog
2. We use an before a singular countable noun that begins with a vowel or a modifier that begins with a vowel.
Examples:
- an orange, an owl, an old man
3. We use a before before u that is pronounced as you, o that is pronounced as wu, and eu that is pronounced as y and an before unsounded h.
Examples:
- a one-eyed man, a European, a union, an hour, an honest man
4. We use a or an when the noun is used for the first time in a story. When that same noun is used for the second time we use the.
Examples:
- A boy was carrying an umbrella.
- A strong gust of wind blew the umbrella away.
5. We use a or an when the noun does not refer to any particular species or to any particular thing
Examples:
- I saw an orangutan at the zoo.
- A giraffe was gifted to the Delhi zoo by the Kenyan government.
6. We use a or an when we wish to express surprise, joy, horror, disgust, etc.
Examples:
- What a beautiful dress!
- What an intimidating event!
- What a tragedy!
7. We use a in phrases that express speed, quantity, etc.
Examples:
- Flour is almost sixteen rupees a kilo.
- We were travelling at hundred kilometres an hour when the accident happened.
8. We use a before some numbers.
Examples:
- a pair of shoes
- a few boys
- a hundred guests
9. We use the with singular and plural nouns and for all genders to denote something particular.
Examples:
- Get the cheese from the fridge.
- Will some of the boys get chairs for the teachers?
- All the girls have to go for P.T.
10. We use the before a noun which can refer to only one particular thing or group of things.
Examples:
- Mohan is sitting in the Library.
- Can you tell me the way to PVR Priya?
11. We use the before a singular noun that is used to refer to a class of people, animals or things. Before nouns in plural or a noun that refer to a class in general article is not required.
Examples:
- The tiger is an endangered species.
- Water buffaloes are found in Asia.
12. We use the before an adjective that refers to a special class of people.
Examples:
- The meek shall inherit the Kingdom of Heaven.
13. We use the before superlatives and only.
Examples:
- the largest
- the best
- the only way
14. We use the before certain numbers like first, second, etc.
Examples:
- This is the last time I am warning you.
15. No article is used before a proper noun. But we use the if a proper noun is qualified by an adjective.
Examples:
- Who has not heard of the great Alexander!
Exceptions:
We do not use articles before proper nouns except in the following cases:
A. Complete the following passages using suitable articles.
Question 1.
…………………………….. word ‘rhinoceros’ is derived from Greek, meaning nose-horn …………………………….. rhinoceros got its name because of …………………………….. large horn at …………………………….. end of its nose. …………………………….. rhino uses its horn to defend itself and also to uproot small bushes and plants to get fruit. Although …………………………….. rhino is …………………………….. strong and fierce-looking animal, yet it is also …………………………….. good-tempered animal. It attacks only when it is attacked or frightened. It uses its horn like …………………………….. short, deadly weapon. …………………………….. animal is poached because it is believed that its horn has medicinal properties.
Answer:
The word “rhinoceros’ is derived from Greek, meaning nose-horn. The rhinoceros got its name because of a large horn at the end of its nose. A rhino uses its horn to defend itself and also to uproot small bushes and plants to get fruit. Although a rhino is a strong and fierce-looking animal, yet it is also a good-tempered animal. It attacks only when it is attacked or frightened. It uses its horn like a short, deadly weapon. The animal is poached because it is believed that its horn has medicinal properties.
Question 2.
Six-year-old George Washington was presented with …………………………….. small axe. He was extremely fond of …………………………….. axe and went about cutting everything that came his way. One day George saw …………………………….. beautiful, young cherry tree. His father had planted …………………………….. tree. George hit …………………………….. edge of his axe on …………………………….. bark of …………………………….. tree and …………………………….. cherry died. Soon his father found out about it. In great anger, he wanted to know who …………………………….. guilty person was. But nobody knew anything about it.
Just then George, with his little axe came into …………………………….. room. His father asked him about …………………………….. little cherry in …………………………….. garden. George was afraid but told …………………………….. truth …………………………….. anger died out of his father’s face. He said that his son’s honesty was worth …………………………….. thousand trees!
Answer:
Six-year-old George Washington was presented with a small axe. He was extremely fond of the axe and went about cutting everything that came his way. One day George saw a beautiful, young cherry tree. His father had planted the tree. George hit the edge of his axe on the bark of the tree and the cherry died. Soon his father found out about it. In great anger, he wanted to know who the guilty person was. But nobody knew anything about it.
Just then George, with his little axe came into the room. His father asked him about the little cherry in the garden. George was afraid but told the truth. The anger died out of his father’s face. He said that his son’s honesty was worth a thousand trees!
B. Underline the error (one in each line) and write the correct word in the space provided below.
A number of people that visit – a. ……………………………………………….. .
a Taj are increasing every year. b. ……………………………………………….. .
A visitors come mainly as tourists. c. ……………………………………………….. .
Even an people visiting Agra for business d. ……………………………………………….. .
do not miss enjoy some beauty of the Taj. e. ……………………………………………….. .
This is some greatest attractions in f. ……………………………………………….. .
a city which is also famous for leather G. ……………………………………………….. .
and marble-inlay work.
Answer:
a. The
b. the
c. The
d. the
e. the
f. the
g. the
C. In the following passage, a determiner is missing in the line against which a blank is given. Put a / where you think the word is missing and write the word in the space provided.
Have you ever seen banyan tree?
It is one of biggest tree found in India. A full
grown banyan tree could be as tall as three-storyed building
We do not see banyans in cities. This is chiefly because
they need open places to grow. Banyan looks as majestic as fort
Its trunk looks like pillar. Its roots hang around it like walls.
These enter ground and look like smaller trunks.
Answer:
a. a
b. the
c. a
d. the
e. a
f. a
h. the
D. Fill in the blanks with a, an or the, where necessary. Put (x) where none of them is necessary.
Question 1.
Avi is …………………………….. best chess player in …………………………….. world.
Answer:
the, the;
Question 2.
Our maths teacher gave us …………………………….. easy test today.
Answer:
an;
Question 3.
It rained a lot; …………………………….. river near our village was flooded.
Answer:
the;
Question 4.
…………………………….. Daily News has published …………………………….. full-page photograph of …………………………….. Himalayas.
Answer:
The, a, the;
Question 5.
Siami wants ………………. Encyclopedia Britannica from the library.
Answer:
the;
Question 6.
Eva, John, Matt and Posh took …………………………….. first train to Suez in the morning.
Answer:
the;
Question 7.
…………………………….. Sahara Desert covers large sections of some countries like ……………………………… Algeria, …………………………….. Egypt, …………………………….. Libya, …………………………….. Mali, …………………………….. and Niger.
Answer:
The,
x,
X,
X,
X,
X;
Question 8.
…………………………….. Sahara Desert is …………………………….. hottest desert in the world.
Answer:
The, the