Master The Article in Class 8 English Grammar: Concepts & Examples

In the following lesson, we are going to learn about articles, what are articles, their uses, types, etc. with various examples. You are also provided with practice questions to assess yourself and test what you have learnt so far. 

Articles 

Articles:

Articles are Noun-Linked Demonstrative Adjectives. They can also be classified under determiners. Instead of characterizing the noun, they serve the grammatical purpose of identifying it as a noun. A, an, and The are the three articles used in English. Articles are used before nouns or their equivalents. 

• Before a noun, the definite article (the) is used to show that the reader is aware of the word's identity.

• The indefinite article (a, an) will be used before such a noun when it is uncertain or whose identity is unclear.

• The usage of articles ‘a’ and ‘an’ is also dependent on the alphabet of the noun word. If it starts with a vowel sound, the article ‘an’ is highly likely to be used. Whereas if the noun word starts with a consonant sound, the article ‘a’ is used. 

• There are numerous cases a noun can be used without an article.

Division of Articles 

Types of Articles

Definite Article(the):

The definite article is used before specific or particular nouns in the singular and plural. The prefix "the" denotes the word's specificity and its reference to a particular group member.

For instance:

The canine that bit me escaped. Here, we're referring to a particular canine—the one that bit me.

Use of Definite Article:

• To discuss a specific person or item

When referring to a specific person or thing, the definite article 'the' is used.

Example:

1. The book you desire is no longer available. (What novel? The desired one.)

2. Come with me to the park. (In what park? Possibly the local one.)

• Before a single noun intended to refer to the entire class

A singular noun is used with the definite article 'the' when it is intended to indicate the entirety of the class to which it belongs.

Example:

1. A beneficial animal is the cow. (In this case, the singular noun cow designates an entire class.)

2. The rose is the most delectable flower there is.

3. Eight legs make up the spider.

• Before the titles of certain books

The Vedas and The Iliad are two examples.

• Before superlative adjectives

Superlative adjectives are preceded by the definite article ‘the.’

Examples:

1. I have never seen the most pretty view.

2. Which mountain is the tallest in the world?

• Before ordinal number

Example:

1. Who received the first Nobel Prize for a woman?

2. The second part of the show was more thrilling than the first.

• Before musical instruments

Examples:

1. The flute playing skills are acquired by him.

2. She wants to play the guitar.

Indefinite Articles:

An article that refers to a noun without defining it or that refers to a noun to first introduce it is known as an indefinite article. 

There are only two basic indefinite articles in English: a and an. 

‘An’ is typically used before a word that begins with a vowel sound whereas ‘a’ is typically used before a word that begins with a consonant sound of the first letter of the noun word . 

For instance:

• On the ground, she discovered a penny. P (which is a consonant)

• He consumed an apple. (The vowel 'a' is.)

Exception in Use of Indefinite Articles:

• Words Which Sounds Like ‘You’

Many words sound like they begin with a vowel but don't. These situations call for the use of the article ‘a’ since the initial sound, which sounds like "you," is a consonant. Words like these include

1. A union

2. A European vacation

3. A URL

4. A eulogy

• Words With the W Sound

Words that have a consonant sound like "w" but start with the letter "o" are another example of consonant-sound words masquerading as vowel words. The only terms in the English language that fulfil this definition are one and one. 

Examples: 

1. That was a one-time idea.

2. It's a once-in-a-lifetime chance.

3. A one-on-one discussion took place.

• H-Starting Word

These nouns employ the article ‘an’ despite all having the consonant "h" as their first letter:

Example:

1. an honorary

2. an heir 

3. an hourglass 

Omission of Articles 

Omission of Articles

The English language uses articles in many sentences. However, there are some situations in which an article is not appropriate.

Rules:

• Articles are prohibited from being placed in front of proper nouns.

Eg. Delhi is India's capital.

• Languages do not require articles before them. 

Eg. Within a year, I had mastered Japanese.

• Before being a common term used in its most basic sense.

Eg. Many different forms of machinery are made out of iron.

• The names of the subjects, such as mathematics, biology, economics, etc., are not preceded by articles. 

Eg. His passion for mathematics is something I dislike.

• When terms like "nature," "science," "death," "life," etc. are used in a general sense, we eliminate the articles.

Eg. Nature effortlessly abides by its own set of rules.

• Before the names of meals like lunch, supper, etc., we avoid using articles. 

Eg. Did you eat dinner?

And in many other cases.

Difficult Word with Meaning

Practice Questions:

Fill the gaps with necessary articles if required.

1. I'd love to ask ___query right now.

2. Today is ___ lovely day.

3. Mohini is employed with __ job.

4. _____road was being crossed by __man.

