Article

 Article

Definition (English)

An article is a word placed before a noun to show whether the noun is specific or general.

Articles clarify:

·         whether we are talking about any one or a particular one

·         whether the noun is known or unknown to the listener/reader

📌 Articles are used only with nouns.

 

परिभाषा (नेपाली)

Article (आर्टिकल) भनेको noun (संज्ञा) को अगाडि प्रयोग हुने शब्द हो, जसले त्यो noun निश्चित (specific) हो कि अनिश्चित (general) हो भन्ने कुरा जनाउँछ।

📌 Article सधैं noun भन्दा अगाडि प्रयोग हुन्छ।

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🔹 Types of Articles

1️ Definite Article

2️ Indefinite Articles

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🔹 1️ Definite Article — THE

✅ Meaning (English)

“The” is used when we talk about a specific or particular person, place, or thing.

➡️ The listener/reader already knows which one we mean.

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✅ अर्थ (नेपाली)

“The” तब प्रयोग गरिन्छ जब हामी पहिल्यै चिनिएको, निश्चित व्यक्ति, स्थान वा वस्तु को कुरा गर्छौं।

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🔸 Uses of THE (with examples)

✅ 1. When the noun is specific or known

English:

• I saw the boy you mentioned.

Nepali:

• मैले तिमीले भनेको त्यो केटा देखें।

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✅ 2. When the noun is mentioned for the second time

English:

• I bought a pen. The pen is blue.

Nepali:

• मैले एउटा कलम किनेँ। त्यो कलम नीलो छ।

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✅ 3. With unique things (only one in the world)

English:

• The sun rises in the east.
• The earth is round.

Nepali:

• सूर्य पूर्वबाट उदाउँछ।
• पृथ्वी गोलो छ।

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✅ 4. With superlative degrees

English:

• She is the best student in the class.

Nepali:

• उनी कक्षाकी सबैभन्दा राम्रो विद्यार्थी हुन्।

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✅ 5. With rivers, seas, oceans, mountain ranges

English:

• The Bagmati River
• The Himalayas
• The Pacific Ocean

Nepali:

• बागमती नदी
• हिमालय पर्वतमाला

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✅ 6. With musical instruments

English:

• He plays the guitar.

Nepali:

• ऊ गिटार बजाउँछ।

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✅ 7. With plural nouns when all are meant

English:

• The students are attentive.

Nepali:

• विद्यार्थीहरू ध्यान दिएर बसेका छन्।

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🔹 2️⃣ Indefinite Articles — A / AN

✅ Meaning (English)

“A” and “An” are used when we talk about a general or non-specific noun.

➡️ The person or thing is not known to the listener.

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✅ अर्थ (नेपाली)

“A” र “An” तब प्रयोग गरिन्छ जब noun अनिश्चित हुन्छ, अर्थात् कुन हो भन्ने स्पष्ट हुँदैन।

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🔸 Difference between A and AN

Article	Used Before	Example
A	consonant sound	a book, a university
AN	vowel sound	an apple, an hour

📌 Sound matters, not spelling

• an hour (silent “h”)
• a university (starts with “you” sound)

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🔸 Uses of A / AN

✅ 1. To mention something for the first time

English:

• I saw a dog.

Nepali:

• मैले एउटा कुकुर देखें।

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✅ 2. With singular countable nouns

English:

• She is a teacher.

Nepali:

• उनी एक शिक्षिका हुन्।

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✅ 3. To mean “one”

English:

• Give me a pen.

Nepali:

• मलाई एउटा कलम देऊ।

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✅ 4. To describe profession or job

English:

• He is an engineer.

Nepali:

• ऊ एक इन्जिनियर हो।

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✅ 5. In expressions of quantity or speed

English:

• 60 km an hour

Nepali:

• प्रति घण्टा ६० किलोमिटर

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🔹 No Article (Zero Article)

✅ Used when:

• talking about things in general
• before plural or uncountable nouns (general meaning)

English:

• Milk is healthy.
• Students should study hard.

