Choose the correct sentence

This question tests the correct usage of articles (a, an, the) in English grammar, particularly when referring to general concepts. Articles are determiners that precede nouns, indicating whether the noun is specific or general.

“Man is immortal” is the correct sentence. When the word “man” is used without an article to refer to humanity or mankind in a general, philosophical sense (meaning all human beings), it is treated as an uncountable noun. This construction is used for general truths or universal statements about the human race.

• “The man is immortal” is incorrect. “The man” refers to a specific, identifiable male individual, implying that only that particular man is immortal, which is not the intended general statement about humanity.
• “A man is immortal” is incorrect. “A man” refers to any single, unspecified male individual. This also fails to convey the general truth about humanity as a whole.
• “An man is immortal” is grammatically incorrect. The indefinite article “an” is used before words starting with a vowel sound, while “a” is used before words starting with a consonant sound. “Man” starts with a consonant sound, so “an” is inappropriate. Even if it were “a man,” it would still be incorrect for the intended general meaning.