Exercises to practice articles in English. Rules for using articles in English

To consolidate the theory of using articles, we must work with the material from the practical part. To do this, we invite you to English courses on the Left Bank

In order for the rules to be learned more effectively and not cause a feeling of monotony, we divided the exercises into 5 groups.

If you are not ready for the test, here you go:
Articles in English - use and use

5 groups of exercises on English articles:

The first group is an article + a word.

1. ___ arm 9.___old woman 17.___ hour

2. ___ animal 10.___theatre 18.___ insect

3. ___ seaside 11.___orchid 19.___North Pole

4. ___actress 12. ___ jungle 20.___ finger

5. ___ dog 13. ____ billion 21.___ ant

6. ___ Netherlands 14. ____ monkey 22. ___ woman

7. ___ actor 15. _____ earache 23. ___eagle

8. ___ iPhone 16. _____ Pacific Ocean 24. ___e-book

The second group is phrases.

1. Listen to ___ radio 5. History of ___ media

2. ___ romance of ___ busy broker 6. As___ result of my work

3. ___ Christmas Presents 7.___adventure of her husband

4. ___ great fire of London 8.___busy day

The third group is sentences in which you need to include the article the or nothing.

1. In ___last two years things have got very tight.

2. ___ Normans also brought with them ___ French language.

3. All she knew was that he was ___ very ill and they were completely out of ___money.

4. She was just eleven years of age, and ___ moon was shining brightly in ___ gardens of ___ palace.

5. Please, state your destination clearly and have ___ exact fare ready.

The fourth group is sentences in which you need to include the articles a/an or the.

1. You know, it’s ___ very expensive smartphone.

2. Korinna is ___ doctor.

3. She paid fifty euros of rent ___ month.

4. Give ___ fool enough, and he will hang himself.

5. ___ train leaves tomorrow at three o’clock.

6. I am ___ important woman now.

7. Their stems lay in ___ water, on which there floated ___ large tulip petal.

8. In ___ small town ___ man stole some money from ___ house.

9. ___ man wrote a story and sent it to ___ publishing house.

10.___ driver in ___ American bus is ___ unique figure.

The fifth group is to insert the articles a/an, the into the sentences or leave the zero article.

1. ___bird in___hand is worth two in___bush.

2. In autumn when it is raining hard ___ umbrella is necessary.

3. ___ dogs bark, but ___ caravan goes on.

4. What is ___ Miracle’s Cost?

5. One day he saw something in ___ newspaper about ___ fair in ___park near his house.

6. ___ train leaves tomorrow at three o’clock.

7. ___ goal of this course is to help you become ___ better teacher.

8. So young Peter Munk used to ___sit all through ___ week tending ___ wood-kiln.

9. He was ___ handsome, ___strong and ___very smart.

10. ___enemy will agree, but ___ friend will argue.

11. They told in ___ newspapers that ___ big stage-coach was lifted off ___ road and thrown aside like ___ rag.

12. Late one night ___ shoemaker sat cutting his leather with ___ snip, snip, snap, watched by his wife and watched by his cat.

13. Big Ben is ___bell in ___ clock tower in London.

14. Whidbey Island may be only ___ ferry ride from Seattle, but it’s ___ world apart.

15. On January 26, 1948, ___ man posing as ___ public health official arrives at ___ bank in Tokyo.

16. ___ beggar found ___ leather purse that someone had dropped in ___ marketplace.

17. ___ father came home from ___ long business trip to find his young son riding ___ brand new bike.

18. Pure white snow and ice covered ___ Earth for as far as he could see.

19. John had been taught to carry his Master’s dinner in ___ basket, every day, to ___ place where he worked.

20. Upon arriving home in eager anticipation of ___ leisurely evening, ___ husband was met at the door by his sobbing wife.

Now let's check your answers!

Answers:

1) an; 2) an;3) the; 4) an; 5) a; 6) the; 7)an; 8) an; 9)an; 10) the; 11) an; 12) the; 13) a; 14) a; 15) an; 16) the; 17) an; 18)an; 19) the; 20) a; 21)an; 22)a; 23) an; 24) an.

1) the; 2) the,a; 3) the; 4) the; 5) the; 6) a; 7) the; 8) a.

