ERRORS OF ARTICLES
Errors of Articles
7.0
Introduction
Articles function as determiners or m o d i f i e r s in nominal
phrases. There are two articles in English, viz., a (or an) and tlie. The
article la/ or ' a n ' is called indefinite article. The use of a and an is
determined by the following sound; an is used before a word beginning
with a vowel sound and a is used before a word beginning with a
consonant. The article is used before a noun and follows certain rules.
The indefinite article a or an is used :
a)
Before a singular noun which is countable.
b)
Before a singular countable noun which is used as an example of
a class of thing.
c)
With a noun of complement.
d)
In certain numerical expressions.
e)
In expressions of price, speed, ratio etc.
f)
With few and little.
g)
In exclamations before singular, countable nouns.
The definite article is used :
a)
Before plural nouns.
b)
Before uncountable nouns.
c)
Before abstract nouns.
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d)
Before names of meals, except when preceded by an adjective.
The use of article with certain rules creates problem to the
second language learners of English. The article is not found in Urdu/
Hindi.
7.1
E r r o r s in the use of Articles
The total number of errors found in the use of articles is 686.
They constitute 5.88% of the total errors in this study.
Learners errors of article may be categorized into following
heads :
1) Incorrect use of articles.
2) Omission of articles.
3) Redundant use of articles.
Following table shows the distribution of various types of
errors in the use of articles.
Table
Error in Article
Incorrect use
Omission
Total
196
353
Redundant use
137
Total
686
124
Percentage
28.57
51.45
19.97
7.1.1
Incorrect use of Article
A total of 196 errors are found in this category of errors. They
constitute 28.57% for errors in using the article. Learners performance
show the ignorance of the rules for using the articles. Following four
types of errors have been found in this category of errors.
a) The use of a instead of an.
b) The use of an instead of a.
c) The use of a instead of the.
d) The use of the instead of a.
(a) The use of a instead of an:
The total number of errors in this category is 103 which comes
to 15.01% for errors in using the articles.
Following are some of the examples of errors of this kind:
LP
RS
Ceylon is a island.
Ceylon is an island.
He returned after a hour.
He returned after an hour.
Rama has come without a
Rama
umbrella.
umbrella.
Soldier lost a arm in battle.
The s o l d i e r lost an arm in the
has
come
without
an
battle.
(b) The use of an instead of a:
The total number of 5 errors have been found in this category.
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They constitute 0.72% for errors in using the article. A few example
are given below:
LP
RS
Copper is an useful metal.
Copper is a useful metal.
An woman was waiting there.
A woman was waiting there.
An European lady visited our
A European
school.
school.
lady
visited
our
(c) The use of a instead of the:
The total number of errors in this category is 57 which comes
to 8.30% for errors in using the articles. The following are some of
the examples of errors of this kind :
LP
RS
My favourite flower is a rose.
My favourite flower is the rose.
December is a last month of the
D e c e m b e r is the last m o n t h of
a year.
of the year.
Delhi is a capital of India.
Delhi is the capital of India.
Calcutta is a biggest city.
Calcutta is the biggest city.
Cloth is sold by a metre.
Cloth is sold by the metre.
We live in a same hostel.
We live in the same hostel.
(d) The use of the instead of a:
A total number of 3 1 errors have been found in this category.
They constitute 4 . 5 1 % for errors in using the article. A few examples
are given below :
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LP
RS
The English is the difficult
English is a difficult
language,
Taj Mahal is the historical
Taj
historical
building.
building.
Shivaji was the famous ruler
Shivaji
ofMarathas.
ofMarathas.
language.
7.1.2
Mahal
was
is
a
a
famous
ruler
Omission of the Articles
A total of 353 errors have been found in this category of errors.
And they constitute 51.45% of errors in the use of articles. Under this
category of errors the following three types of errors have been found.
(a) Omission of the indefinite article a.
(b) Omission of the indefinite article an.
(c) Omission if the definite article the.
7.1.2.1 Omission of the Indefinite article ' a ' :
The total number of errors have been found in this category
are 183 which comes to 26.67% for errors in using the article. It has
been observed that learners sometimes forget the use of indefinite
article a before singular common nouns and collective nouns.
