Articles in English Grammar for Class 7: Key Concepts, Syllabus & Practice Tips
In today's lesson, we will discuss Articles and their usage in English grammar. English articles can be a little challenging to understand. You must be mindful of a lot of rules! It is easy to understand through reading and hearing as long as you know all the regulations and article categories. The many sorts of articles and their applications with examples are listed below. Let's dive in and learn how to use them effectively.
The Articles
Types of Articles:
There are two main article types in English:
1. Definite Articles
2. Indefinite Articles
The Definite Articles:
The word "the" is a definite article. It limits the meaning of a noun to that of a single little thing. It is mainly used for a particular person or place.
Here are some instances of the definite article being used appropriately:
Give me the hammer, please.
The blue hammer is too little; give me the red one.
Give me the nail, please.
Please hand me the big nail; it's the only one that can hold this painting securely.
Please provide the hammer and the nail.
The Indefinite Articles
There are two types of indefinite articles. When it appears before a word with a vowel, the letter is "a." The word a comes before it when a word with a vowel at the beginning does. A word is related to a general idea rather than a specific aspect when the indefinite article is used. You might inquire with your friend, "Should I bring a gift to the party?" as an illustration. Your acquaintance will recognize that you are not requesting a certain kind of gift or item. Your friend says, "I'm going to bring an apple pie." Once more, the indefinite article shows that she is not referring to a particular apple pie. Most likely, your friend hasn't even had pie yet. The indefinite article is the only choice for singular nouns.
Use of Indefinite Articles
Take into consideration the following instances of indefinite articles:
Please give me a book; any book would do.
Please give me an autobiography; every autobiography will do.
Use of Definite and Indefinite Articles
Where Not to Use Articles?
Many English language learners find it difficult to recall how to use articles. Articles are not necessarily required to be used everywhere. Our advice is to keep in mind the situations in which articles shouldn't be employed.
Avoid Using Articles:
When you Discuss Many Topics Generally.
For instance, I enjoy birds.
Here, the speaker is trying to convey that he or she likes all birds in general rather than just one particular kind.
When Discussing Nouns in the Plural, Count them.
Dogs, for instance, are wonderful pets.
In this case, you are speaking generally about all dogs, not just one particular dog or pet.
When Discussing Noncount Nouns.
For instance, I adore music.
Here, the speaker is expressing his enjoyment of music in general rather than a particular genre or song.
When Discussing Specific Dates or Holidays, Places, Businesses, or Tongues.
As an illustration, I purchased candles for Diwali.
The speaker in this instance is referring to the candles he purchased to utilize on the day of Diwali.
When Discussing Businesses.
As an illustration, Steve Jobs created Apple.
I utilize Facebook daily.
The speaker is mentioning firms like Apple and Facebook in this sentence.
When you Discuss Languages.
For instance, I can speak Hindi.
The speaker is referring to Hindi in this sentence.
When you Discuss Locations, Places, and Streets.
As an illustration, my home is situated on Callowhill Drive.
I forgot my pen at home.
Here, the speaker's house and the street Callowhill Drive are being discussed.
However, there are several places where the use of an article is absolutely necessary. For instance, the airport, railway station, bank, hospital, post office, bus stop, and so on.
When Discussing Athletics and Physical Activity.
As an illustration, I enjoy playing cricket.
She likes to dance.
Cricket and dancing are discussed here.
When a Number Comes After a Noun
She is residing in room 127 at the Hilton hotel, for instance.
From station 9, a train departs for Montreal.
No article is necessary because numerals are placed after the nouns in this sentence.
When Discussing Intellectual Topics.
For instance, I detest taking math classes.
The math classes are mentioned in this sentence.
Difficult Word with Meanings:
Word | Meaning |
Inquire | Look, Investigate |
Intellectual | Deep Thinking, Smart |
Acquaintance | Contact, Associate |
Instances | Examples, Case |
Adore | Love, Admire |
Summary
A term used before a noun to indicate whether it is specialized or general is known as an article. The words "a," "an," and "the" are determining factors or noun indicators that serve to indicate whether a noun is referring to something general or specific. Generally, articles come before nouns, and because they are employed to describe the noun, they can be thought of as adjectives.
Practice Questions
Choose one of these to complete each sentence: a, an, the, or (no word).
1. ___ woman and ___ man are sitting before me.
2. During our holiday, we stay at ___ hotel.
3. For our dinner, we went to ___ restaurant.
4. As it was raining, I took ___ umbrella.
5. On the way, I saw ___ elephant.
6. ____ moon goes around ___ earth.
7. ___ Qutab Minar is very tall.
8. I waited for you for more than ___ hour.
9. ___ walls of my room are light blue but ___ ceiling is white.