Nepali:

• दूध स्वास्थ्यका लागि राम्रो हुन्छ।
• विद्यार्थीहरूले मेहनत गर्नुपर्छ।

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🔹 Quick Summary (Exam Ready)

Article	Use
A / AN	general, first time, one
THE	specific, known, unique
No Article	general meaning

PART 1: 50 Practice Sentences (English ➜ Nepali)

🅰️ / 🅰🅽 (Indefinite Articles)

1.      I saw a bird.
➜ मैले एउटा चरा देखें।

2.      She bought an umbrella.
➜ उनले एउटा छाता किन्नुभयो।

3.      He is a doctor.
➜ ऊ एक डाक्टर हो।

4.      This is an interesting story.
➜ यो एउटा रोचक कथा हो।

5.      I need a pen.
➜ मलाई एउटा कलम चाहियो।

6.      She ate an apple.
➜ उनले एउटा स्याउ खाइन्।

7.      He lives in a village.
➜ ऊ एउटा गाउँमा बस्छ।

8.      I met a friend yesterday.
➜ मैले हिजो एक साथी भेटेँ।

9.      She is an honest girl.
➜ उनी एक इमानदार केटी हुन्।

10. He has a car.
➜ उसँग एउटा गाडी छ।

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🅃🄷🄴 (Definite Article)

11. The sun is very hot.
➜ सूर्य धेरै तातो हुन्छ।

12. Open the door.
➜ ढोका खोल।

13. The boy is my brother.
➜ त्यो केटा मेरो भाइ हो।

14. She cleaned the room.
➜ उनले कोठा सफा गरिन्।

15. I like the book you gave me.
➜ तिमीले दिएको त्यो किताब मलाई मन पर्छ।

16. The earth moves around the sun.
➜ पृथ्वी सूर्यको वरिपरि घुम्छ।

17. He plays the piano.
➜ ऊ पियानो बजाउँछ।

18. The students are silent.
➜ विद्यार्थीहरू शान्त छन्।

19. We crossed the river.
➜ हामीले नदी पार गर्‍यौँ।

20. This is the best movie.
➜ यो सबैभन्दा राम्रो चलचित्र हो।

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🚫 Zero Article (No Article)

21. Milk is good for health.
➜ दूध स्वास्थ्यका लागि राम्रो हुन्छ।

22. Children love toys.
➜ बच्चाहरू खेलौना मन पराउँछन्।

23. Honesty is the best policy.
➜ इमानदारी सबैभन्दा राम्रो नीति हो।

24. Students should study daily.
➜ विद्यार्थीहरूले दैनिक पढ्नुपर्छ।

25. Water is essential for life.
➜ पानी जीवनका लागि आवश्यक छ।

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🔹 PART 2: 20 MCQs (With Answers)

Choose the correct option

1.      She is ___ honest woman.
a) a
b) an
c) the
d) no article

✅ Answer: b) an

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2.      I saw ___ elephant in the zoo.
a) a
b) an
c) the
d) no article

✅ Answer: b) an

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3.      ___ sun rises in the east.
a) A
b) An
c) The
d) No article

✅ Answer: c) The

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4.      He wants to be ___ engineer.
a) a
b) an
c) the
d) no article

✅ Answer: b) an

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5.      She plays ___ guitar.
a) a
b) an
c) the
d) no article

✅ Answer: c) the

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6.      ___ milk is good for children.
a) A
b) An
c) The
d) No article

✅ Answer: d) No article

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7.      I bought ___ book yesterday.
a) a
b) an
c) the
d) no article

✅ Answer: a) a

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8.      ___ Himalayas are very high.
a) A
b) An
c) The
d) No article

✅ Answer: c) The

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9.      She is ___ best student.
a) a
b) an
c) the
d) no article

✅ Answer: c) the

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10. He goes to school by ___ bus.
a) a
b) an
c) the
d) no article

✅ Answer: d) no article

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🔹 PART 3: Common Article Mistakes (Exam Focus)

❌ He is an university student.
✅ He is a university student.
👉 (University = “you” sound)

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❌ She bought a umbrella.
✅ She bought an umbrella.
👉 (Umbrella = vowel sound)

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❌ The honesty is the best policy.
✅ Honesty is the best policy.
👉 (Abstract noun → no article)

 

50 Uses of THE (English + Nepali)

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1. When a noun is specific / definite

Eng: The boy is my cousin.
Nep: त्यो केटा मेरो काका छोरा हो।

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2. When the noun is already mentioned

