ARTICLES
ARTICLES
ARTICLES
ARTICLES
What Are Articles?
Articles are words that define a noun as specific or unspecific. Consider the following examples:
EXAMPLE: After the long day, the cup of tea tasted particularly good.
By using the article the, we’ve shown that it was one specific day that was long and one specific cup of
tea that tasted good.
English has two types of articles: definite and indefinite. Let’s discuss them now in more detail.
Exceptions: Choosing A or An
There are a few exceptions to the general rule of using a before words that start with consonants
and an before words that begin with vowels. The first letter of the word honor, for example, is a
consonant, but it’s unpronounced. In spite of its spelling, the word honor begins with a vowel sound.
Therefore, we use an. Consider the example sentence below for an illustration of this concept.
Incorrect: My mother is a honest woman.
Correct: My mother is an honest woman.
Similarly, when the first letter of a word is a vowel but is pronounced with a consonant sound, use a, as
in the sample sentence below:
Incorrect: She is an United States senator.
Correct: She is a United States senator.
This holds true with acronyms and initialisms, too: an LCD display, a UK-based company, an HR
department, a URL.
Omission of Articles
Occasionally, articles are omitted altogether before certain nouns. In these cases, the article is implied
but not actually present. This implied article is sometimes called a “zero article.” Often, the article is
omitted before nouns that refer to abstract ideas. Look at the following examples:
Incorrect: Let’s go out for a dinner tonight.
Correct: Let’s go out for dinner tonight.
Incorrect: The creativity is a valuable quality in children.
Correct: Creativity is a valuable quality in children.
Many languages and nationalities are not preceded by an article. Consider the example below:
Incorrect: I studied the French in high school for four years.
Correct: I studied French in high school for four years.
Sports and academic subjects do not require articles. See the sentences below for reference:
Incorrect: I like to play the baseball.
Correct: I like to play baseball .
Incorrect: My sister was always good at the math .
Correct: My sister was always good at math .
ARTICLES EXERCISE
Complete the following sentences using appropriate articles.
In some cases, no articles are needed.
1. ………………….. man is mortal.
2. I am …………………. university student.
3. She goes to the temple in ……………….. mornings.
4. Kiran is …………………. best student in the class.
5. ………………….. camel is the ship of the desert.
6. This book has won ………………….. Booker prize.
7. Harishchandra was …………………. honest king.
8. I am fond of ………………. classical music.
9. I met ..................... boy in the store.
10. Gold is ....................... precious metal.
11. She returned after ………………….. hour.
12. There is ..................... . institution for ....................... blind in this city.
Answers
1. Man is mortal. (No article is needed.)
2. I am a university student.
3. She goes to temple in the mornings.
4. Kiran is the best student in the class.
5. The camel is the ship of the desert.
6. This book has won the Booker prize.
7. Harishchandra was an honest king.
8. I am fond of classical music. (No article is needed.)
9. I met a boy in the store.
10. Gold is a precious metal.
11. She returned after an hour.
12. There is an institution for the blind in this city.
20. __________ People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw __________ stones.
21. Do you go to __________ church on Sundays?
22. This is __________ man I told you about.
23. This is exactly __________ job I was looking for.
24. __________ Trafalgar Square is near __________ Charing Cross Station.
25. __________ little knowledge is __________ dangerous thing.
26. __________ Philosophers seem to think that life is __________ mystery.
27. I need time to think about __________ offer you made.
28. I can’t play __________ piano but I can play __________ guitar.
29. There was __________ time when I enjoyed __________ skating.
30. The worst part of living in a tent is __________ lack of space.
31. __________ most cars start badly on __________ cold mornings.
32. __________ Prime Minister will give a speech this afternoon.
33. __________ Tower of London is one of __________ main attractions of London.
34. I haven’t been to __________ concert like that before.
35. I was in __________ pain after I twisted my ankle.
36. Of all these cars I prefer __________ Japanese one.
37. Neil Armstrong made __________ first footprint on __________ moon.
38. Where are __________ scissors you borrowed last week?
39. It’s __________ long way by train to __________ south of France.
40. __________ French drink a lot of wine.
ANSWERS
1. I have just had a great idea.
2. Columbus was one of the first people to cross the Atlantic.
3. The British drink too much tea.
4. The Thames flows into the North Sea.
5. Judith earns € 2000 a month.
6. Dancing is a more interesting activity than reading.
7. As captain of the ship I have complete authority.
8. The people we met on holiday in the north of England came from the USA.
9. What’s on TV today?
10. He was doing eighty miles an hour on the motorway.
11. How many hours do you work on average?
12. You are the first to reach the top.
13. The people who live in the Netherlands are called the Dutch.
14. The burglar hit me on the back of my neck.
15. Football is his whole life.
16. I try to go for a run four times a week.
17. Did you read the book I gave you?
18. Sally went to the prison to visit her husband.
19. This is the only cinema in the area.
20. People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.
21. Do you go to church on Sundays?
22. This is the man I told you about.
23. This is exactly the job I was looking for.
24. Trafalgar Square is near Charing Cross Station.
25. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
26. Philosophers seem to think that life is a mystery.
1. Teachers are like weather, one minute they’re good, other they’re bad.
2. Jake took out beer opened it and drank cold beer from bottle.
beer always tasted better from bottle.
