DAILY ESL QUIZ 9 ARTICLE ( A, AN & THE)

Many learners of English have problems with articles (the words a, an and the), especially when they don’t exist in their own language. This blog looks at some of the basic rules.

The number one rule is this: if a word is countable (e.g. one book, two books), you must always use an article (or my, his,etc.)

In English there are three articles: a, an, and the. Articles are used before nouns or noun equivalents and are a type of adjective. The definite article (the) is used before a noun to indicate that the identity of the noun is known to the reader. The indefinite article (a, an) is used before a noun that is general or when its identity is not known. There are certain situations in which a noun takes no article.

Don't Underestimate These Three Little Words

Put simply, an article is a word that combines with a noun. Articles are actually adjectives because they describe the nouns that they precede. In English, there are only three articles: the, a, and an. However, the three are not interchangeable; rather, they are used in specific instances.

The following is some advice from our expert English editing staff regarding how to properly use articles.

The definite article the is the most frequent word in English.

We use the definite article in front of a noun when we believe the hearer/reader knows exactly what we are referring to.

• because there is only one:

The Pope is visiting Russia.
The moon is very bright tonight.
The Shah of Iran was deposed in 1979.

This is why we use the definite article with a superlative adjective:

He is the tallest boy in the class.
It is the oldest building in the town.

• because there is only one in that place or in those surroundings:

We live in a small village next to the church.	=	(the church in our village)
Dad, can I borrow the car?	=	(the car that belongs to our family)
When we stayed at my grandmother’s house we went to the beach every day.	=	(the beach near my grandmother’s house)
Look at the boy in the blue shirt over there.	=	(the boy I am pointing at)

How do I know which one to use?

That's a very good question. Fortunately, the answer is quite simple. It's about listening to the words you're using. The rule for indefinite article usage is as follows:

Use a before nouns (or adjectives) that start with a consonant sound.

Use an before nouns (or adjectives) that start with a vowel sound.

Here are some examples from our English editing professionals:

Please give the dog a cookie.
(The noun cookie starts with a consonant sound, so a must be used.)

Please give the dog a delicious cookie.
(Our editing professionals have put the adjective delicious in front of cookie, but as you can see, delicious still starts with a consonant sound, so a must still used.)

That's an old car. (In this case, the word after the article is old, which starts with a vowel sound. Consequently, our English editors must use an.)

Remember that you're listening here. This isn't about the letter c or d being a consonant or the letter o being a vowel; it's about the sound they make (i.e., vowel sound or consonant sound). Here's another example that might help you understand:

I need to work for an hour before we go to dinner.

Definite article

the (before a singular or plural noun)

Indefinite article

a (before a singular noun beginning with a consonant sound)
an (before a singular noun beginning with a vowel sound)

Count nouns - refers to items that can be counted and are either singular or plural

Non-count nouns - refers to items that are not counted and are always singular

	COUNT NOUNS	NON-COUNT NOUNS
Rule #1 Specific identity not known	a, an	(no article)
Rule #2 Specific identity known	the	the
Rule #3 All things or things in general	(no article)	(no article)

Rule #1 - Specific identity not known: Use the indefinite article a or an only with a singular count noun whose specific identity is not known to the reader. Use a before nouns that begin with a consonant sound, and use an before nouns that begin with a vowel sound.

• Use the article a or an to indicate any non-specified member of a group or category.

I think an animal is in the garage
That man is a scoundrel.
We are looking for an apartment.

• Use the article a or an to indicate one in number (as opposed to more than one).

I own a cat and two dogs.

• Use the article a before a consonant sound, and use an before a vowel sound.

a boy, an apple

◊ Sometimes an adjective comes between the article and noun:

an unhappy boy, a red apple

• The plural form of a or an is some. Use some to indicate an unspecified, limited amount (but more than one).

an apple, some apples

Rule #2 - Specific identity known: Use the definite article thewith any noun (whether singular or plural, count or noncount) when the specific identity of the noun is known to the reader, as in the following situations:

• Use the article the when a particular noun has already been mentioned previously.

I ate an apple yesterday. The apple was juicy and delicious.

• Use the article the when an adjective, phrase, or clause describing the noun clarifies or restricts its identity.

The boy sitting next to me raised his hand.
Thank you for the advice you gave me.

• Use the article the when the noun refers to something or someone that is unique.

the theory of relativity
the 2003 federal budget

Rule #3 - All things or things in general: Use no article with plural count nouns or any noncount nouns used to mean all or in general.

Trees are beautiful in the fall. (All trees are beautiful in the fall.)
He was asking for advice. (He was asking for advice in general.)
I do not like coffee. (I do not like all coffee in general.)

HERE YOU CAN SOLVE THIS EXERCISE ON THE BASIS OF ALL THE ARTICLES WHICH WILL HELP YOU TO UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT ARTICLES.

