ARTICLES
Definition:
- Articles are words that define whether a noun is specific or unspecific. They are used before nouns to clarify their meaning.
Types of Articles:
- Definite
Article: "The"
- Indefinite
Articles: "A" and "An"
A. Definite Article: "The"
- Used
when referring to a specific or known noun.
- Example:
"The book on the table is mine." (Referring to a specific book)
Key Uses of "The":
- Unique
objects: "The sun," "The moon."
- Previously
mentioned nouns: "I saw a dog. The dog was barking."
- Superlatives:
"He is the tallest person."
- Geographical
locations: "The Pacific Ocean," "The Alps."
- Groups
of people: "The French," "The elderly."
B. Indefinite Articles: "A" and "An"
- Used
when referring to a general, non-specific noun.
- Example:
"I saw a dog in the park." (Referring to any dog, not a specific
one)
Key Rules for "A" and "An":
- "A"
is used before words starting with a consonant sound.
- Example:
"A cat," "A university" (Note: "University"
starts with a 'yoo' sound, which is a consonant sound).
- "An"
is used before words starting with a vowel sound.
- Example:
"An apple," "An hour" (Note: "Hour" starts
with a silent 'h', so the sound is a vowel).
3. Omitting Articles (Zero Article):
- In
some cases, no article is used.
- With
plural and uncountable nouns when speaking generally:
- Example:
"Cars are expensive." (Refers to cars in general)
- Example:
"Water is essential for life." (Water in general)
- With
names of people, continents, countries, and cities (except some specific
cases):
- Example:
"John lives in France."
4. Common Mistakes:
- Using
"a" or "an" with uncountable nouns. Example:
Incorrect: "A water" | Correct: "Water"
- Using
"the" unnecessarily with proper nouns. Example: Incorrect:
"The John is here" | Correct: "John is here"
5. Exceptions and Special Cases:
- With
nationality nouns: "The English," "The Japanese"
(when referring to the group as a whole).
- With
certain countries or regions that use "the": "The
United States," "The Netherlands."
- Titles:
Articles are often omitted in headlines or titles. Example: "Prime
Minister visits city."
Summary:
- Articles are essential in clarifying whether we are talking about something specific or general.
- The is used for specific references, while a/an is for more general references.
- Understanding the rules of articles helps improve fluency and clarity in both writing and speaking English.
QUESTIONS
1. Which article is used before singular, countable nouns
that are mentioned for the first time?
a) An
b) A
c) The
d) No article
2. Choose the correct sentence:
a) I saw an elephant in the zoo.
b) I saw a elephant in the zoo.
c) I saw the elephant in the zoo.
d) I saw elephant in the zoo.
3. Which article would you use before the word “hour”?
a) A
b) An
c) The
d) No article
4. What article should precede the word “European”?
a) A
b) An
c) The
d) No article
5. Choose the correct sentence:
a) She is a honest woman.
b) She is an honest woman.
c) She is the honest woman.
d) She is honest woman.
6. Which article is used with superlative adjectives?
a) A
b) An
c) The
d) No article
7. Fill in the blank: I have idea about the plan.
a) a
b) an
c) the
d) No article
8. Choose the correct sentence:
a) We are going to a movie.
b) We are going to an movie.
c) We are going to the movie.
d) We are going to movie.
9. Which article is used for something specific or already
known?
a) A
b) An
c) The
d) No article
10. Fill in the blank: He is best player on the team.
a) a
b) an
c) the
d) No article
11. Choose the correct sentence:
a) She bought a umbrella.
b) She bought an umbrella.
c) She bought the umbrella.
d) She bought umbrella.
12. Which article should be used before plural countable
nouns when referring to something specific?
a) A
b) An
c) The
d) No article
13. Choose the correct sentence:
a) He has a unique idea.
b) He has an unique idea.
c) He has the unique idea.
d) He has unique idea.
