English Grammar Articles for Class 5
Articles are a fundamental part of English grammar and play a key role in forming meaningful sentences. This guide is specially designed for Class 5 students to understand the concept of articles, their types, usage, and exceptions.
Let’s explore how articles function and why they are important.
What Are Articles in English Grammar?
Articles are words that come before nouns to tell us if the noun refers to something specific or general.
There are two types of articles in English grammar:
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Definite Article: “The”
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Indefinite Articles: “A” and “An”
Some noun phrases may not require any article at all. Let’s understand each in detail.
Definite Article – "The"
The article “the” is a definite article used when the listener or reader knows exactly what is being referred to. It can be placed before singular, plural, countable, and uncountable nouns.
Rules for Using the Definite Article
Rule 1: When referring to something known to the listener
Example: The lady was walking down the road.
Rule 2: When there is only one of its kind
Example: Where is the library?
Rule 3: When referring to a unique object
Example: The sun is shining brightly today.
Rule 4: Before singular or plural nouns
Example: The teacher gave away all the books.
Rule 5: Before uncountable or plural common nouns
Example: All the money at the bank was robbed.
Rule 6: Before geographical places or proper nouns
Example: The Ganga is a holy river.
Rule 7: When referring to a generalised group
Example: The mountaineers were of great help.
Rule 8: Before superlatives and ordinal numbers
Example: She was the tallest person in the class.
Rule 9: To refer to decades
Example: This movie was released in the late 70s.
Rule 10: In clauses introduced by the word "only"
Example: The only person she listens to is you.
Indefinite Articles – "A" and "An"
An indefinite article introduces a noun for the first time, where the identity of the noun is not known to the listener.
Usage of Article “A”
Used before singular countable nouns beginning with consonant sounds.
Example: I have a dog.
Usage of Article “An”
Used before singular countable nouns beginning with vowel sounds.
Example: I have an umbrella.
Choosing Between “A” and “An”
Though the general rule is based on letters, the real rule depends on the sound of the beginning of the word.
Examples:
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He waited for an hour. (starts with a vowel sound)
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Rosie studied at a university. (starts with a consonant sound “y”)
Placement of Articles Before Adjectives
Articles are also used before descriptive adjectives that come before nouns.
Examples:
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I have a ballpoint pen.
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She bought me an apple pie.
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Raju was the tallest person in our class.
Usage of Articles with Pronouns
Articles and possessive pronouns cannot be used together, as both are used to show specificity.
Incorrect:
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She is playing with the my toy.
Correct:
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She is playing with the toy.
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She is playing with my toy.
Complete Omission of Articles
There are certain situations in English grammar where articles are not required.
Cases When Articles Are Omitted
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Before languages:
Example: Chinese is the most complicated language. -
Before subjects:
Example: I do not like Mathematics. -
Before meals:
Example: What time did you have lunch? -
Before festivals, seasons, institutions:
Examples:-
Winter is the most awaited season.
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A lot of people go to Church on their birthdays.
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Raju doesn’t like to go to school on Mondays.
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Before pairs of common nouns:
Example: Both girls and boys are good at cricket. -
Before the word "God":
Examples:-
God is great.
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A lot of people pray to God when they are in need.
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Conclusion
Understanding articles is essential to forming grammatically correct and meaningful sentences. Whether it’s definite or indefinite, the correct use of articles ensures clarity and precision in communication.
Children in Class 5 can greatly improve their writing and speaking skills by mastering the rules and exceptions of article usage. And if things still seem confusing don’t worry that’s exactly where PlanetSpark can help.
PlanetSpark English Grammar Classes for Class 5
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Expert Trainers with years of grammar-teaching experience
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Fun activities and practice worksheets to boost retention
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Concept clarity through examples, games, and real-life usage
Benefits of PlanetSpark Grammar Classes
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Builds strong grammatical foundation
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Improves academic performance
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Enhances spoken and written communication
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Prepares students for school exams and Olympiads
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FAQs
What are the rules of articles in grammar?
Articles are adjectives used before nouns. Use “the” when the noun is specific, and “a” or “an” when it is not specific. Understand the noun’s identity before selecting the article.
When should we not use articles?
Avoid using articles before languages, subjects, meals, festivals, seasons, abstract nouns, and proper names like countries or rivers.
How do you introduce an article in grammar?
Articles are placed before nouns or the adjectives that describe them. They indicate whether the noun is definite or indefinite.
Why are articles important in English Grammar?
Articles help define the specificity or generality of the noun. They make sentences grammatically correct and more meaningful.
What are the rules for articles?
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Rule 1: Use “a” or “an” for unknown, singular, countable nouns.
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Rule 2: Use “the” when the identity is known.
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Rule 3: Don’t use any article when speaking generally or for uncountable nouns.