1) the; 2) the,the; 3) 0.0; 4) the,the,the; 5) the; 6) 0, the.

1) a; 2) a; 3) a; 4) a; 5) the; 6)an; 7) the, a; 8) a,a,a; 9)a, the; 10) the, an, a.

1)A,the,the ; 2) an; 3) the,the; 4) the; 5)the,a,the; 6) the; 7) the, a;

8) 0, the,the; 9) 0,0,0; 10)an,a; 11)the,the,the,a; 12) a,a;

13) a,the; 14)a,a; 15)a,a,a; 16)a,a,the; 17)a,a,a;

18) the; 19)a,the; 20)a,the.

After checking the results of our tests, we see what needs to be emphasized again and what to repeat. The NES team wishes you a fruitful day and invites you to English on weekends in Kyiv.

The tasks are designed to train material on definite and indefinite articles for beginners. Exercises are given with answers to test your knowledge.

Exercise 1

Place the article x / a / an

1._girl
2._house
3. _apple
4. _ ice-cream
5._rose
6._ boy
7. _milk
8._egg
9._tree
10._ eye

11._orange
12. _ elephant
13._table
14. _umbrella
15._vitamin
16._door
17._doll
18._ fish
19._cow
20. _ tea

Correct answers to exercise #1

1. a girl
2.a house
3. an apple
4. an ice-cream
5. a rose
6. a boy
7.(x)milk
8. an egg
9. a tree
10. an eye

11. an orange
12. an elephant
13. a table
14. an umbrella
15. a vitamin
16. a door
17. a doll
18. a fish
19. a cow
20. (x)tea

Exercise 2

Place articles where necessary.

1. Sasha wants… bicycle.
2. I saw... bears.
3. ... My car is red.
4. Anna has... cat.
5. I like...sweets.
6. I need...blue pen.
7. My father is...teacher.
8. We live in...Moscow.
9. They have... house.
10. This is... orange.

Correct answers to exercise #2

1. Sasha wants a bicycle.
2. I saw bears.
3. My car is red.
4. Anna has a cat.
5. I like sweets.
6. I need a blue pen.
7. My father is a teacher.
8. We live in Moscow.
9. They have a house.
10. This is an orange.

Exercise #3

Find errors.

1. a ball
2. an doll
3.an house
4. a school
5. a TV
6.a water
7. a coffee
8. the Russia.
9.a teachers
10. advice.

Correct answers to exercise #3

1. a ball
2. (x) dolls
3.a house
4.(x)school
5.(x)TV
6.(x)water
7. (x) coffee
8. (x) Russia.
9. (x) teachers
10. (x) advice.

Exercise #4

Choose the correct sentences - where the articles are placed correctly.

a) The car is nice.
b) We saw Eiffel Tower.
c) He is a Russian gymnast.
d) Dan worked all a Saturday.
e) I don’t watch TV.
f) I sent Anna an email.
g) There are six new people.
h) Do you have pencil?
i) Weather is good a today.

Correct answers to exercise #4

Correct sentences: c; e; g;

Sentences with correctly placed articles:
a) Your car is nice.
b) We saw the Eiffel Tower.
c) He is a Russian gymnast.
d) Dan worked all Saturday.
e) I don’t watch TV.
f) I sent Anna an email.
g) There are six new people.
h) Do you have a pencil?
i) The weather is good today.

Exercise #5

Articles in context.
Place articles where necessary.

1. I planted ... tree in ... my garden ... last year. … tree has now grown big.
2. … Today I saw … my doctor. … doctor said that I should stay … at home for … week.
3. She has… very beautiful daughter. … daughter is 16.
4. I viewed…your video. …video is interesting.
5. I have... cat. … cat is black.
6. What did Kate buy? She bought… new dress.
7. I have... grandmother. … her name is Maria. She likes... flowers very much.
8. There is ... pencil on ... table. Give me... pencil, please.
9. He told…interesting story. …story was interesting.
10. I live in...Toronto. It'...my favorite city.

Correct answers to exercise #5

1. I planted a tree in my garden last year. The tree has now grown big.
2. Today I saw my doctor. The doctor said that I should stay at home for a week.
3. She has a very beautiful daughter. The daughter is 16.
4. I viewed your video. The video is interesting.
5. I have a cat. The cat is black.
6. What did Kate buy? She bought a new dress.
7. I have a grandmother. Her name is Maria. She likes flowers very much.
8. There is a pencil on the table. Give me the pencil, please.
9. He told an interesting story. The story was interesting.
10. I live in Toronto. It' my favorite city.