14. Fill in the blank: apple a day keeps the doctor away.
a) A
b) An
c) The
d) No article
15. Which article is used when referring to something in
general or nonspecific?
a) A
b) An
c) The
d) No article
16. Fill in the blank: It’s beautiful day today.
a) a
b) an
c) the
d) No article
17. Which article should precede "university"?
a) A
b) An
c) The
d) No article
18. Choose the correct sentence:
a) He is an engineer.
b) He is a engineer.
c) He is the engineer.
d) He is engineer.
19. Fill in the blank: He gave me information I needed.
a) a
b) an
c) the
d) No article
20. Which article should be used with noncountable nouns?
a) A
b) An
c) The
d) No article
21. Fill in the blank: She lives in apartment near the park.
a) a
b) an
c) the
d) No article
22. Choose the correct sentence:
a) We visited a Great Wall of China.
b) We visited the Great Wall of China.
c) We visited an Great Wall of China.
d) We visited Great Wall of China.
23. Fill in the blank: They went to market to buy vegetables.
a) a
b) an
c) the
d) No article
24. Which article is not used with proper nouns?
a) A
b) An
c) The
d) No article
25. Fill in the blank: He is teacher in my school.
a) a
b) an
c) the
d) No article
26. Choose the correct sentence:
a) She needs an uniform.
b) She needs a uniform.
c) She needs the uniform.
d) She needs uniform.
27. Fill in the blank: sky is blue today.
a) A
b) An
c) The
d) No article
28. Which article should be used before "M.A.
degree"?
a) A
b) An
c) The
d) No article
29. Choose the correct sentence:
a) I read an interesting book.
b) I read a interesting book.
c) I read the interesting book.
d) I read interesting book.
30. Fill in the blank: He is best friend I have.
a) a
b) an
c) the
d) No article
31. Fill in the blank: She bought cat yesterday.
a) a
b) an
c) the
d) No article
32. Which article should be used before words starting with
a vowel sound?
a) A
b) An
c) The
d) No article
33. Choose the correct sentence:
a) This is the unique painting.
b) This is a unique painting.
c) This is an unique painting.
d) This is unique painting.
34. Fill in the blank: We watched movie last night.
a) a
b) an
c) the
d) No article
35. Choose the correct sentence:
a) I have a idea.
b) I have an idea.
c) I have the idea.
d) I have idea.
36. Fill in the blank: sun rises in the east.
a) A
b) An
c) The
d) No article
37. Choose the correct sentence:
a) He has a old car.
b) He has an old car.
c) He has the old car.
d) He has old car.
38. Fill in the blank: He found solution to the problem.
a) a
b) an
c) the
d) No article
39. Fill in the blank: earth revolves around the sun.
a) A
b) An
c) The
d) No article
40. Which article is used with countries whose names include
"United"?
a) A
b) An
c) The
d) No article
41. Choose the correct sentence:
a) I saw an unusual bird.
b) I saw a unusual bird.
c) I saw the unusual bird.
d) I saw unusual bird.
42. Fill in the blank: She is tallest girl in her class.
a) a
b) an
c) the
d) No article
43. Choose the correct sentence:
a) He wants to become a doctor.
b) He wants to become an doctor.
c) He wants to become the doctor.
d) He wants to become doctor.
44. Fill in the blank: moon is very bright tonight.
a) A
b) An
c) The
d) No article
45. Choose the correct sentence:
a) He is an honest man.
b) He is a honest man.
c) He is the honest man.
d) He is honest man.
46. Fill in the blank: There was amazing view from
the hilltop.
a) a
b) an
c) the
d) No article
47. Choose the correct sentence:
a) This is an answer to your question.
b) This is a answer to your question.
c) This is the answer to your question.
d) This is answer to your question.
48. Fill in the blank: She made mistake in the calculation.
a) a
b) an
c) the
d) No article
49. Choose the correct sentence:
a) We have a hour left.
b) We have an hour left.
c) We have the hour left.
d) We have hour left.
50. Fill in the blank: computer on the desk is mine.
a) A
b) An
c) The
d) No article