Articles are the basic components of English grammar. The usage of articles in a sentence is important to communicate properly. Non-native speakers find English very difficult because of the usage of articles in sentences. They do not know where to use the articles and how the words should be used accurately. Articles For Class 4 are thoroughly explained in the below section.
What are Articles?
Articles are nothing but defining the term of the word. If the word indicates singular nouns, then a or an should be used. If the word indicates the noun that has been talked about, then the should be used. So, "a, an, the" depends on the people or things they are talking about. Articles are commonly used only before a noun or an adjective. Before understanding the usage of articles, let us know about their classifications. There are two categories involved in the article. They are:
- Definite articles
- Indefinite articles
Indefinite Article
If an article indicates any person or a thing, then "A" and "An" are used in the sentence. These articles are mostly used around singular nouns.
Wrong sentences:
- Orange is fruit
- Owl is bird
- I need umbrella
Correct sentences:
- An Orange is a fruit
- An owl is a bird
- I need an umbrella
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We use “a” when the noun or adjective that follows starts with a consonant sound.
For example,
- A dog
- A pencil
- A book
- A bear
- A man
We use “an” when the noun or adjective that follows starts with a vowel sound.
For example;
"An" is used before the words that begin with a vowel letter, and also "An" is used with the words that have a vowel sound.
For example:
- An MBA
- An X-mas tree
- An hour.
The above-mentioned words do not start with any vowels, but they sound like a vowel. So, we use “an” instead of “a” here.
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Revision of A & An, Articles
Below are a few examples provided for Class 4 English Use Of Articles:
1. Harish found__A____ bird sitting on the fence.
2. Gold is ___A_____ yellow metal.
3. Ram used to come back within ____An____ hour.
4. They are unknown callers.
5. My father is ____AN__ MBA.
6. There is a chance of rain. Carry ___An_____ umbrella.
7. Riya gave me ___An____ one rupee.
8. Rajesh is _____An___ healthy man.
9. __An____ old guy is wiser than ___A__young guy.
10. He gave me ___A___ pen and ___An_____ inkpot.
Definite Article
'The' indicates a definite article representing a person or a thing. It can be used in singular as well as plural forms.
Usage of ‘The’ in the sentence
- If we mention anything about a person, thing, or place.
For example:
Sheila is the girl I’m visiting.
- If we use a noun and the noun should be unique. Then we can use “The” before the word.
For example:
The United States of America, The Oscars, etc.
- In superlatives
For example:
The Best, The highest, The richest, etc.
- If we mention a noun that indicates the entire class of its kind
For example:
The camel is called the ship of the desert.
- To indicate positions in numbers.
For example:
The first, The fifth, The seventh, etc.
- If we mention temples, rivers and trains, we can use the articles before these sentences.
For example:
The Andes, The ball, The Statue of Liberty, etc.,
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Below are the exercises of CBSE Class 4 English Grammar Articles:
- This is a pink dress
- The dress is not mine.
- Here is an orange. The orange is sweet.
- The patient lost an eye. It was the left eye.
- In Mumbai, we visited a small house, and The house faced north.
- Have you visited the Lodhi Garden? It is a beautiful place.
- We got an invitation to attend a wedding yesterday. However, we did not attend the party.
- Give me a bar of chocolate. The chocolate should be a caramel chocolate.
- The earth revolves around the sun.
- The blue whale is the largest mammal on earth.
Still have doubts? Learn everything about Articles in 3 simple steps
When Not to Use Articles
1. Before Plural Nouns (General)
-
Correct: Boys like to play football.
-
Incorrect: The boys like to play football. (Only if you're talking about boys in general)
But:
-
Correct: The boys in my class like to play football. (Specific group)
2. Before Uncountable Nouns (General)
-
Correct: Petrol is expensive.
-
Incorrect: The petrol is expensive. (Unless referring to specific petrol)
But:
-
Correct: The petrol at this pump is expensive.
Learn & practice more with Class 4 Worksheet on Articles A, An and The
Why are Articles Important?
Articles may seem small, but they greatly impact how a sentence is understood. Using the correct article helps the listener or reader know whether you're talking about something specific or general.
Let’s understand with an example:
-
“I saw a lion in the zoo.”
(Any lion, not known which one) -
“I saw the lion that roared loudly.”
(A specific lion you're referring to)
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Saying “a hour” instead of “an hour”
Using “the” before a name unnecessarily (e.g., “The Ram is coming”)
Using articles before proper nouns (e.g., “The India is a big country”)
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Conclusion
Articles are used to indicate a particular person, thing or place. Without using the article, we would not understand the accurate meaning of any sentence. Understanding English grammar can be a little tedious. But once we started applying the rules by forming the sentences, you can find it easy.
FAQs: English Grammar Articles for Class 4
Q. When is the article “A” used in a sentence?
A. The article “A” is used before words that begin with a consonant sound. It introduces something non-specific and singular. For example: a book, a dog, a university (note that “university” starts with a consonant sound "yu").
Q. When can the article “An” be used in a sentence?
A. The article “An” is used before words that begin with a vowel sound. Like "A", it refers to something non-specific and singular. Examples: an apple, an hour, an honest person (note: “hour” and “honest” start with silent "h" and begin with a vowel sound).
Q. When is an article used?
A. An article is used before a noun to indicate whether it is specific or general. Articles help clarify what we are referring to—whether it’s something known or unknown to the listener or reader.
Q. Which article can be used with both singular and plural nouns?
A. The definite article “The” can be used with both singular and plural nouns. It points to something specific, known, or previously mentioned.
Example: the cat (singular), the cats (plural).
Q. Name the three articles.
A. “A,” “An,” and “The” are the three articles in English grammar.
“A” and “An” are indefinite articles used with non-specific nouns.
“The” is the definite article used with specific nouns.
They help in identifying whether a noun is general or particular in meaning.