English Grammar Articles for Class 3

Articles are used to describe nouns. There are two types of articles: definite and indefinite. Definite articles are used for something that is known or specific, whereas indefinite articles refer to things in general or whose identity is not known. Let's get into more depth about articles for class 3.

CBSE Class 3 English Grammar Articles

Definite Articles

The word 'the' is the definite article. It restricts a noun's meaning to a single object. Nouns that are single, plural, or uncountable can all utilise the definite article. As you can see from these instances, the definite article is frequently utilised.

She is the most popular girl in school.
Joe Biden is the President of the United States.
The bond between a brother and a sister is unparalleled.
The Taj Mahal is the most popular tourist place in India.

Indefinite Articles

The indefinite article comes in two varieties: adverbs and prepositions. You should use the article ‘a’ for a word that starts with a consonant, whereas you should use ‘an’ for words that begin with a vowel-sounding word. When a noun has an indefinite article, it suggests that it refers to an abstract concept rather than an actual object. Only single nouns can use the indefinite article, which is why it's called the indefinite article. As a starting point, below are some instances of indefinite articles in use:

She is a good girl.
He is an athlete.
An apple a day makes the doctor go away.
I need a house in the city.
She has been on a shopping spree lately.

Learn Articles for Class 3: Using ‘a’ and ‘an’

The general rule when it comes to using ‘a’ and ‘an’ is that for words beginning with consonants, you should use ‘a’. For words that start with a vowel or sound like vowels, you need to use ‘an’.

For words such as honour, you need to use ‘an’ even though it starts with a consonant. On the other hand, for words like university you need to use ‘a’ or ‘the’ as required instead of ‘an’ as they sound like consonants when you say them. For example,

He is an honest person.
He goes to a university.
A unicorn is a beautiful mythical creature.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is a United States Congresswoman.
You shouldn’t play with an ouija board.
Nelson Mandela is a great inspiration to many.

Articles with Adjectives

Nouns that have already been changed by an adjective may be modified by an article. Article is followed by an adjective or may be followed by a noun. If you’re learning articles for class 3, you should definitely know how to use articles with adjectives. A or an will suffice in cases when the article is indeterminate. Take a look at the following samples as a guide:

Rahul will bring a small present to Akash’s birthday party.
Akash heard an interesting story the day before yesterday.

Articles for Class 3 - How to Use Indefinite Articles with Uncountable Nouns

A noun is considered uncountable if it is impossible to count, or if counting it is difficult or impossible at all. Information, air, milk, and wine are examples of uncountable nouns, as are objects that are too huge or many to be counted. You should never use an or a with these nouns since they cannot be enumerated. The indefinite article is only used for single nouns. However, words like ‘some’ can modify an infinite number of nouns.

You should not use definite articles with uncountable nouns. For example,

Water
Air
Cement
Sand
Oil
Freedom
Maturity
Rice
Sand

Here are some examples of using articles with uncountable nouns:

I need some rice to make kheer.
Oil is a precious commodity.
Can you please give me some water?
Life is fragile.
He played music all night long.
Do you need some sugar in your coffee?
I need some air.
You should eat fruits.

You can use ‘the’ with uncountable nouns if you are talking about a particular thing. For example,

Do not go in the water unsupervised.
Do you think the music they are playing is good?

Some nouns, such as hair, noise, and time, can be countable or uncountable depending on the context.

There is a noise coming from the basement.
You should have a light in this room.

For countable nouns whose identity is not known, you should use ‘a’ or ‘an’ not ‘the’. For example:

An animal barged into our house yesterday.
He is a hustler.
Can you help us find an apartment in the city?
I have a Golden Retriever and two cats.

Class 3 English Use of Articles - How to Use Articles with Pronouns

As a rule, possessive pronouns can be used to distinguish between specific and general entities. In addition to indicating specificity, articles do the same. A possessive pronoun and an article can be used at the same time, although this might be confusing to viewers. It is common to use possessive pronouns, such as "his" or "mine". Using articles with pronouns is a bad idea. Take a look at the following samples.

You should have asked for permission before taking the my book. - This is not correct.

Since the and my are both meant to modify the same noun, they should not be used simultaneously. To avoid confusion, you should instead use one or the other:

You should have asked for permission before taking my book. - This is correct.
You should have asked for permission before taking the book. - This is also correct.

CBSE Class 3 English Grammar Articles - How and When to Omit Articles

Before some nouns, the article may be deleted entirely. When the article is indicated, but not really present, it is known as an omission. We use ‘Zero Articles’ for articles that need to be omitted. Before abstract nouns, the article is frequently omitted. For example:

I could use some sugar in my coffee.
Honey does not expire.

For the names of most countries, you need not use an article before. For example:

India is the land of spices. Not a India or the India.
Venezuela has abundant oil reserves.
Paris is the capital of France.

However, there are countries, deserts, rivers, where you need to use ‘the’ before. For example,

The United States has 51 states.
The United Arab Emirates has considerable influence in the Middle East.
The Gobi desert has a thriving ecosystem.
The Nile is a beautiful river that runs in Egypt.

For languages as well, you should not use articles. For example,

She is learning French these days.
English is not a difficult subject to master.
Hindi is spoken in North and Central India.

In sports and academia, no articles are required. See the following examples for context:

My favourite sport is the baseball. - This is not correct.
My favourite sport is baseball. - This is correct.

The Math was never a problem for my sister. - This is not correct.
Math has always been a strong suit for my sister. - This is correct.

Conclusion

An article is, in essence, an adverb. As with adjectives, articles are used to enhance the meaning of nouns. The definite article “the” and indefinite articles “a” or “an” are the only articles recognised in the English language. In general, the indefinite articles modify non-particular or non-specific nouns, while the definite article refers to particular or specific nouns. Articles are one of the most fundamental concepts of English grammar. The rules to using articles might seem a little complicated, but with practice, you will be able to use them correctly instinctively.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are indefinite articles?

To refer to something that is not specified, we use indefinite articles. For example,

Please give me a book.
I gave him a notebook.

2. When do I omit articles?

In many instances, you can drop the article entirely. These are called “Zero articles”. For example,

Can you meet me for dinner tonight?

The above sentence is grammatically correct. You don’t need to write “a dinner”.

3. What are some examples of definite and indefinite articles?

Here are some examples of definite articles:

Can you pass me the book?
This is the book she was talking about.

Here are some examples of indefinite articles:

Is there a pen there?
The thieves (definite) took a diamond (indefinite) from the bedroom.

4. What is the difference between definite and indefinite articles?

There are two types of articles: those that refer to nouns that have been previously stated (definite), and those that refer to nouns for the first time (indefinite)

5. How do you use articles with adjectives?

The following is the rule for using an article indefinitely: You should use ‘a’ before consonant-sounding nouns and adjectives. Adjectives that begin with a vowel sound should be preceded by ‘an’.