Eng: I bought a pen. The pen is blue.
Nep: मैले एउटा कलम किनेँ। त्यो कलम नीलो छ।

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3. With unique things

Eng: The sun rises in the east.
Nep: सूर्य पूर्वबाट उदाउँछ।

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4. With the earth

Eng: The earth moves around the sun.
Nep: पृथ्वी सूर्यको वरिपरि घुम्छ।

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5. With the moon

Eng: The moon looks beautiful tonight.
Nep: चन्द्रमा आज सुन्दर देखिन्छ।

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6. With superlative degree

Eng: He is the best player.
Nep: ऊ सबैभन्दा राम्रो खेलाडी हो।

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7. With ordinal numbers

Eng: She lives on the first floor.
Nep: उनी पहिलो तल्लामा बस्छिन्।

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8. With rivers

Eng: The Bagmati is polluted.
Nep: बागमती नदी प्रदूषित छ।

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9. With seas

Eng: The Arabian Sea is warm.
Nep: अरब सागर न्यानो छ।

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10. With oceans

Eng: The Pacific Ocean is vast.
Nep: प्रशान्त महासागर विशाल छ।

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11. With gulfs

Eng: The Persian Gulf is important.
Nep: पर्शियन खाडी महत्वपूर्ण छ।

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12. With canals

Eng: The Suez Canal connects seas.
Nep: स्वेज नहर समुद्रहरू जोड्छ।

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13. With deserts

Eng: The Sahara is very hot.
Nep: सहारा मरुभूमि धेरै तातो छ।

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14. With mountain ranges

Eng: The Himalayas are high.
Nep: हिमालय पर्वतमाला अग्ला छन्।

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15. With groups of islands

Eng: The Maldives are beautiful.
Nep: माल्दिभ्स टापुहरू सुन्दर छन्।

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16. With holy books

Eng: The Gita teaches truth.
Nep: गीता सत्य सिकाउँछ।

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17. With newspapers

Eng: I read The Kathmandu Post.
Nep: म द काठमाडौँ पोस्ट पढ्छु।

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18. With famous buildings

Eng: The Taj Mahal is famous.
Nep: ताजमहल प्रसिद्ध छ।

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19. With ships

Eng: The Titanic sank.
Nep: टाइटानिक जहाज डुब्यो।

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20. With trains

Eng: The Rajdhani Express is fast.
Nep: राजधानी एक्सप्रेस छिटो छ।

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21. With musical instruments

Eng: She plays the violin.
Nep: उनी भायोलिन बजाउँछिन्।

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22. With inventions

Eng: The telephone changed life.
Nep: टेलिफोनले जीवन बदल्यो।

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23. With inventions (general)

Eng: The computer is useful.
Nep: कम्प्युटर उपयोगी छ।

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24. With adjectives representing a class

Eng: The rich should help the poor.
Nep: धनीहरूले गरिबलाई मद्दत गर्नुपर्छ।

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25. With nationalities (plural)

Eng: The Japanese are hardworking.
Nep: जापानीहरू मेहनती छन्।

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26. With directions

Eng: The east is bright.
Nep: पूर्व दिशा उज्यालो हुन्छ।

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27. With parts of the body

Eng: He was hit on the head.
Nep: उसलाई टाउकोमा चोट लाग्यो।

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28. With time expressions

Eng: In the morning
Nep: बिहानमा

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29. With decades

Eng: The 1990s were important.
Nep: १९९० को दशक महत्वपूर्ण थियो।

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30. With historical periods

Eng: The Middle Ages
Nep: मध्ययुग

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31. With political parties

Eng: The Communist Party
Nep: कम्युनिस्ट पार्टी

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32. With organizations

Eng: The United Nations
Nep: संयुक्त राष्ट्रसंघ

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33. With hotels

Eng: The Soaltee Hotel
Nep: सोल्टी होटल

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34. With cinemas

Eng: The QFX Cinema
Nep: क्यूएफएक्स सिनेमा

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35. With clubs

Eng: The Rotary Club
Nep: रोटरी क्लब

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36. With families (plural surname)

Eng: The Sharmas live here.
Nep: शर्मा परिवार यहाँ बस्छ।

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37. With comparative degree (specific)

