Articles and Prepositions

Articles

Articles are words that define a noun as specific or unspecific. It is a word that is used with a noun to specify grammatical definiteness of the noun and in some languages extending to volume or numerical scope.

An article is a word used to modify a noun, which is a person, place, object, or idea. In other words, an article is an adjective, which is any word that modifies a noun. Usually adjectives modify nouns through description, but articles are used instead to point out or refer to nouns.

There are two different types of articles that we use in writing and conversation to point out or refer to a noun or group of nouns:

Definite Article
Indefinite Article

Articles are usually categorized as either definite or indefinite. Within each type, languages may have various forms of each article, due to confirming to grammatical attributes such as gender, number, or case.

Definite Article

This article is the word 'the,' and it refers directly to a specific noun or groups of nouns. For example:

• the freckles on my face
• the alligator in the pond
• the breakfast burrito on my plate

Indefinite Articles

Indefinite articles are the words 'a' and 'an’. Each of these articles is used to refer to a noun, but the noun being referred to is not a specific person, place, object, or idea. It can be any noun from a group of nouns. For example:

• a Mercedes from the car lot
• an event in history

Article Usage with Examples:

Properly using a definite article is easy, but it can be tricky when you are trying to figure out which indefinite article to use. The article choice depends on the sound at the beginning of the noun that is being modified. There is a quick and easy way to remember this.

If the noun that comes after the article begins with a vowel sound, the appropriate indefinite article to use is 'an.' A vowel sound is a sound that is created by any vowel in the English language: 'a,' 'e,' 'i,' 'o,' 'u,' and sometimes 'y' if it makes an 'e' or 'i' sound.

Prepositions

Prepositions are short words that usually stand in front of nouns. Even advanced learners of English find prepositions difficult. One preposition in your native language might have several translations depending on the situation. There are hardly any rules as to when to use which preposition. 

A preposition is a word used to link nouns, pronouns, or phrases to other words within a sentence. Prepositions are usually short words, and they are normally placed directly in front of nouns.

• The first rule is that certain propositions must be used to make the relationships between words in a sentence clear. Most prepositions are interchangeable but only to a certain extent.
• The second rule for using prepositions is that these words must be followed by nouns.

Examples

• I prefer to read in the library
• He climbed up the ladder to get into the attic
• Please sign your name on the dotted line after you read the contract.
• Go down the stairs and through the door.
• He swam across the pool.
• Take your brother with you.

Types of Prepositions

There are three types of prepositions, including time prepositions, place prepositions, and direction prepositions.

Time prepositions are those such as before, after, during, and until; place prepositions are those indicating position, such as around, between, and against; and direction prepositions are those indicative of direction, such as across, up, and down. Each type of preposition is important.

Recap

• Articles are words that define a noun as specific or unspecific.
• There are two different types of articles definite and indefinite articles.
• Prepositions are short words that usually stand in front of nouns.
• There are three types of prepositions, including time prepositions, place prepositions, and direction prepositions.