5. She has a job.

6. At ___ centre of ___ square sits __colossal statue of Rani Lakshmibai.

7. Yours is____ amazing tale.

8. What city is ____Statue of Unity located in?

9. He is a member of __separate philosophical movement.

10. Do you know ___ location of ___ library?

11. She is __ chemistry MSc.

12. Rashmi is ___ really special girl.

13. She wasn't in ___ mood to crack jokes.

14. This is ___privilege for me.

15. ___ apple and ___mango cannot be compared.

16. Each one of them is ___ distinctive fruit.

Answers:

1. I'd love to ask a query right now.

2. Today is a lovely day.

3. Mohini is employed with a job.

4. The road was being crossed by a man.

5. She has a job.

6. At the centre of the square sits a colossal statue of Rani Lakshmibai.

7. Yours is an amazing tale.

8. What city is the Statue of Unity located in?

9. He is a member of a separate philosophical movement.

10. Do you know the location of the library?

11. She is a chemistry MSc.

12. Rashmi is a really special girl.

13. She wasn't in the mood to crack jokes.

14. This is a privilege for me.

15. An apple and a mango cannot be compared.

16. Each one of them is a distinctive fruit.

Article Writing Format for Class 8

Before writing any article, it’s essential to know the correct article writing format Class 8. With the right format, the flow and tone can be maintained throughout the article. Here is the right format for article writing: 

Heading/Title – must be catchy and sharp

By – name of the author

Body

• 1st Para: Introduction -Start with a slogan, a question, an amazing fact, figure or statement.

• 2nd or 3rd Para: Content -Causes, effects, the present state of affairs, etc.

• 4th Para: Conclusion -Draw impactful solutions and conclusions

Key Points to Remember

• Once you choose one of the best article writing topics for Class 8, it is imperative to catch the reader's attention with the title.

• Introduce your topic with a strong opening sentence that addresses the readers and piques their interest.

• Provide evidence or elaboration to support your ideas.

• To make the composition seem complete, use linking devices (however, consequently, although, even though, etc).

• In order to strengthen your arguments, begin each paragraph with a new point.

• Make sure you develop your ideas enough to make them interesting and credible.

• Finish on a strong note.

• Make use of passive voice, emotional language, and rhetorical questions to enhance the impact of your message.

Article Writing Examples for Class 8

Increasing Obesity in Children

Obesity is one of the most prevalent problems in modern society. There is an increase in the number of children suffering from this disorder, which was previously considered a disorder that affected only adults.

The majority of children today lead sedentary lifestyles with little physical activity. As a result of technological advancements, children have become less physically active. In most cases, they watch television, play video games, or browse social networking sites. A second major cause of obesity is the consumption of junk food by children. These include burgers, pizzas, noodles, and aerated beverages. While this type of food is readily available and tastes delicious, it is very harmful to the health of the child. Instead of consuming a balanced diet, children prefer to eat chips, chocolate, and ice cream. Thus, obesity is a result of eating junk food that is high in calories.

Parents should take an active role in monitoring their child's health. Their diet should consist of milk, juices, and fruits. Moreover, it is also important to encourage children to engage in physical activity. Children should be encouraged to play in parks too. Hence, to ensure that school-going children maintain their physical fitness, sports should be an integral part of the school curriculum.

Important Topics for Class 8 Article Writing Topics 

Here are some of the common article writing topics for Class 8: 

• The Purpose of Education

• The Aim of Life

• Drinking Water

• Co-Education

• Patriotism

• The Role of Money in Our Life

Benefits of Article Class 8 Free PDF Download 

• In the traditional classroom, the concept of PDF has been widely adopted since the use of electronic means to address lessons began. Students can practise article writing through well-made article exercises for Class 8 PDFs available at Vedantu’s platform. 

• There are well-modelled article writing questions for Class 8 that can be replicated, such as model question banks, model lesson plans, and optimal use of audio and video-based materials.

• Our article writing for Class 8 CBSE PDF feature is particularly useful for students who wish to learn at a particular time and who have personal obligations and responsibilities. Using this feature, they can learn at a time that is convenient for them.

Looking for appropriate article Class 8 PDF solutions? Check out professionally created PDFs by Vedantu. We have prepared these PDFs with the help of our  professionals who took great care to present the subject matter as comprehensible and as easy to understand as possible. We also strive to create the most effective practice problems and solutions to assist students in mastering this writing concept. By practising our article writing questions for Class 8 PDF, students can enhance their writing insight at any time.

Summary

The term "article" is used to indicate a noun's position as a noun without more explanation. An article is a word that modifies a noun, which can be a noun for a person, place, thing, or idea. Given that they offer specific information about the noun they precede, articles are a crucial component of the English language. Writing articles allows you to spread knowledge to a global audience and is crucial since readers may accurately connect their own experiences and opinions to the content of these articles.