Eng: The taller boy won.
Nep: अझ अग्लो केटाले जित्यो।

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38. With repeated nouns (correlative)

Eng: The more you read, the more you learn.
Nep: जति धेरै पढ्छौ, त्यति धेरै सिक्छौ।

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39. With inventions in use

Eng: The radio is on.
Nep: रेडियो चलेको छ।

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40. With titles (rank/post)

Eng: The Prime Minister spoke.
Nep: प्रधानमन्त्रीले बोले।

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41. With courts

Eng: The Supreme Court
Nep: सर्वोच्च अदालत

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42. With currencies

Eng: The rupee is weak.
Nep: रुपैयाँ कमजोर छ।

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43. With ranks

Eng: He became the captain.
Nep: ऊ कप्तान बन्यो।

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44. With inventions as systems

Eng: The internet is fast.
Nep: इन्टरनेट छिटो छ।

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45. With means of communication

Eng: The telephone rang.
Nep: टेलिफोन बज्यो।

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46. With environment terms

Eng: The weather is hot.
Nep: मौसम तातो छ।

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47. With parts of the day (specific)

Eng: In the evening
Nep: साँझमा

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48. With police / army / navy

Eng: The police arrested him.
Nep: प्रहरीले उसलाई पक्राउ गर्‍यो।

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49. With offices

Eng: The head office is in Kathmandu.
Nep: मुख्य कार्यालय काठमाडौंमा छ।

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50. With a specific place already known

Eng: Meet me at the station.
Nep: त्यो स्टेशनमा मलाई भेट।

 

Fill in the blanks with (a / an / the)

1.      She bought ___ umbrella. (a/an/the)

2.      I saw ___ dog in the street. (a/an/the)

3.      ___ sun rises in the east. (a/an/the)

4.      He is ___ honest man. (a/an/the)

5.      I have ___ pen. ___ pen is blue. (a/an/the)

6.      She is ___ best student in the class. (a/an/the)

7.      We live near ___ river. (a/an/the)

8.      He wants to be ___ engineer. (a/an/the)

9.      ___ earth moves around ___ sun. (a/an/the)

10. She plays ___ piano very well. (a/an/the)

11. I met ___ old friend yesterday. (a/an/the)

12. ___ Himalayas are very high. (a/an/the)

13. Give me ___ glass of water. (a/an/the)

14. He was hit on ___ head. (a/an/the)

15. She read ___ newspaper in the morning. (a/an/the)

16. It took me ___ hour to finish the work. (a/an/the)

17. ___ boy standing there is my brother. (a/an/the)

18. She bought ___ apple and ___ banana. (a/an/the)

19. ___ Taj Mahal is in India. (a/an/the)

20. He goes to school by ___ bus. (a/an/the)

21. She has ___ unique talent. (a/an/the)

22. ___ rich should help ___ poor. (a/an/the)

23. I watched ___ movie you suggested. (a/an/the)

24. There is ___ university in this city. (a/an/the)

25. ___ moon looks beautiful tonight. (a/an/the)

26. He found ___ wallet on the road. (a/an/the)

27. ___ police arrested the thief. (a/an/the)

28. She is ___ nurse in a hospital. (a/an/the)

29. ___ Pacific Ocean is very deep. (a/an/the)

30. This is ___ first time I’ve visited Nepalgunj. (a/an/the)

31. I need ___ pen to write this letter. (a/an/the)

32. ___ computer is a useful invention. (a/an/the)

33. She lives on ___ second floor. (a/an/the)

34. He adopted ___ orphan child. (a/an/the)

35. ___ teacher entered the classroom. (a/an/the)

36. She gave me ___ interesting book. (a/an/the)

37. ___ weather is very cold today. (a/an/the)

38. He repaired ___ car that was damaged. (a/an/the)

39. She has ___ MBA degree. (a/an/the)

40. ___ United Nations works for peace. (a/an/the)

41. He waited for me at ___ station. (a/an/the)

42. I saw ___ elephant at the zoo. (a/an/the)

43. ___ Gita teaches moral values. (a/an/the)

44. She is ___ tallest girl in the group. (a/an/the)

45. He bought ___ pair of shoes. (a/an/the)

46. ___ internet has changed our lives. (a/an/the)

