ARTICLES AND INTERROGATIVES
CONCEPTS
What Are Articles?
• Articles are words that define a noun as specific or unspecific.
Example: After the long day, the cup of tea tasted particularly good.
• By using the article the, we’ve shown that it was one specific day that
was long and one specific cup of tea that tasted good. After a long
day, a cup of tea tastes particularly good.
• By using the article a, we’ve created a general statement, implying
that any cup of tea would taste good after any long day.
CONCEPTS
The Definite Article
• The definite article is the word. It limits the meaning of a noun to one
particular thing.
• For example, your friend might ask, “Are you going to the party this
weekend?” The definite article tells you that your friend is referring to
a specific party that both of you know about.
• The definite article can be used with singular, plural, or uncountable
nouns.
Example: Please give me the hammer.
Please give me the red hammer; the blue one is too
small.
CONCEPTS
The Indefinite Article
• The indefinite article takes two forms. It’s the word a when it
precedes a word that begins with a consonant.
• It’s the word an when it precedes a word that begins with a vowel.
• The indefinite article indicates that a noun refers to a general idea
rather than a particular thing.
• For example, you might ask your friend, “Should I bring a gift to the
party?” Your friend will understand that you are not asking about a
specific type of gift or a specific item.
• “
CONCEPTS
• I am going to bring an apple pie,” your friend tells you. Again, the indefinite
article indicates that she is not talking about a specific apple pie. Your friend
probably doesn’t even have any pie yet.
• The indefinite article only appears with singular nouns.
Example: Please hand me a book; any book will do.
Please hand me an autobiography; any autobiography will do.
Exceptions: Choosing A or An
• There are a few exceptions to the general rule of using a before words that
start with consonants and an before words that begin with vowels.
CONCEPTS
• The first letter of the word honor, for example, is a consonant, but it’s
unpronounced.
• In spite of its spelling, the word honor begins with a vowel sound. Therefore,
we use an. Consider the example sentence below for an illustration of this
concept.
Incorrect: My mother is a honest woman.
Correct: My mother is an honest woman.
Article Before an Adjective
• Sometimes an article modifies a noun that is also modified by an adjective.
• The usual word order is article + adjective + noun.
CONCEPTS
• If the article is indefinite, choose a or an based on the word that immediately
follows it. Consider the following examples for reference:
Correct: Eliza will bring a small gift to Sophie’s party.
Correct: I heard an interesting story yesterday.
Indefinite Articles with Uncountable Nouns
• Uncountable nouns are nouns that are either difficult or impossible to count.
• Uncountable nouns include intangible things (e.g., information, air), liquids
(e.g., milk, wine), and things that are too large or numerous to count (e.g.,
equipment, sand, wood).
CONCEPTS
• Because these things can’t be counted, you should never use a or an with
them—remember, the indefinite article is only for singular nouns.
• Uncountable nouns can be modified by words like some, however. Consider
the examples below for reference:
Incorrect: Please give me a water.
Water is an uncountable noun and should not be used with the indefinite
article.
Correct: Please give me some water.
CONCEPTS
Using Articles with Pronouns
• Possessive pronouns can help identify whether you’re talking about
specific or nonspecific items.
• As we’ve seen, articles also indicate specificity. But if you use both a
possessive pronoun and an article at the same time, readers will become
confused.
• Possessive pronouns are words like his, my, our, its, her, and their. Articles
should not be used with pronouns. Consider the examples below.
CONCEPTS
Incorrect: Why are you reading the my book?
The and my should not be used together since they are both meant to modify
the same noun
• Instead, you should use one or the other, depending on the intended meaning:
Correct: Why are you reading the book?
Correct: Why are you reading my book?
CONCEPTS
Omission of Articles
• Occasionally, articles are omitted altogether before certain nouns.
• In these cases, the article is implied but not actually present. This implied
article is sometimes called a “zero article.”
• Often, the article is omitted before nouns that refer to abstract ideas. Look at
the following examples:
Incorrect: Let’s go out for a dinner tonight.
Correct: Let’s go out for dinner tonight.
Interrogative Sentence
• An interrogative sentence is a sentence that asks a question.
CONCEPTS
• The term is used in grammar to refer to features that form questions. Thus,
an interrogative sentence is a sentence whose grammatical form shows that it
is a question. Such sentences may exhibit an interrogative grammatical mood.
• This applies particularly to languages that use different inflected verb forms to
make questions.
• Interrogative sentences can serve as yes-no questions or as wh-questions, the
latter being formed using an interrogative word such
as who, which, where or how to specify the information required.
• Different languages have various ways of forming questions, such as word
order or the insertion of interrogative particles.
• Questions are frequently marked by intonation, in particular a rising intonation
pattern – in some languages this may be the sole method of distinguishing a
yes–no question from a declarative statement.
• Interrogative mood or other interrogative forms may be denoted by the
glossing abbreviation.
QUESTION: 01
I really need cup of coffee.
A. An
B. A
C. One
D. Both B and C
Answer: D
QUESTION: 02
Ram came half hour late to office.
A. An
B. A
C. Of
D. for
Answer: A
QUESTION: 03
New Delhi is beautiful city.
A. An
B. The
C. A
D. None of these
Answer: C
QUESTION: 04
English has become international language of business.
A. A
B. An
C. The
D. None of these
Answer: C
QUESTION: 05
He should have called me hour ago.
A. An
B. A
C. Of
D. None of these
Answer: A
QUESTION: 06
Munich lies in south of Germany.
A. That
B. Those
C. The
D. All the above
Answer: B
QUESTION: 07
I had _____ bad experience at work today.
An
A
Been
None of these
Answer: B
QUESTION: 08
______ moon goes round _____ earth every 27 days
The, the
That, the
This, that
This, this
Answer: A
QUESTION: 09
______ you watched the movie?
A. Is
B. Had
C. Have
D. None of these
Answer: C
QUESTION: 10
_____ I borrow your grammar book for a day?
A. Have
B. Had
C. Can
D. Could
Answer: C
QUESTION: 12
______ are you wearing a heavy coat today when it is so warm?
A. Where
B. Why
C. When
D. All the above
Answer: B
QUESTION: 13
______ is the best way to make apple pie?
A. How
B. Why
C. What
D. None of these
Answer: C
QUESTION: 14
_______ songs do you like best?
A. What
B. This
C. That
D. Which
Answer: D
QUESTION: 15
I'm not very hungry, I had _______ big breakfast.
A. A
B. An
C. Is
D. had
Answer: A
Thank You