EXERCISE - ARTICLE (A, AN, THE)

Quiz

 

1. Dhyan wanted _____________________ new bicycle for his birthday.
   1.   a
   2.   the
   3.   an
2. Geeta tasted _______birthday cake her mother had made.
   1.   the
   2.   a
   3.   an
3. The childern have ______________ new teacher called Mr. Pushpendra.
   1.   a
   2.   the
   3.   an
4. All pupils must obet ____________rules.
   1.   the
   2.   a
   3.   an
5. Dad turned on ________ radio to listen to ___________ news.
   1.   an
   2.   the
   3.   a
6. Ali is in Boston studying for ________ MBA.
   1.   a
   2.   an
   3.   the
7. The teacher read _________ interesting acticle from the newspaper.
   1.   an
   2.   the
   3.   a
8. There was ______ huge crowd of people outside the chruch.
   1.   an
   2.   the
   3.   a
9. Sakshi talked for __________hour about her school project.
   1.   the
   2.   an
   3.   a
10. _____________European expert was invited to speak to the committee.
    1.   a
    2.   an
    3.   the
11. The Mississippi river is in ____________ United States of America.
    1.   an
    2.   the
    3.   a
12. It would help us if you gave _________ honest opinion.
    1.   the
    2.   an
    3.   a
13. I like _________ blue T-shirt over there better than the red one.
    1.   the
    2.   an
    3.   a
14. Their car's speed was 150 miles_________hour.
    1.   an
    2.   the
    3.   a
15. Where's _______ USB drive I lent you last week?
    1.   an
    2.   the
    3.   a
16. Is your mom working in ______old office building?
    1.   a
    2.   the
    3.   an
17. Ravi's father works as __________electrician.
    1.   the
    2.   a
    3.   an
18. ______tomatoes are 99 pence a kilo.
    1.   an
    2.   a
    3.   the
19. Beni has _____ terrible headache.
    1.   an
    2.   the
    3.   a
20. After this tour you have whole afternoon free to explore ______city.
    1.   an
    2.   a
    3.   the
21. Are you coming to ____party next saturday?
    1.   the
    2.   an
    3.   a
22. I bought ____new TV set yesterday.
    1.   an
    2.   the
    3.   a
23. I watched _____video you had sent me.
    1.   an
    2.   a
    3.   the
24. She was wearing ________ugly dress when she met him.
    1.   an
    2.   the
    3.   a
25. She is _____ nice girl.
    1.   an
    2.   a
    3.   the
26. He is ________ engineer.
    1.   the
    2.   an
    3.   a
27. Tower of London is _______popular.
    1.   an
    2.   the
    3.   a
28. Hmm, that's __________ interesting idea.
    1.   the
    2.   an
    3.   a
29. We have _______ good realtionship with our neighbours.
    1.   a
    2.   the
    3.   an
30. You need to find________ decent job first.
    1.   an
    2.   a
    3.   the
31. He used to be _______lawyer, now he has his own business.
    1.   the
    2.   a
    3.   an
32. Can I have _______slice of pizza, please?
    1.   a
    2.   the
    3.   an
33. Rohan has ________brilliant idea.
    1.   a
    2.   the
    3.   an
34. There is _________big park at the end of ______road
    1.   a, the
    2.   an,the
    3.   the, an
35. I will buy sugar and _______bag of tea.
    1.   an
    2.   the
    3.   a
36. We have _________beautiful garden. ___________garden is full of roses.
    1.   the, a
    2.   a, the
    3.   an, the
    4.   the, an
37. Is fencing _______popular sport in the world?
    1.   the
    2.   a
    3.   an
38. I would like _______glass of orange juice please.
    1.   a
    2.   an
    3.   the
39. Can you give me ________envelop, please?
    1.   an
    2.   a
    3.   the
40. Is there ______post office near here?
    1.   an
    2.   a
    3.   the
41. They're at _______cinema.
    1.   an
    2.   a
    3.   the
42. Would you like _______ humburger?
    1.   a
    2.   an
    3.   the
43. Seema has got __________cat.
    1.   an
    2.   the
    3.   a
44. What is __________dog's name?
    1.   an
    2.   the
    3.   a
45. The school isn't having_______centeral cooling system?
    1.   an
    2.   the
    3.   a
46. ____________refrigerator needs repairing.
    1.   an
    2.   the
    3.   a
47. This is ________imported watch?
    1.   the
    2.   an
    3.   a
48. Where is __________railway station?
    1.   an
    2.   the
    3.   a
49. _______________cinema hall was over crowded.
    1.   the
    2.   an
    3.   a
50. May I have _____piece of paper and ______pen.
    1.   the
    2.   an
    3.   a