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A or An.[7]—The choice between these forms is determined by sound, not by spelling. Before a consonant sound "a" is used; before a vowel sound "an" is used.

[7] "Foundations," pp. 32–36.

EXERCISE IV.

Put the proper form, "a" or "an," before each of these expressions:—Elephant, apple, egg, union of states, uniform, uninformed person, universal custom, umpire, Unitarian church, anthem, unfortunate man, united people, American, European, Englishman, one, high hill, horse, honorable career, hypocrite, humble spirit, honest boy, hypothesis, history, historical sketch, heir, hundred, hereditary disease, household.

The or A.[8]—"The" is a broken-down form of the old English thoet, from which we also get "that," and is used to point out some particular person, thing, or class: as, "The headmaster of the school gave the boys permission." When "the" is used before the name of a particular class of persons or things it is called the "generic" article (from genus, "a class"): as, "None but the brave deserve the fair"; "The eagle is our national bird."

"An" ("a") is a broken-down form of the old English word ane, meaning "one." It is properly used when the object is thought of as one of a class: as, "There is an eagle in the zoological garden." It cannot properly be used before a word which is used as a class name, because a class name includes in its meaning more than "one."

Superfluous and Omitted Articles.[9]—The use of a superfluous "a" or "an" before a class name, especially after the words "sort" and "kind," is a common and obstinate error. We may say, "This is an eagle," meaning "one eagle." But we may not say, "An eagle is our national bird," "This is a rare kind of an eagle," or, "It is not worthy of the name of an eagle"; because in these sentences "eagle" is used as the name, not of a single bird, but of a class of birds, and includes in its meaning all the birds which belong to the class called "eagle." The sentences are equivalent to: "The kind of bird called 'eagle' is our national bird;" "This is a rare species of the class of birds called 'eagle;'" "It is not worthy of the name given to the birds which belong to the class called 'eagle.'"

[8] Ibid., pp. 33–34.

EXERCISE V.

Tell the difference in meaning between:—

1. The (a) house is on fire.

2. Yes, I heard (the) shouts in the street.

3. About eight o'clock (the) guests began to come.

4. Yes, I heard (the) noises in the next room.

5. The (an) elephant stood on a cask, and the (a) clown sat on the elephant's back.

6. The President has appointed a commission to investigate the cause of (the) strikes.

7. Will he let us look at (the) stars through the (a) telescope?

8. (The) teacher and (the) pupil are interested in this question.

9. He told us about an (the) accident.

10. Fire is beautiful. The fire is beautiful.

11. He was a better scholar than (an) athlete.

12. A young and (a) delicate girl.

13. He liked the bread and (the) butter.

14. A pink and (a) lavender gown.

15. The wise and (the) good.

16. Wanted, a cook and (a) housemaid.

17. The black and (the) white cow.

18. The athlete, (the) soldier, (the) statesman, and (the) poet.

19. A secretary and (a) treasurer.

20. The corresponding and (the) recording secretary.

21. The honest, (the) wise, and (the) patriotic senators voted against the bill.

22. A cotton and (a) silk umbrella.

23. The tenth and (the) last chapter.

[9] "Foundations," pp. 34–39.

EXERCISE VI.

Insert the proper article ("a," "an," or "the") in each blank place in the following, if an article is needed; if no article is needed, leave the place blank:—

1. I began to suffer from—— want of food.

2. There are two articles, the definite and—— indefinite.

3. He did not say what kind of—— horse he wanted to buy.

4. Did Macaulay die of—— heart disease?

5. Nouns have two numbers—— singular and—— plural.

6. ——third and—— fourth page are to be learned.

7. ——third and—— fourth pages are to be learned.

8. Many names of—— states are derived from—— Indian tongues.

9. This is a curious species of—— rose.

10. Study carefully—— first and—— second chapters.

11. A black and—— white boy were walking together.

12. ——violet is my favorite flower;—— robin, my favorite bird.

13. There is an impenetrable veil between—— visible and—— invisible world.

14. ——lion is—— king of beasts.

15. Thackeray was a greater writer than—— artist. Thackeray was greater as—— writer than as—— artist.

16. The bank closed its doors from—— lack of ready money.

17. I despise not—— giver, but—— gift.

18. ——whole is greater than any of its parts.

19. He is entitled to the name of—— scholar.

20. I do not use that sort of—— pen.

21. In—— warm weather you do not need so many wraps as in—— cold weather.

22. The Queen conferred on Tennyson the title of—— baron.

23. It does not matter what kind of—— man is appointed.

24. It is found in both—— old and—— new editions.

25. The fourth and—— fifth verse. 26. The fourth and—— fifth verses. 27. Abraham Lincoln was—— great and—— good man. 28. ——families of—— strikers are sadly in—— need of food. 29. Here are two bottles—— one empty—— other full of—— red liquid. 30. Ariel had—— power to control—— sea. 31. Evangeline travelled far in—— search of Gabriel. 33. Illustrate by an original sentence—— preterite and—— past participle of the following verbs. 33. To—— student of Latin or Greek a knowledge of—— difference in meaning in English between—— indicative and—— subjunctive is especially important. 34. In the verb "to be"—— present and—— past subjunctives have different forms. 35. ——life in Madras in—— time of Clive was different from what it is now. 36. I like so many sports that it is hard to tell which I like—— best. I like swimming, foot-ball, and riding more than—— others, but I do not know which of these three I like—— best.