LP
RS
Copper is useful metal.
Copper is a useful metal.
Aladdin had wonderful lamp.
Aladdin had a w o n d e r f u l
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lamp.
The doctor says it is
hopless
The doctor says it is a hopeless
case.
case.
He is good player.
He is a good player.
Banares is holy city.
Banaras is a holy city.
Never tell lie.
Never tell a lie.
7.1.2.2 Omission of the Indefinite article*an':
A total of 79 errors of this kind have been found. They
constitute ILSI % for errors in the use of article. A few examples for
this kind of errors are as follows :
LP
RS
Have you ever seen Elephant?
Have you ever seen an Elephant?
The children found egg in the
The c h i l d r e n f o u n d
nest.
the nest.
We saw ocean.
We saw an ocean.
Bengali is easy language.
Bengali is an easy language.
Ceylon is island.
Ceylon is an island.
an egg in
7.1.2.3 Omission of the Definite article the:
The total number of errors have been found in this category
""-^ 91 which comes to 13.26% for errors in using the articles. The
following are some of the examples OT such errors:
LP
Sun rises in east.
RS
Sun rises in the east.
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We sitted in open air.
We sat in the open air.
We travelled by Gomti express.
We travelled by the Gomti express.
We defeated other team.
We defeated the other teem.
Guide knows way.
The guide knows the way.
English is language of people
English is t h e l a n g u a g e of the
of England.
people of England.
Honesty is best policy.
Honesty is the best policy.
Where did you buy book?
Where did you buy the book.
7.1.3
R e d u n d a n t use of the articles
Learner sometimes use unnecessary articles before proper
nouns, and before some possessive pronouns in a nominal phrase.
A total number of errors in this category is 137 which comes
to 19.97% for errors in the use of articles. Under this category of errors
the redundant use of the articles a, an and the have been noted.
4.1.3.1 R e d u n d a n t use of the Indefinite Articie^aVA total number of errors have been found in this category is
43 which comes to 6.26% for errors in using the articles.
LP
He sketched Taj Mahal on a
RS
He s k e t c h e d t h e Taj M a h a l on
paper.
paper.
I invited to him to a dinner at
1 i n v i t e d him to d i n n e r at my
my house.
house.
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We felt a fear.
4.1.3.2
We felt fear.
Redundant use of the Definite Article an
A total of 8 errors of this kind have been f o u n d .
They
constitute 1.16% for errors in using the articles.
LP
RS
It is the ball of an iron.
It is iron ball.
It was too hot to play an
It was too hot to p l a y
outdoor
She could get an oil for
She c o u l d
oil
cooking.
cooking.
The sailor jumped in an ocean.
The sailor jumped into ocean.
outdoor.
get ( s o m e )
for
4.1.3.3 Redundant use of the indefinite articie'^thel'
The total number of 86 errors have been found in this category.
They constitute 12.53% for errors in the use of article.
Following are some of the examples of redundant use of the
indefinite article the.
LP
RS
They leave the school at 1.30.
They leave
We walked on the foot.
We walked on foot.
The gold is costly metal.
Gold is costly metal.
We play the football.
We play football.
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. . school at 1.30 P.M.
Following table shows the distribution of various types of
errors in the use of articles.
Table
Errors of Article
Number
Percentage
The use of a instead of an
103
15.01
The use of an instead of a
5
0.72
The use of a instead of tlie
57
8.30
The use of the instead of a
31
4.51
183
26.67
79
11.51
article the
91
13.26
Redundant use of a
43
6.26
8
1.16
86
12.53
Omission of the Indefinite
article a
Omission of the Indefinite
article an
Omission of the Definite
Redundant use of an
Redundant use of the
686
TofcLt
7.2
Conclusion
In English articles are used as determiner or modifier of the
nominal phrases. The two articles a (or an) and the are used in English
and follow certain rules of usage. The rules of usage can not be avoided
in correct usage. The use of article with certain rules creates problems
to the learner. The Urdu/Hindi speakers learning English are also not
accustomed with the use of article because articles are not found in
Urdu/Hindi. As a result, the learner commit errors in the use of articles
of English.
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