47. She drank ___ cup of tea. (a/an/the)

48. ___ Sharmas live next door. (a/an/the)

49. He spoke on ___ phone for an hour. (a/an/the)

50. ___ man who helped me was kind. (a/an/the)

Fill in the blanks with (a / an / the) – Answers with Reasons

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1.      She bought an umbrella.
Reason: Umbrella starts with a vowel sound → an

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2.      I saw a dog in the street.
Reason: First mention, general singular noun → a

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3.      The sun rises in the east.
Reason: Sun is unique (only one) → the

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4.      He is an honest man.
Reason: Honest has a silent “h” (vowel sound) → an

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5.      I have a pen. The pen is blue.
Reason:

• First mention → a
• Second mention (specific) → the

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6.      She is the best student in the class.
Reason: Superlative degree (best) → the

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7.      We live near a river.
Reason: River is not specified → a

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8.      He wants to be an engineer.
Reason: Engineer starts with a vowel sound → an

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9.      The earth moves around the sun.
Reason: Both are unique objects → the

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10. She plays the piano very well.
Reason: Musical instruments use the

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11. I met an old friend yesterday.
Reason: Old starts with a vowel sound → an

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12. The Himalayas are very high.
Reason: Mountain ranges take the

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13. Give me a glass of water.
Reason: Countable noun, general request → a

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14. He was hit on the head.
Reason: Parts of the body use the

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15. She read the newspaper in the morning.
Reason: Newspaper as a daily activity → the

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16. It took me an hour to finish the work.
Reason: Hour has a silent “h” → an

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17. The boy standing there is my brother.
Reason: Boy is specific/identified → the

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18. She bought an apple and a banana.
Reason:

• Apple → vowel sound → an
• Banana → consonant sound → a

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19. The Taj Mahal is in India.
Reason: Famous building → the

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20. He goes to school by bus.
Reason: Means of transport (general) → no article

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21. She has a unique talent.
Reason: Unique starts with “you” sound → a

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22. The rich should help the poor.
Reason: Adjectives representing a class/group → the

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23. I watched the movie you suggested.
Reason: Movie is specific/known → the

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24. There is a university in this city.
Reason: University has “you” sound → a

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25. The moon looks beautiful tonight.
Reason: Moon is unique → the

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26. He found a wallet on the road.
Reason: First mention, general object → a

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27. The police arrested the thief.
Reason: Police (institution) → the

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28. She is a nurse in a hospital.
Reason: Profession → a

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29. The Pacific Ocean is very deep.
Reason: Oceans take the

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30. This is the first time I’ve visited Nepalgunj.
Reason: Ordinal number (first) → the

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31. I need a pen to write this letter.
Reason: General need, singular noun → a

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32. The computer is a useful invention.
Reason: Inventions in general → the

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33. She lives on the second floor.
Reason: Ordinal number (second) → the

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34. He adopted an orphan child.
Reason: Orphan starts with vowel sound → an

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35. The teacher entered the classroom.
Reason: Teacher is specific/known → the

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36. She gave me an interesting book.
Reason: Interesting starts with vowel sound → an

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37. The weather is very cold today.
Reason: Weather is specific situation → the

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38. He repaired the car that was damaged.
Reason: Car is specified by a clause → the

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39. She has an MBA degree.
Reason: MBA starts with vowel sound (em-bee-ay) → an

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40. The United Nations works for peace.
Reason: Name of organization → the

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41. He waited for me at the station.
Reason: Station is known/specific → the

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42. I saw an elephant at the zoo.
Reason: Elephant starts with vowel sound → an

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43. The Gita teaches moral values.
Reason: Holy book → the

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44. She is the tallest girl in the group.
Reason: Superlative degree → the

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45. He bought a pair of shoes.
Reason: Pair is singular countable → a

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46. The internet has changed our lives.
Reason: System/invention → the

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47. She drank a cup of tea.
Reason: Singular countable noun → a

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48. The Sharmas live next door.
Reason: Family name (plural) → the

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49. He spoke on the phone for an hour.
Reason: Specific object in use → the

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50. The man who helped me was kind.
Reason: Man is identified by a clause → the