Rule II
Indefinite
article ‘A’/ ‘An’ is used when we talk of a thing or a person that is
indefinite or that is mentioned for the first time. (in the sense of ‘one’).
Indefinite
article is also used to express a class (in the sense of ‘any’)
1. Before a singular / countable common noun when it is mentioned
for the first time representing no particular person or a thing. For example:
I need a book.
Twelve inches make a foot.
A beggar
came to my door.
2. Before a singular countable noun which is used to single out
some person / something as representative
of a class of things, animals and person. For example:
A
Cow is a useful animal.
A beggar
cannot be a chooser.
A son
should be obedient.
3. To make a common noun of a proper noun to express quality. For
example:
A Shylock
is living in my neighborhood.
He is a Vikramaditya known
for his fairness.
4. In certain expression of Quantity with certain number and
expressions of price, speed, ratio. For example:
Rupees ten a kilo.
A
dozen mangoes.
Half a dozen.
4. When ‘A/An’ represents a weakened form of preposition ‘in’. For example:
He earns fifty thousand rupees a
year.
We should brush our teeth two times
a day.
5. In exclamations with ‘what’ or ‘how’ before singular countable
nouns. For example:
What a hot day!
What a naughty child!
How fine a day!
6. Note the position of indefinite article in the following
adverbs: ‘rather, very, much, quite, so, too, such, as’. For example:
It is rather a nuisance.
It is rather a good step (or
a rather good step).
He is a very good person.
He is a much hated
character.
It is quite an interesting
story.
She is too weak a student to
pass.
7. Before a person not known to the speaker. For example:
A
Mr. Gupta = Some Mr. Gupta
A Mrs.
Sharma = Some Mrs. Sharma
8. Before the verbs used as nouns. For example:
For a swim
For a talk
For a drive
Have a mind
9. Before certain phrases. For example:
In a hurry
A
pity
Feel a shame
Make a noise
10. Before the word denoting number. For example:
A
hundred
A
dozen
A
million
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