CBSE Class 10 · English Grammar
A complete, easy-to-understand guide covering every rule, exception, and special case — with worked examples throughout.
📋 Table of Contents
Section 1
Introduction to Articles
Articles are small words placed before nouns. They tell us whether we are talking about something specific or general / unspecific. There are only three articles in English.
A
Used before singular countable nouns beginning with a consonant sound.
An
Used before singular countable nouns beginning with a vowel sound.
The
Used before specific nouns — singular, plural, countable, or uncountable.
Two types: There are only Indefinite (A / An) and Definite (The) articles. When no article is needed at all, that is called the Zero Article.
Section 2
Indefinite Articles: “A” & “An”
“Indefinite” means not specific. When you use “a” or “an”, you are talking about any one of something — not a particular one.
Rule 1 — Use A / An with Singular Countable Nouns only
A / An can only be used with nouns that can be counted and are in their singular form.
I bought a book yesterday.
She ate an apple.
He is a doctor.
I bought a books. (plural — use “some books” or “the books”)
She ate an rice. (uncountable — use “some rice”)
Rule 2 — Use A / An when Introducing Something for the First Time
First mention → use a / an. Second mention of the same thing → use the.
I saw a dog in the park. The dog was very friendly.
She bought a car. The car is red.
There is an elephant in the zoo. The elephant is eating bananas.
Rule 3 — Use A / An to Talk About Professions
My father is a teacher.
She wants to become an engineer.
He works as a pilot.
My father is teacher.
Rule 4 — Use A / An to Mean “One” or “Any”
I need a pen. (any pen, one pen)
Can I have an orange? (any orange, one orange)
Rule 5 — Use A / An with Price, Speed, and Frequency Expressions
Apples are sold at $1 a kilo.
The car is traveling at 80 km an hour.
I go to the gym twice a week.
She earns $50 an hour.
Section 3
Definite Article: “The”
“Definite” means specific. When you use “the”, both the speaker and the listener know exactly which one is being talked about.
Rule 1 — Use “The” when the Noun is Already Known
I have a cat and a dog. The cat is sleeping; the dog is barking.
Close the door, please. (We both know which door)
Where are the keys? (You know which keys I mean)
Rule 2 — Use “The” with Unique Things (Only One Exists)
The sun rises in the east.
The moon is bright tonight.
The earth revolves around the sun.
The sky is clear today.
Rule 3 — Use “The” with Superlatives and Ordinals
She is the best student in the class.
He was the first person to arrive.
Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world.
Today is the third day of the week.
Rule 4 — Use “The” with Adjectives as Nouns (Groups of People)
The rich should help the poor.
The elderly need special care.
The blind use Braille to read.
Rule 5 — Use “The” with Rivers, Oceans, Mountain Ranges, Deserts
The Nile is the longest river.
The Pacific Ocean is the largest ocean.
The Himalayas are in Asia.
The Sahara is the hottest desert.
Rule 6 — Use “The” with Specific Country Names
Most country names take no article (India, France, Japan). Only these special types take “the”:
| Type of Country Name | Examples | Article |
|---|---|---|
| Countries with “United” | the United States, the United Kingdom, the UAE | the |
| Countries with “Republic” | the Czech Republic, the People’s Republic of China | the |
| Countries with “of” in the name | the Republic of Korea, the Isle of Man | the |
| Plural country names | the Philippines, the Maldives, the Bahamas, the Netherlands | the |
| Regular country names | India, France, Japan, Brazil, Germany, Canada | No article |
Memory Trick: If a country name contains “United”, “Republic”, “Kingdom”, “of”, or is a plural word → use “the”. Otherwise, no article.
I visited the United States last year.
We vacationed in the Maldives.
I want to visit India. (no “the”)
I visited the India.
She lives in United Kingdom.
Rule 7 — Use “The” with Musical Instruments (When Playing Them)
She plays the piano beautifully.
He is learning the guitar.
She plays piano. (when talking about playing)
Rule 8 — Use “The” with Decades and Centuries
Life in the 1990s was different.
In the 21st century, technology has advanced.
Fashion in the 1960s was colorful.
Section 4
“A” vs “An” — The Sound Rule (Not the Letter!)
