Articles, Prepositions and Conjunctions
Articles, Prepositions and Conjunctions
These three small word-classes give two or three questions in the qualifying paper and are the most common source of avoidable mistakes. The rules are few and fixed, so once learnt they keep giving marks in every paper without further revision.
Articles
| Article | Type | When used |
|---|---|---|
| a, an | Indefinite | Any one of a class |
| the | Definite | A particular one, already known |
The choice between a and an depends on sound, not spelling. Use an before a vowel sound and a before a consonant sound.
- an hour, an honest man — the h is silent, so the sound is a vowel.
- a university, a European — these begin with a 'yu' sound, a consonant sound.
- an M.A., an X-ray — the letter names begin with vowel sounds.
✗ A hour has sixty minutes | ✓ The h in hour is silent, so it takes an: an hour
The is used with rivers, seas, mountain ranges, newspapers and unique things — the Ganga, the Himalayas, the sun. It is not used before names of countries in general, languages, meals or subjects — India, Hindi, lunch, mathematics.
Prepositions of Time and Place
| Preposition | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| at | exact time or point | at 5 o'clock, at the door |
| on | day or date, surface | on Monday, on the table |
| in | month, year, enclosed space | in June, in 2026, in the room |
| between | two things | between you and me |
| among | more than two | among the students |
The at, on, in ladder runs from smallest to largest — at a point, on a day or surface, in a period or space. Remembering it as a ladder saves guessing.
Conjunctions
- Coordinating — and, but, or, so, yet; join equals.
- Subordinating — because, although, if, unless, while; introduce a dependent clause.
- Correlative — pairs that must stay together: either...or, neither...nor, not only...but also, both...and.
Correlative pairs are the trap. Either goes with or, neither goes with nor — mixing them, as in either...nor, is wrong. Also, although and but are never used together: write Although he was tired, he worked, not Although he was tired but he worked.
याद रखिए: an का नियम ध्वनि पर है, स्पेलिंग पर नहीं — an hour, a university।
TRE pointer: An hour and a university is the single most repeated article question, so fix the sound rule. For prepositions, learn the at, on, in ladder. For conjunctions, keep the correlative pairs exact and remember that although never takes but. These three points alone cover most questions from this topic.
60-Second Recap
- A and an are indefinite articles; the is definite.
- The choice of a or an depends on sound, not spelling.
- An hour and an honest man take an; a university takes a.
- At for a point of time, on for a day, in for a month or year.
- Between is used for two, among for more than two.
- Either goes with or, neither with nor; although never takes but.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it 'an hour' but 'a university'?
Because the choice depends on sound, not on the letter. The h in hour is silent, so the word begins with a vowel sound and takes an. University begins with a yu sound, which is a consonant sound, so it takes a. This is the most repeated article question.
When do I use at, on and in for time?
At is used for an exact time, as in at five o'clock. On is used for a day or date, as in on Monday. In is used for a month, year or longer period, as in in June or in 2026. Think of it as a ladder running from the smallest unit to the largest.
What is wrong with 'Although he was tired but he worked'?
Although and but both do the work of contrast, so using them together is repetition. The correct sentence is Although he was tired, he worked, or He was tired but he worked. Only one of the two connectors may be used at a time.
Which correlative pairs are asked most often?
Either with or, neither with nor, not only with but also, and both with and. The common error is mixing them, such as writing either with nor. The pairs are fixed and must always be used together in the same combination.