Articles English grammar का एक छोटा लेकिन scoring हिस्सा है, जो CRPF Radio Operator, Cipher और Radio Fitter जैसे exams के Language/Grammar section में अक्सर पूछा जाता है।
इन exams में ज़्यादातर questions sound-based rules, general vs specific use, और fixed patterns पर आधारित होते हैं।
इसलिए Articles का clear understanding होना ज़रूरी है।

⭐ Articles and Their Rules (A / An / The)

Articles दो प्रकार के होते हैं:

1️⃣ Indefinite Articles → a, an

(किसी non-specific चीज़ के लिए)

2️⃣ Definite Article → the

(किसी specific, known या unique चीज़ के लिए)

🟦 1. Use of “A”

A ऐसे शब्दों से पहले लगता है जिनकी sound consonant हो।

✔ Rules:

• Ex: a boy, a girl, a pen, a uniform
• Consonant sound important है, spelling नहीं।

✔ Examples:

• a university (sound: ‘yu’)
• a European country (sound: ‘yu’)

🟦 2. Use of “An”

An ऐसे शब्दों से पहले लगता है जिनकी sound vowel हो (a, e, i, o, u).

✔ Examples:

• an apple
• an elephant
• an honest man (sound: ‘onest’ → vowel sound)
• an hour (sound: ‘our’)
• an MBA student (sound: ‘em-be-e’)

🟦 3. Use of “The”

“The” definite article है और specific चीज़ के लिए लगता है।

✔ Rules & Examples:

Rule 1: किसी unique चीज़ के लिए

• the Sun
• the Moon
• the Earth
• the Taj Mahal

Rule 2: Superlative degree के पहले

• the best
• the tallest boy

Rule 3: Only one of its kind in context

• Open the door.
• Pass me the book.

Rule 4: Musical instruments

• He plays the guitar.

Rule 5: Rivers, oceans, seas, mountain ranges

• the Ganga
• the Indian Ocean
• the Himalayas

Rule 6: Newspapers, holy books

• the Bible
• the Quran
• the Times of India

Rule 7: Directions (जब noun के साथ हों)

• the East
• the South

Rule 8: Country names (जब United, Republic, Kingdom आए)

• the United States
• the United Kingdom
• the Republic of India

🟥 Important Points to Remember (Exam Special)

❌ “A / An / The” कभी proper nouns के साथ नहीं आते

• ❌ a Ram
• ✔ Ram is a good boy.

❌ Plural nouns के साथ “a/an” नहीं लगता

• ❌ a apples
• ✔ apples

✔ “The” plurals और uncountables के साथ लग सकता है

• the cows
• the milk in the glass

✔ Generic meaning में plurals बिना article

• Lions are dangerous animals.

📘 Quick Summary for Exam Revision

• a → consonant sound
• an → vowel sound
• the → specific/unique things
• No article → general things

⭐ Most Important & Previous-Year Pattern Article Questions

(Exam-Oriented | 35 Questions)

Q1. She is ___ honest officer.

A) a
B) an
C) the
D) no article

✔ Answer: B) an
Explanation: honest = “onest” (vowel sound)

Q2. He waited for ___ hour.

A) a
B) an
C) the
D) no article

✔ Answer: B) an
Explanation: hour = “our” (vowel sound)

Q3. ___ Nile is the longest river in the world.

A) A
B) An
C) The
D) No article

✔ Answer: C) The
Explanation: Rivers के साथ “the”.

Q4. I saw ___ European tourist.

A) a
B) an
C) the
D) no article

✔ Answer: A) a
Explanation: European = “yu” (consonant sound)

Q5. He is ___ best student in the class.

A) a
B) an
C) the
D) no article

✔ Answer: C) the
Explanation: Superlative degree → the.

Q6. She is ___ M.A. student.

A) a
B) an
C) the
D) no article

✔ Answer: B) an
Explanation: M.A. = “em-e” → vowel sound.

Q7. He plays ___ guitar very well.

A) a
B) an
C) the
D) no article

✔ Answer: C) the
Explanation: Musical instrument → the.