Critical Rule: The choice between “a” and “an” depends on the SOUND at the beginning of the next word — NOT the letter it is written with. This is the #1 mistake learners make.
Use “A” before Consonant SOUNDS
a book (b = consonant sound)
a university (u sounds like “you” — consonant /j/ sound)
a European (Eu sounds like “you” — consonant /j/ sound)
a one-eyed man (“one” sounds like “wun” — consonant /w/ sound)
a useful tool (“useful” sounds like “yoo” — consonant sound)
a unicorn (u sounds like “you” — consonant sound)
Use “An” before Vowel SOUNDS
an apple (a = vowel sound)
an egg, an ice cream, an orange, an umbrella
an honest man (h is silent → sounds like “onest” — vowel sound)
an hour (h is silent → sounds like “our” — vowel sound)
an heir (h is silent → sounds like “air” — vowel sound)
an MBA (M sounds like “em” — vowel sound)
an FBI agent (F sounds like “ef” — vowel sound)
an SOS signal (S sounds like “es” — vowel sound)
Memory Trick: Say it out loud! If your mouth opens smoothly (vowel sound) → use “an”. If your lips or teeth close first (consonant sound) → use “a”.
| Word | First Sound | Article | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| university | /juː/ (“you”) | a | Consonant sound /j/ |
| umbrella | /ʌ/ (“uh”) | an | Vowel sound /ʌ/ |
| hour | /aʊ/ (“our”) | an | H is silent; vowel sound |
| horse | /h/ (“h”) | a | H is pronounced; consonant sound |
| honest | /ɒ/ (“on”) | an | H is silent; vowel sound |
| European | /jʊ/ (“you”) | a | Consonant sound /j/ |
| one | /wʌ/ (“wun”) | a | Consonant sound /w/ |
| M.B.A. | /em/ (“em”) | an | Vowel sound /e/ |
| x-ray | /eks/ (“ex”) | an | Vowel sound /e/ |
Section 5
Special Cases & Exceptions
Exception 1 — Abbreviations & Acronyms
Always go by the first letter’s sound, not the word it stands for.
an M.P. (Member of Parliament — “em-pee”)
an N.G.O. (“en-gee-oh”)
a U.N. official (“you-en” — /j/ sound)
a Ph.D. student (“pee-aitch-dee”)
an H.I.V. patient (“aitch-eye-vee”)
Exception 2 — Words Starting with “H”: Silent vs Pronounced
| Silent H → use AN | Pronounced H → use A |
|---|---|
| an hour | a house |
| an honest person | a horse |
| an heir | a hospital |
| an honor | a hat |
| an herb (American English) | a herb (British English — h pronounced) |
Exception 3 — Numbers & Figures
a 100-dollar bill (“a one-hundred” — /w/ sound)
an 8-year-old boy (“an eight” — /eɪ/ vowel sound)
a 1-mile walk (“a one” — /w/ sound)
an 11 o’clock train (“an eleven” — /ɪ/ vowel sound)
Exception 4 — “The” with Proper Nouns
| Use THE | NO article |
|---|---|
| Rivers: the Ganges, the Nile, the Thames | Lakes: Lake Victoria, Lake Superior |
| Oceans/Seas: the Pacific, the Atlantic | Mountains (single): Mount Everest, Mount Fuji |
| Mountain ranges: the Alps, the Himalayas | Islands (single): Madagascar, Cuba |
| Deserts: the Sahara, the Gobi | Continents: Asia, Europe, Africa |
| Groups of islands: the Maldives, the Philippines | Countries (most): India, France, Japan |
| Hotels/Cinemas: the Hilton, the Odeon | Streets: Oxford Street, Fifth Avenue |
| Museums: the Louvre, the Smithsonian | Parks: Central Park, Hyde Park |
| Newspapers: the Times, the Guardian | Magazines: Time, Vogue, National Geographic |
| Buildings: the White House, the Eiffel Tower | Bridges named after people: Tower Bridge |
Exception 5 — “The” with Family Names (Plural = the whole family)
The Smiths are coming for dinner. (The Smith family)
The Johnsons live next door.
