GATE: Concepts and Practice

Learning outcome

You can choose a, an, or the for a simple noun.

Concepts and why

The verbal part of General Aptitude includes articles.

a and an mean one of a kind, when the listener does not yet know which one. Use an before a vowel sound. Use a before a consonant sound. The sound decides, not the first letter on the page. hour begins with a vowel sound, so it is an hour. university begins with a consonant sound, so it is a university.

the means the listener can tell which one. If both people are looking at one door, it is the door.

Worked examples

an hour. a university. an owl. the door, when both of you can see that one door.

Common mistakes

Writing a hour. Writing an university. Using the when you only mean one of many and the listener cannot tell which one.

Practice questions

1. Which article fits _ hour?
2. Which article fits _ university?
3. Both of you can see one door. Close _ door.
4. Which article fits _ owl?

Answers and explanation

1. an. The word begins with a vowel sound.
2. a. The word begins with a consonant sound.
3. the. Which door is already clear.
4. an. The word begins with a vowel sound.

Analogy

a is a blank tag on a shelf of jars. an is that same tag when the next word begins with a vowel sound. the is the jar someone has already pointed to.

Quick reference

an before a vowel sound. a before a consonant sound. the when which one is clear. an hour. a university.