Q8. They went to ___ market yesterday.

A) a
B) an
C) the
D) no article

✔ Answer: D) no article
Explanation: Market = general place.

Q9. ___ Himalayas are covered with snow.

A) A
B) An
C) The
D) No article

✔ Answer: C) The
Explanation: Mountain ranges → the.

Q10. This is ___ unique idea.

A) a
B) an
C) the
D) no article

✔ Answer: A) a
Explanation: unique = “yu” → consonant sound.

Q11. She bought ___ dozen bananas.

A) a
B) an
C) the
D) no article

✔ Answer: A) a
Explanation: Fixed phrase → “a dozen”.

Q12. He has ___ uncle who lives in Delhi.

A) a
B) an
C) the
D) no article

✔ Answer: A) a
Explanation: uncle = vowel sound → a?
(लेकिन “an uncle” भी होता है—यहाँ correction → an)

✔ Correct Answer: B) an

Q13. She reads ___ Times of India every morning.

A) a
B) an
C) the
D) no article

✔ Answer: C) the
Explanation: Newspaper names → the.

Q14. Delhi is ___ capital of India.

A) a
B) an
C) the
D) no article

✔ Answer: C) the
Explanation: Only one capital.

Q15. He has ___ fever.

A) a
B) an
C) the
D) no article

✔ Answer: A) a
Explanation: a fever = common expression.

Q16. She works in ___ bank near her house.

A) a
B) an
C) the
D) no article

✔ Answer: A) a
Explanation: non-specific bank.

Q17. ___ Earth revolves around the Sun.

A) A
B) An
C) The
D) No article

✔ Answer: C) The
Explanation: unique object.

Q18. He is eating ___ apple.

A) a
B) an
C) the
D) no article

✔ Answer: B) an

Q19. I saw ___ owl on the tree.

A) a
B) an
C) the
D) no article

✔ Answer: B) an

Q20. She bought ___ umbrella from the shop.

A) a
B) an
C) the
D) no article

✔ Answer: B) an

Q21. I want to buy ___ pair of shoes.

A) a
B) an
C) the
D) no article

✔ Answer: A) a

Q22. He met ___ old friend at the station.

A) a
B) an
C) the
D) no article

✔ Answer: B) an

Q23. He lives in ___ United Kingdom.

A) a
B) an
C) the
D) no article

✔ Answer: C) the
Explanation: Countries with “United/Republic” → the.

Q24. ___ police arrested the thief.

A) A
B) An
C) The
D) No article

✔ Answer: C) The
Explanation: police = specific force.

Q25. Milk is ___ useful food.

A) a
B) an
C) the
D) no article

✔ Answer: B) an
Explanation: useful = “yu” → consonant sound → a
Correct answer → A) a

Q26. ___ information you gave was wrong.

A) A
B) An
C) The
D) No article

✔ Answer: C) The
Explanation: specific information.

Q27. She never tells ___ lie.

A) a
B) an
C) the
D) no article

✔ Answer: A) a

Q28. He is in ___ trouble.

A) a
B) an
C) the
D) no article

✔ Answer: B) an

Q29. This is ___ only option we have.

A) a
B) an
C) the
D) no article

✔ Answer: C) the

Q30. ___ wisdom is better than riches.

A) A
B) An
C) The
D) No article

✔ Answer: D) No article
Explanation: abstract nouns → no article (general sense)

Q31. He has invented ___ new technology.

A) a
B) an
C) the
D) no article

✔ Answer: A) a

Q32. She has ___ great confidence.

A) a
B) an
C) the
D) no article

✔ Answer: A) a

Q33. ___ Taj Mahal is in Agra.

A) A
B) An
C) The
D) No article

✔ Answer: C) The

Q34. He drinks ___ milk every morning.

A) a
B) an
C) the
D) no article

✔ Answer: D) no article
Explanation: milk = uncountable (general)

Q35. We saw ___ stars in the sky.

A) a
B) an
C) the
D) no article

✔ Answer: D) no article
Explanation: stars = general sense.