3. She is on diet, so she ordered calorie-free dinner.
4. We’d like to have wedding in early fall, in early October if possible.
5. Emma’s eyes rested on letter. Here was opportunity she had been waiting for.
6. The plane was climbing up through sky.
7. My grandmother was true original. Strong of character, she ruled our family with
iron hand.
8. Maxim was at centre of her thoughts.
9. Winston Churchill, former Prime Minister of England, went to Harrow.
10. Marmalade is usually made from oranges.
11. I live in apartment, which is brand new.
12. Royals is a serial which portraits life of members of Royal family in
United Kingdom.
13. It was cold Saturday morning at beginning of month.
14. It had rained earlier in the day and as Maggie left the house she lifted her eyes towards
sky.
15. I arrived I USA last Monday. We left Rome, flew over Alps and made a
quick stop in London.
16. Before we landed at JFK airport, we saw Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and
Empire State building.
17. Most children like sweets.
18. Jane’s husband got home early from work.
19. Last year we visited St. Paul’s Cathedral and Tower of London.
20. Our friends, Millers, moved to Florida last summer.
21. Our children go to school by bus.
22. She likes Indian tea but she doesn’t like tea that comes from Ceylon.
23. President of the United States is giving a speech tonight.
24. The two countries reached peace after a long, disastrous war.
25. We needed house to live in when we were in London.
26. Elephants are intelligent animals.
27. This is a book on Irish history.
28. She had laughing eyes and most charming mouth.
29. I’ll book sleeper on Geneva-Paris train tomorrow,
30. I’m tired. I think I’ll be going to bed.
31. We need to be at airport in hour.
32. Their car does over a hundred miles hour.
33. Carol’s father works as electrician.
34. Milk is rich in nutrients.
35. Money is one of most important things in life.
36. Dogs make wonderful pets.
37. Do you happen to know who invented camera?
ANSWERS
1. Teachers are like THE weather, one minute they’re good, THE other they’re bad.
2. Jake took out A beer opened it and drank THE cold beer from THE bottle. A beer always tasted better from
THE bottle.
3. She is on diet, so she ordered A calorie-free dinner.
4. We’d like to have THE wedding in early fall, in early October if possible.
5. Emma’s eyes rested on THE letter. Here was THE opportunity she had been waiting for.
6. The plane was climbing up through THE sky.
7. My grandmother was A true original. Strong of character, she ruled our family with AN iron hand.
8. Maxim was at THE centre of her thoughts.
9. Winston Churchill, THE former Prime Minister of England, went to Harrow.
10. Marmalade is usually made from oranges.
11. I live in AN apartment, which is brand new.
12. THE Royals is a serial which portraits THE life of THE members of THE Royal family in THE United
Kingdom.
13. It was A cold Saturday morning at THE beginning of THE month.
14. It had rained earlier in the day and as Maggie left the house she lifted her eyes towards THE sky.
15. I arrived in THE USA last Monday. We left Rome, flew over THE Alps and made a quick stop in
London.
16. Before we landed at JFK airport, we saw THE Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and THE Empire State
building.
17. Most children like sweets.
18. Jane’s husband got home early from work.
19. Last year we visited St. Paul’s Cathedral and THE Tower of London.
8. Several million visitors _____________ year are attracted to _____________ ski slopes of _____________ Alps.
9. I’ll meet you outside _____________ post office. I’ll be there in _____________ quarter of _____________ hour.
10. _____________ young people tend to think that _____________ life was more difficult in
_____________ past.
13. In some cities, _____________ cars have been banned from the centre.
16. Would you like to come with us to see _____________ Titanic at the cinema tomorrow?
22. If you ever go to London you must see _____________ Tower of London and _____________ Tate
Gallery.
25. After his wife’s death he left _____________ home and joined _____________ army.
28. _____________ history is an interesting subject, but what I like most is _____________ history of
the United States.
ANSWERS
8. Several million visitors a year are attracted to the ski slopes of the Alps.
9. I’ll meet you outside the post office. I’ll be there in a quarter of an hour.
10. --- young people tend to think that --- life was more difficult in the past.
13. In some cities, --- cars have been banned from the centre.
15. I took the train to London and then the underground to --- Victoria Station. It’s a short walk from
there.
16. Would you like to come with us to see --- Titanic at the cinema tomorrow?
22. If you ever go to London you must see the Tower of London and --- Tate Gallery.
25. After his wife’s death he left --- home and joined the army.
28. --- history is an interesting subject, but what I like most is the history of the United States.