Learn English Basic Grammar With Simple Examples

We may say--

• John is absent, because John is ill.

But it is better to avoid the repetition of the noun John, and say--

• John is absent, because he is ill.

A word that is thus used instead of a noun is called Pronoun (Pronoun means for a noun.)
Def-- A Pronoun is a word used instead of a Noun.
Read the following sentences:

• I am young.           We are young.
• You are young.       They are young. 
• He (she, it) is young. 

I, You, We, He, She, They are called Personal Pronouns because they stand for the three persons.

1. The person speaking. 
2. The person spoken to, and
3. The person spoken of. 

The pronoun I and We, which denote the person or persons speaking, are said to be Personal Pronouns of the First Person.
The Pronoun You, which denote the person or persons spoken to, is said to be a Personal Pronoun of the Second Person.
You is used both in the singular and plural.
The pronouns he (she) and they, which denote the person or persons spoken of, are said to be Personal Pronouns of the Third Person. It, although it denotes the thing spoken of, is also called a Personal Pronoun of the third person. (The Personal Pronouns of the Third Person are, strictly speaking, Demonstrative Pronouns.)    

If I Say --
I have a black and white dog.
I mean a dog that is partly black and partly white.
But if I say--

• I have a black and a white dog.
• I mean two dogs, one black and the other white. 

Hence when two or more adjectives qualify the same noun, the Article is used before the first adjective only; but when they qualify different nouns, expressed or understood, the Article is normally used before each adjective.
Compare--

1. The Secretary and Treasurer is absent. 
2. The secretary and the Treasurer are absent. 

The article is omitted--
1- Before names of substances and abstract nouns. (i.e. uncountable nouns) used in a general sense; as,

• Sugar is bad for your teeth.
• Gold is a precious metal.
• Wisdom is the gift of heaven.
• Honesty is the best policy.
• Virtue is its own reward.

Note-- Uncountable nouns take the when used in a particular sense (specially when qualified by an adjective or adjective phrase or clause);as,

• Would you pass me the sugar? (= the sugar on the table)
• The wisdom of Solomon is great.
• I can't forget the kindness with which he treated me.

2- Before plural countable nouns used in a general sense;as,

• Childlike chocolates. 
• Computers are used in many offices.

Note- that such nouns take 'the' when used with a particular meaning;as,
Where are the children? (= Our children)
3- Before most proper nouns (except those referred to earlier), namely, names of people (e.g. Paul, John), names of continents, countries, cities, etc. (e.g. Europe, Pakistan, Nagpur), names of individual mountains (e.g. Mount Everest), individual islands, lakes, hills, etc.

The Indefinite Article is used-
1- In its original numerical sense of one;as,

• Twelve inches make a foot.
• Not a word was said.
• A word to the wise is sufficient.
• A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

2- In the vague sense of a certain;as,

• A Bob (= a certain person named Bob) is suspected by the police.
• One evening a beggar came to my door.

3- In the sense of any, to single out an individual as the representative of a class;as,

• A pupil should obey his teacher.
• A cow is a useful animal.

4- To make a common noun of a proper noun;as,

• A Daniel come to judgement ! (A Daniel = a very wise man)

The Definite Article "the" is used---
1- When we talk about a particular person or thing, or one already referred to (that is, when it is clear from the context which one we mean); as,

• The book you want is out of print. (Which book? The one you want.)
• Let's go to the park. (= the park in this town.)
• The girl cried. (the girl = the girl already talked about)

2- When a singular noun is meant to represent a whole class;as,

• The cow is a useful animal. (Or we may say, "Cows are useful animals.")
• The horse is a noble animal.
• The cat loves comfort.
• The rose is the sweetest of all flowers.
• The banyan is a king of fig tree. (Do not say, "a king of a fig tree." This is a common error.)

The two nouns man and woman can be used in a general sense without either article.

• Man is the only animal that uses fire.
• Woman is man's mate.

Once upon a time there lived a farmer. He had a strange hen. He laid an egg of gold daily. He sold the golden eggs to the goldsmith. Slowly the man became very rich.
He thought that the stomach of the hen must be full of eggs of gold. He could get all the eggs by cutting open the stomach. The farmer became greedy. He was not contented with getting one egg daily. He wanted to get all the eggs at once.
So, he cut open the stomach of the hen. To his surprise there were no golden egg in it. He repented upon his folly. But nothing could be done. He was very sad. He had lost a hen that laid a golden egg daily.
Moral:- 1- Don't be greedy.
            2- Greed is a curse. 
            3- Haste makes waste. 
            4- It is no use crying over spill milk

Once upon a time there was a stag. One day he felt thirsty. He went to a pond. As he bent down to drink water, he saw the reflection of his horns in the water. He felt very proud of his horns. Then his eyes fell on the reflection of his legs of his legs. He did not like them. He was ashamed of them. He cursed his legs for their ugliness. Suddenly he heard the bugle of the hunters and the barking of their dogs. He ran to escape the hunters. But his horns got caught in the bushes. The stag tried very hard to free them. In desperation he gave a massive tug. With the result the horns broke, and he became free. He ran with all his might and managed to save himself from the hunters. The tired stag now cursed his horns for nearly getting him killed.


Moral:- 1- Pride hath a fall. 
             2- All that glitters is not gold. 
             3- Appearance are often deceptive.