Articles - Exercises with Solutions

 A. Fill in the blanks with 'a', 'an', 'the' or 'X'

1. The peacock is in danger of extinction.
   📝 Explanation: Use "the" before a singular noun that represents a whole class/species.
2. Could you get me a kilogram of tea, please?
   📝 Explanation: Use "a" before singular, countable nouns when mentioned for the first time.
3. There is a European and an Eskimo among the tourists.
   📝 Explanation: Use "a" before words beginning with a consonant sound (European sounds like "Yoo-ropean") and "an" before words starting with a vowel sound (Eskimo).
4. The Sally I know lives in Bhubaneswar.
   📝 Explanation: Use "the" when referring to a specific or previously known person with a proper noun to distinguish.
5. Sajita found a wallet on her way home. She took the wallet to the police station.
   📝 Explanation: Use "a" when introducing something for the first time and "the" when referring back to it.
6. We must work to save the tigers from becoming extinct.
   📝 Explanation: Use "the" before animal species when speaking about them as a group.
7. X Have you had breakfast?
   📝 Explanation: No article is used before meals when spoken about in general.
8. You must reach X school before 9 a.m.
   📝 Explanation: No article before institutions like school, college, hospital when used for their primary purpose.
9. It is an awe-inspiring sight to see the Brahmaputra in spate.
   📝 Explanation: Use "an" before vowel sounds (awe) and "the" before names of rivers.
10. This is a painting of the Western Ghats, and that is a photograph of the Mahabaleshwar peak.
    📝 Explanation: Use "the" before mountain ranges (Western Ghats) and well-known peaks.
11. X Mary will go to school when she is three.
    📝 Explanation: No article before school when used for its primary purpose.
12. Our library has three copies of the Mahabharata.
    📝 Explanation: Use "the" before names of epics, holy books.

B. Rewrite the sentences with correct use of articles

1. The oranges and lemons are citrus fruits.
   ✅ Answer: Oranges and lemons are citrus fruits.
   Explanation: "The" is not needed before general plural nouns when talking about things in general.

2. Asif is going to visit the Oxford University.
   ✅ Answer: Asif is going to visit Oxford University.
   Explanation: "The" is not used before most university names unless the name includes a phrase like University of...

3. The elephants and the lions are found in India.
   ✅ Answer: Elephants and lions are found in India.
   Explanation: We don't use "the" before animal names in general (plural) statements.

4. Have you been to Nilgiri hills?
   ✅ Answer: Have you been to the Nilgiri Hills?
   Explanation: Mountain ranges take "the" before their name.

5. History is not really Lisa's favourite subject, but she finds the history of the Greeks fascinating.
   ✅ Answer: (No change needed.)
   Explanation: "History" as a subject doesn't need "the," but "the history of the Greeks" is specific, so "the" is correct.

6. You can take Visaka Express to Mumbai.
   ✅ Answer: You can take the Visaka Express to Mumbai.
   Explanation: Train names generally use "the" before them.

7. The children have been sent to the bed.
   ✅ Answer: The children have been sent to bed.
   Explanation: "To bed" (meaning going to sleep) doesn’t use "the."

8. Gold you buy here is of the excellent quality.
   ✅ Answer: The gold you buy here is of excellent quality.
   Explanation: "The" is used before "gold" because it refers to a specific quantity. "Excellent quality" doesn’t need "the."

9. Manoj heard a old tale about an unicorn.
   ✅ Answer: Manoj heard an old tale about a unicorn.
   Explanation: Use "an" before vowel sounds like "old." "Unicorn" begins with a "yu" sound, so "a" is correct.

10. Philosophy discussed in this book is very difficult to understand.
    ✅ Answer: The philosophy discussed in this book is very difficult to understand.
    Explanation: Specific philosophy mentioned needs "the."

C. Fill in the blanks with indefinite articles where necessary

1.     She doesn't own a car.
✅ Explanation: "Car" is a singular countable noun; use "a" for general reference.

2.     He came from a humble beginning.
✅ Explanation: "Humble beginning" is a singular countable noun.

3.     I saw X bears at the zoo.
✅ Explanation: "Bears" is plural; no article is needed.

4.     He asked for X milk.
✅ Explanation: "Milk" is uncountable; no article is used.

5.     She didn't get an invitation.
✅ Explanation: Use "an" before vowel sound ("invitation").

6.     I saw an eagle fly by.
✅ Explanation: "Eagle" starts with a vowel sound; use "an".

7.     She was an English teacher. She taught at a European university.
✅ Explanation: "English" begins with a vowel sound (an), "European" sounds like "Yoo-ro"; use "a".

8.     He bought X milk, X butter, and a loaf of bread.
✅ Explanation: "Milk" and "butter" are uncountable; "loaf" is countable.

9.     The table is made of X wood.
✅ Explanation: "Wood" is uncountable; no article is needed.

10.  Dr Abdul Kalam was an honest man.
✅ Explanation: "Honest" starts with a vowel sound; use "an".

D. Insert articles wherever necessary

 1. There is book in my backpack. Book is very heavy.

Answer: There is a book in my backpack. The book is very heavy.
Explanation: "A" introduces something new; "the" refers to the same book already mentioned.

2. Do you know where I left car keys?
Answer: Do you know where I left the car keys?
Explanation: "The" is used for specific things known to both the speaker and listener.

3. I enjoy reading detective novels, especially ones by famous author Arthur Conan Doyle.
Answer: I enjoy reading detective novels, especially ones by the famous author Arthur Conan Doyle.
Explanation: "The" is used before well-known people or things that are specific.

4. French drink wine, while Americans drink beer.
Answer: The French drink wine, while the Americans drink beer.
Explanation: Nationalities used as collective nouns take "the".

5. Group of MBA students from university of Mumbai visited Harvard University in United States.
Answer: A group of MBA students from the University of Mumbai visited Harvard University in the United States.
Explanation: "A" for a general group; "the" for official institutions and countries like "the United States".

6. Bible was first book to be printed by Gutenberg in fifteenth century.
Answer: The Bible was the first book to be printed by Gutenberg in the fifteenth century.
Explanation: "The" is used with unique things, ordinals (first), and centuries.

7. I am fond of music of Mozart. My grandfather owns antique piano.
Answer: I am fond of the music of Mozart. My grandfather owns an antique piano.
Explanation: "The" for specific reference; "an" before a vowel sound (antique).

8. Cloth is sold by metre. Metre of this fabric cost me moon.
Answer: Cloth is sold by the metre. A metre of this fabric cost me the moon.
Explanation: "The" before standard measurements; "a" introduces a single item; "the moon" is a fixed phrase.

9. Sun is at highest point in sky at noon.
Answer: The sun is at the highest point in the sky at noon.
Explanation: Use "the" for unique things (sun, sky) and superlatives (highest).

10. After humans, chimpanzee is most intelligent among animals.
Answer: After humans, the chimpanzee is the most intelligent among animals.
Explanation: "The" before species and superlative forms.