Page 59 - English Grammar - 5

We also say a one-rupee note, a one-eyed man
O
In the above words, the letter o in one is pronounced as w in won, which is a

consonant sound.

Use of ‘An’
The use of an is based on the pronunciation of singular countable nouns.

An is used before nouns that begin with a vowel sound.
an egg, an umbrella, an ox, an apple, an army
O
An is also used before nouns that begin with a consonant which is silent, and the
next letter is a vowel.

an hour, an honest man, an heir, an honourable man
O
The letter h is silent in the words given above.

Definite Article (the)

The is called the definite article because it points out a particular person or thing.

the man—means a particular man
O

the atlas—means a particular atlas
O

Use of ‘The’

The is used in the following ways.

When a person or thing comes first time in a sentence or a paragraph, we use a or

an before it. If the same person or thing comes again, we use the before it.

I met an old man. (Here, old man comes first time in a sentence.)
O
The old man was honest. (Here, the same old man comes again.)

The is used before things that are unique or one of a kind.

the Earth, the Sky, the Moon, the Sun
O
The is used before the names of famous buildings.

the Taj Mahal, the Red Fort, the India Gate, the Victoria Memorial Articles
O
The is used before the names of rivers.

the Ganga, the Yamuna, the Nile, the Thames
O
The is used before the names of seas and oceans.

the Arabian Sea, the Black Sea, the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean, the Pacific Ocean
O
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