10. She is ___ MSC teacher in chemistry.
Answers:
1. A woman and a man are sitting before me.
2. During our holiday, we stay at a hotel.
3. For our dinner, we went to a restaurant.
4. As it was raining, I took an umbrella.
5. On the way, I saw an elephant.
6. The moon goes around the earth.
7. The Qutab Minar is very tall.
8. I waited for you for more than an hour.
9. The walls of my room are light blue but the ceiling is white.
10. She is an MSc.teacher in chemistry.
NCERT Solutions - Class 7 The Articles Grammar Solution
NCERT Solutions for English Grammar serves as a comprehensive solution book for the students of Class 7 The Articles who are willing to expertise in the English Grammar subject.
The Class 7th English Grammar syllabus is comprehensively mentioned in this NCERT Solutions. Exhaustive Class 7 Grammar topics are present in the NCERT Solutions. Also, this is to ensure that students from any board can refer to the NCERT Solutions for English Grammar Class 7 The Articles.
FAQs on Comprehensive Guide to Class 7 English Grammar: Articles (2025-26)
1. What are the most frequently asked types of questions on Articles for the Class 7 English exam for the 2025-26 session?
For the 2025-26 session, you can expect questions on Articles to appear in various formats that test your understanding. The most important types include:
- Fill in the blanks: You will be asked to insert 'a', 'an', 'the', or leave the space blank where no article is needed (zero article).
- Error Correction: These questions require you to identify an incorrect article in a sentence and rewrite it correctly.
- Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs): You will have to choose the most appropriate article from a list of options to complete a sentence.
- Sentence Completion: You may be asked to complete sentences where the correct use of an article is crucial for the sentence's meaning.
2. What are the most important rules for using the definite article 'the' that are often tested in exams?
To score well, it's important to master these key rules for using the definite article 'the':
- Before nouns that are unique, like The Sun, The Moon, or The Earth.
- Before the names of mountain ranges (The Himalayas), rivers (The Ganga), oceans (The Indian Ocean), and deserts (The Thar Desert).
- With superlative adjectives, such as the best player or the tallest building.
- Before holy or famous books (The Ramayana, The Quran) and well-known newspapers (The Hindu).
- When referring to a specific noun that has already been mentioned. For example: I saw a bird. The bird was singing.
3. Why is 'an' used before words like 'hour' or 'honest', even though they start with the consonant 'h'?
This is a crucial concept for exams. The choice between 'a' and 'an' depends entirely on the initial sound of a word, not the letter itself. In words like 'hour', 'heir', or 'honest', the 'h' is silent. The word begins with a vowel sound (like 'our' or 'onest'). Therefore, we use 'an' (an hour, an honest person) to follow the fundamental rule of English grammar, which is based on pronunciation.
4. What are some important cases where no article (Zero Article) should be used?
Omission of articles is a frequent topic in exams. It's important to remember not to use any article in these common situations:
- Before proper nouns like names of people (Ria, not The Ria), most countries (India, not The India), and single mountains (Mount Everest, not The Mount Everest).
- Before names of languages (English, Hindi) and academic subjects (Mathematics, Science).
- Before abstract nouns when used in a general sense, for example, 'Honesty is the best policy.'
- Before the names of meals, such as 'I had breakfast at 8 AM.'
5. How does using 'a' versus 'the' before a noun change the meaning of a sentence?
Understanding the difference between 'a' and 'the' is a higher-order skill tested in exams. Using the wrong article can completely alter the meaning. 'A' or 'an' is used to introduce a noun for the first time or refer to any general member of a group. In contrast, 'the' refers to a specific, unique, or previously mentioned noun. For instance:
- "I need a book." (This means any book will suffice).
- "I need the book." (This means a specific book, likely one known to both the speaker and the listener).
6. Why is it a common mistake to use 'an' before words like 'university' or 'European'?
This is a classic trap in grammar questions. Although 'university' and 'European' begin with the vowels 'u' and 'e', their initial sound is a consonant 'y' sound (like 'yoo-niversity' or 'yoo-ropean'). The rule for using 'a' or 'an' is based on the initial sound, not the first letter. Because these words start with a consonant sound, the correct article is 'a'. Always saying the word aloud helps determine whether it begins with a vowel sound (like apple, ink) or a consonant sound.
7. How can mastering the 'zero article' concept improve my marks in the grammar section?
Mastering the 'zero article' (where no article is needed) is an excellent strategy to improve your score. Examiners often include questions where the correct answer is to use no article at all, which can be a tricky option. By confidently knowing when not to use an article—such as with general abstract nouns, names of meals, languages, and most proper nouns—you can avoid common mistakes and score marks that other students might lose. It shows a deeper understanding of grammar rules beyond just 'a', 'an', and 'the'.