The Smith is coming. (For a single person, no “the”)
Section 6
Zero Article — When No Article Is Needed
Sometimes no article is used at all. This is called the Zero Article. Using an article here would actually be wrong.
Rule 1 — General Plural Nouns
Dogs are loyal animals. (general statement)
I love flowers.
The dogs are loyal animals. (only correct if talking about specific dogs)
Rule 2 — Uncountable Nouns in a General Sense
Water is essential for life.
She drinks coffee every morning.
I need advice.
I need an advice.
Rule 3 — Meals (when referred to generally)
What time is breakfast?
I had lunch at noon.
Let’s have dinner together.
The breakfast was delicious. ✓ (a specific meal)
Rule 4 — Languages & School Subjects
She speaks French fluently.
I am studying mathematics.
She speaks the French.
Rule 5 — Sports & Games
He plays football.
We play chess on Sundays.
He plays the football.
Rule 6 — Days, Months, Holidays
I will see you on Monday.
My birthday is in July.
We celebrate Christmas in December.
Rule 7 — Transportation with “by”
I go to work by car.
She travelled by train.
I go to work in the car. ✓ (different structure — both correct)
I go to work by the car.
Rule 8 — Bed, Church, Hospital, Prison, School, University (When Referring to Their Purpose)
He went to bed early. (to sleep)
She is in hospital. (as a patient — British English)
Children go to school to learn.
She is at university. (as a student)
Contrast: When referring to the building itself, use “the” — “I went to the hospital to visit my friend.” (not as a patient)
Section 7
“A” / “An” vs “The” — When to Use Which
| “A” / “An” (Indefinite) | “The” (Definite) | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Any one — not specific | A specific one — known to both |
| First mention | ✓ Use A / An | ✗ Don’t use |
| Second mention | ✗ Don’t use | ✓ Use The |
| Plural nouns | ✗ Cannot use | ✓ Can use |
| Uncountable nouns | ✗ Cannot use | ✓ Can use |
Side-by-Side Comparison
I need a doctor. (any doctor) vs. I need to see the doctor. (my specific doctor)
She bought a car. (any car) vs. She loves the car she bought. (that specific car)
He is a teacher. (one of many) vs. He is the teacher who helped me. (that specific teacher)
Flowchart — Which article to use?
Is the noun specific / known to both speaker and listener?
↓
YES → use “The”
↓
NO → Is it a singular countable noun?
↓
YES → Does it start with a vowel sound?
↓
YES → use “An” NO → use “A”
↓
NOT singular countable → Zero article (or “the” if specific)
Section 8
Quick Reference
📖 Rules at a Glance
Use “A”
- Before consonant sounds
- First mention of singular countable nouns
- Professions: a doctor, a teacher
- Price/speed: $5 a kilo, 60 km an hour
- Frequency: twice a week
Use “An”
- Before vowel sounds (not letters!)
- Silent H: an hour, an honest man
- Abbreviations with vowel sounds: an M.P., an N.G.O.
- Numbers with vowel sounds: an 8-year-old
Use “The”
- Second mention of a noun
- Unique things: the sun, the moon
- Superlatives: the best, the tallest
- Rivers, oceans, mountain ranges
- Musical instruments when playing
No Article
- General plurals: Dogs bark
- Uncountable (general): Water is life
- Languages: She speaks Spanish
- Sports: He plays cricket
- Meals: Have breakfast
- by + transport: by bus, by car
Most Common Mistakes to Avoid
I am student. → I am a student.
She is an university student. → She is a university student.
I need an advice. → I need advice. (or: some advice)
The dogs are friendly animals. → Dogs are friendly animals. (general)
He plays the tennis. → He plays tennis.
I go to the school. → I go to school. (as a student)
The Mount Everest is tall. → Mount Everest is tall.
I live in the India. → I live in India.
📝 CBSE Class 10 Grammar Checklist
Target Diagnostic: Determined Use of Articles (A, An, The)
💡 Board Exam Guidelines: This test evaluates advanced determiners functionality according to CBSE core specifications. Pay close attention to phonetic sounds (vowel vs. consonant sounds) and clauses indicating unique specification (definite contexts).
🎉 Evaluation Dashboard
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