Articles (a, an, the) for SSC CGL
Complete Grammar Guide
1. What are Articles?
Articles are words placed before nouns to define them as specific or unspecific. They are of two types:
- Definite Article → the
- Indefinite Article → a, an
2. Rules of Usage
Rule 1: Use of "a"
Used before singular, countable nouns beginning with a consonant sound.
Example: a book, a car, a university (note: "university" starts with 'yu' sound, not vowel).
Rule 2: Use of "an"
Used before singular, countable nouns beginning with a vowel sound (a, e, i, o, u).
Example: an apple, an umbrella, an honest man (silent 'h' → vowel sound).
Rule 3: Use of "the"
Used to talk about something specific or already known.
- With unique objects: the sun, the moon, the earth
- With superlatives: the best, the tallest
- With rivers, seas, oceans, deserts, mountain ranges: the Ganga, the Himalayas, the Sahara
- With musical instruments: He plays the guitar
Rule 4: Omission of Articles
No article before:
- Names of meals: We had breakfast at 9
- Languages, subjects: She studies English, not *the English*
- Proper nouns: India, Sachin Tendulkar
3. Common SSC Exam Tricks
He is the M.A. in English.
He is an M.A. in English. (sound is em)
He goes to the school daily.
He goes to school daily. (general use → no article)
Mount Everest is the highest mountain of world.
Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world.
4. Previous Year SSC CGL Examples
Q1. He is ___ European, but his wife is ___ American.
Options: (a) an, an (b) a, an (c) a, a (d) an, a
Answer: (c) a, an
Explanation: European starts with 'yu' sound → a, American → vowel sound → an
Q2. ___ Ganga is a holy river.
Options: (a) A (b) An (c) The (d) No article
Answer: (c) The
5. Quick Recap
- a → consonant sound (a book, a one-rupee note)
- an → vowel sound (an hour, an honest man)
- the → specific/unique things (the sun, the Himalayas)
- No article with meals, languages, and proper nouns
6. Practice Questions
(Attempt yourself – answers hidden below)
Q1. He waited for ___ hour before the doctor arrived.
Q2. I saw ___ eagle flying high in the sky.
Q3. My father plays ___ violin very well.
Q4. He is ___ best player in our team.
Q5. Children are taught ___ Hindi at school.
Click for Answers
1. an
2. an
3. the
4. the
5. No article
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