Page 39 - Computer - 9(A&B)

‘A’ is also used before nouns that begin with a vowel but have a long consonant sound.

For example:
 a university, a unique person, a uniform, a useful book
 In the above words, the letter u is pronounced as you, which begins with the consonant y.
We also say, a one-rupee note, a one-eyed man.
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.
For example:

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

Defi nite Article (the)
The is called the defi nite article because it points out a particular person or thing.
 the man—points out a particular man
 the atlas—points out a particular atlas

Use of ‘The’
The is used before nouns in different ways.
When a person or thing comes fi rst 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:
 I met an old man. (Here, old man comes fi rst time in a sentence)
 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:
 the Earth, the Sky, the Moon, the Sun
‘The’ is used before the names of famous buildings.
For example:

 the Taj Mahal, the Red Fort, the India Gate, the Victoria Memorial
‘The’ is used before the names of rivers.
For example:
 the Ganga, the Yamuna, the Nile, the Thames
‘The’ is used before the names of seas and oceans.
For example:
 the Arabian Sea, the Black Sea, the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean, the Pacifi c Ocean
‘The’ is used before the names of newspapers.
For example:

 the Western Times, the Hindustan Times, the Business Standard
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