Articles/ what is article in English Grammar
An article is a kind of adjective which modifies a noun. Like an adjective it is used before a noun and tells us something about it. But there is a little difference between an adjective and an article. The adjective can be used with a noun or independently but the article cannot be used without a noun. As mentioned above, an article is used before a noun but if there is an adjective before the noun, the article is used before the adjective. But if there is an adverb before the adjective, the article is used before the adverb.Examples :
I met a man yesterday.
I met an old man yesterday.
I met a very old man yesterday.
But if there is possessive adjective before a noun, no article is used before it (possessive adjective).
Example : This is my book. ('My' is a possessive adjective)
Kinds of articles :
There are two types of articles in English Grammar. They are 'Indefinite Articles' and 'Definite Articles.'
Indefinite articles are: 'a' and 'an'.
Definite article is :'the'
Indefinite articles -'A' and 'An' are called indefinite articles. They are used before a singular countable noun which is neither proper nor definite. The function of indefinite articles is not to define but to generalize anything or person.
Example :
He gave me a book. (Any book and not a definite or a particular book.)
Definite article: 'The' is known as 'Definite Article'. It (The) is used before both the singular and the plural nouns, countable and uncountable nouns. But these nouns must be definite or identified.
Example:
The book on the table is mine. (Here, 'the book' means a definite or a particular book.)
