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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.
For example:
v an egg, an umbrella, an ox, an apple, an army
‘An’ is also used before nouns that begin with a consonant that is silent. Such words have a vowel sound:
For example:
v an hour, an honest man, an heir, an honourable man
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.
v the man—points out a particular man
v the atlas—points out a particular atlas
Use of ‘The’
‘The’ is used before nouns in different 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.
For example:
v I met an old man. (Here, old man comes first time in a sentence)
v The old man was honest. (Here, the same old man comes again)
‘The’ is used before things which are unique or one of a kind.
For example:
v the Earth, the Sky, the Moon, the Sun
‘The’ is used before the names of famous buildings.
For example:
v the Taj Mahal, the Red Fort, the India Gate, the Victoria Memorial
‘The’ is used before the names of rivers.
For example:
v the Ganga, the Yamuna, the Nile, the Thames
‘The’ is used before the names of seas and oceans.
For example:
v the Arabian Sea, the Black Sea, the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean, the Pacific Ocean
‘The’ is used before the names of newspapers.
For example:
v the Western Times, the Hindustan Times, the Business Standard
‘The’ is used before the names of mountain ranges.
For example:
v the Himalayas, the Andes, the Alps
‘The’ is used before the names of holy books.
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