B
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Articles & Prepositions

a, an, the and the tricky little words

A / An — for ANY one (not specific)

Use 'a' before a consonant SOUND. Use 'an' before a vowel SOUND. (It's the sound that matters, not the letter.)

EnglishIn Hindi
I saw a dog in the park.(कोई एक कुत्ता — पहली बार बात हो रही है)
She is an honest person.('honest' का h चुप है, इसलिए 'an')
He is a university student.('university' की शुरुआत 'yu' से है — व्यंजन ध्वनि, इसलिए 'a')
I need an umbrella.

I am doctor.

I am a doctor.

He is honest man.

He is an honest man.

The — for SPECIFIC, already-known things

Use 'the' when both speaker and listener know which one. Also for unique things (the sun, the Ganga), superlatives (the best), and ordinals (the first).

EnglishIn Hindi
I saw a dog. The dog was barking.(दूसरी बार उसी कुत्ते का ज़िक्र)
The sun rises in the east.(एक ही सूरज है)
She is the best player on the team.
Please close the door.(दोनों जानते हैं कौनसा दरवाज़ा)

Moon is bright tonight.

The moon is bright tonight.

I play the cricket.

I play cricket. (no 'the' for sports/games in general)

Prepositions of time — in / on / at

AT a clock time. ON a day or date. IN a month, year, season, or longer period.

EnglishIn Hindi
The meeting is at 3 pm.
I was born on Monday, the 5th of June.
We will visit India in December.
She studies best in the morning. (but: at night)

I will meet you on 5 pm.

I will meet you at 5 pm.

My birthday is in 5th June.

My birthday is on 5th June.

Prepositions of place — in / on / at

IN a closed space (in the room). ON a surface (on the table). AT a specific point or location (at the door, at home).

EnglishIn Hindi
She is in the kitchen.
The book is on the table.
I'm at the bus stop.
He is at home today.(never 'in home')

I am sitting on the computer.

I am sitting at the computer.

She is in home.

She is at home.

For vs Since (duration vs starting point)

FOR + a period (for 2 hours, for 5 years). SINCE + a starting point (since 2020, since Monday, since morning).

EnglishIn Hindi
I have lived here for ten years.
I have lived here since 2015.
She has been waiting for an hour.
She has been waiting since 9 am.

I am living here since 10 years.

I have been living here for 10 years.

She is waiting since one hour.

She has been waiting for one hour.

Practise

1. She is ___ honest person.

  1. a
  2. an
  3. the
  4. —
Show the answer

an

2. He is ___ university student.

  1. a
  2. an
  3. the
  4. —
Show the answer

a

3. I have lived here ___ ten years.

  1. since
  2. from
  3. for
  4. in
Show the answer

for

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