Beginner · Sentence building blocks · topic 10 of 59 · 15 min
A, an and the
Explanation
Articles (आर्टिकल) are tiny words that come before a noun (संज्ञा: a person, place or thing). Hindi does not have them, so Indian learners often drop them: "I am teacher". In English, a single person or thing usually needs an article: "I am a teacher."
A or an? Listen to the sound
| Rule | Examples |
|---|---|
| a + consonant SOUND | a book, a car, a university (yoo-sound), a one-rupee coin (wun-sound) |
| an + vowel SOUND | an apple, an egg, an idea, an hour (h is silent), an MBA (em-bee-ay) |
a university
Say it: a yoo-ni-VER-si-tee
एक विश्वविद्यालय
"University" starts with a "y" sound, so we use "a", not "an".
an hour
Say it: an OW-er
एक घंटा
The "h" is silent, so the word starts with a vowel sound.
an honest man
Say it: an ON-ist MAN
एक ईमानदार आदमी
an MBA student
Say it: an em-bee-AY STYOO-dent
एक एमबीए छात्र
M is said "em", a vowel sound.
When to use "the"
| Use "the" when... | Example |
|---|---|
| both people know which one | Please close the door. |
| you mention it a second time | I bought a phone. The phone is very fast. |
| there is only one | the sun, the moon, the Prime Minister |
| rivers, seas, some countries, famous buildings | the Ganga, the USA, the Taj Mahal |
I saw a dog. The dog was very small.
Say it: ai SAW a DOG. the DOG woz VE-ree SMAWL
मैंने एक कुत्ता देखा। वह कुत्ता बहुत छोटा था।
Please switch off the fan.
Say it: pleez SWICH of the FAN
कृपया पंखा बंद कर दीजिए।
Both people know which fan, so "the".
No article
Do not use an article with names of people and most cities and countries (Ravi, Mumbai, India), with plural things in general (Dogs are loyal), or with uncountable things in general (Milk is good for health).
Watch the lesson
A, an and the · 1/7
Hello! Today we learn three tiny but important words: a, an and the.
Prefer a video by a teacher? Find free videos on “articles a an the in english grammar for beginners in hindi” on YouTube ↗
In real life: Talking to a friend about a job
Imran: I got a job! Sana: Congratulations! Is it an office job? Imran: Yes, I'm an accountant at a small company in Hyderabad. Sana: How far is the office from your home? Imran: About an hour by bus. Sana: That's a long trip, but the job sounds great.
Practice (0/4 done)
Say these sentences. Notice a, an and the.
I am an engineer. I work at a big company. The office is near the station.
मैं इंजीनियर हूँ। मैं एक बड़ी कंपनी में काम करता हूँ। ऑफ़िस स्टेशन के पास है।
Listen and type the sentence.
Write five sentences about your home or work. Use "a" twice, "an" once and "the" twice.
Complete: "She is ___ honest person."
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