The use of articles in English: the definite article the, the indefinite article a (an), the zero article.

Using articles in English is a challenging task for beginners in this one of the most widely spoken languages ​​in the world. There are three types of articles in English, and although there are clear rules governing their use, choosing the right article can sometimes be difficult.

There are three articles in English:

definite articlethe : Did you enjoy the party?- Did you like the party?

two indefinite articles in English:

Article a- used if the following word begins with a consonant: I’m reading a book about England- I'm reading a book about England

Article an- if the word after it begins with a vowel: I read an interesting story - I read an interesting story

“zero article” (zero article in English) is the absence of articles:Does she like meat or fish?- Does she like meat or fish?

Articles in English can appear directly before a noun:

She is an artist - she is an artist

In addition, articles in English can be separated from a noun using an adverb or adjective:

the newly renovated church - recently restored church

a beautiful young woman - beautiful young woman

Rules for using articles in English

The use of indefinite articles in English “a” and “an” :

1. Indefinite articles in English “a” or “an” are used with nouns only in the singular in the following cases:

1.1. If an object or person is mentioned for the first time, and also if an adjective is placed before the noun as a descriptive definition:

Can I make a suggestion? - May I take a guess?

Suddenly there was a loud bang- suddenly there was a loud bang

1.2. With nouns in the construction “there is” (there was):

There was a noise outdoors - there was some noise on the street

1.3. With nouns combined with the adjective “such”:

such a day, such a car etc.

1.4. In exclamatory sentences with the intensifying pronoun “what”, indefinite articles are used in English:

What a day! “What a nice journey!”

1.5. With nouns preceded by the word “half”:

half an hour, half a day etc.

1.6. Words that begin with the letter “u”, provided that it is pronounced as /ju: / (for example, “united”, “useful”), are always used with the article “a” (not “an”):

English is a universal language

English is a universal language

1.7. The words “one and ones” and all phrases beginning with these words (such as one-sided, once-over) are always used with the article “a”:

a one-parent family, a one-way trip etc.

1.8. If abbreviations begin with the letters: F, H, L, M, N, R, S or X, and the pronunciation of these letters begins with a vowel sound (for example, F is pronounced like /ef /), then in such cases the indefinite article is always used “an” (not “a”):

an MBA degree, an FBI agent etc.

1.9. As part of some stable combinations, the indefinite article is used in English:

a lot of, twice a day, as a result, it’s a pity.

1.10. With professions:

a pilot, an engineer.

Use of the definite article in English “the”

2. The definite article the in English is used with both the singular and the plural; with both countable and uncountable nouns in the following cases:

2.1. If we are talking about a specific person or thing in a specific situation: Can you walk the dog? Can you put the book on the table? Both interlocutors know which dog and which book they are talking about. In other words, the definite article the is the equivalent of “that particular one over there.” Imagine that you are returning from the store and say to your friend: “I bought the phone.” With these words you will mislead your friend, because in fact you said: “I bought that phone,” and your friend has no idea what kind of phone you are talking about. Therefore, when mentioning an object or person for the first time, it would be correct to say: I bought a phone yesterday.

2.2. If an object or phenomenon has a description:

“This is the phone that I was telling you about yesterday”.

2.3. If an object or person was mentioned in context earlier:

This is a house. The house is very old.

2.4. If a noun in English expresses a unique object, the definite article the is used:

the sun, the world, the sky, the universe, or the only object in a certain space: the door, the window etc.

2.5. In combination with superlative adjectives:

the best friend, the longest trip etc.

2.6. In combination with ordinal numbers in English:

the first day, the second chance etc.

2.7. When used with the adjective “same”:

the same day, the same time etc.

2.8. With nouns denoting the names of lakes, waterfalls, straits, mountain ranges, groups of islands, cardinal points, rivers, seas, oceans:

the Thames, the Atlantic Ocean, the Alps, the Bermudas, the English Channel, the Gulf Stream, the Suez Canal, the Niagara Falls etc.

2.9. With the names of countries consisting of several words, including the following: federation, republic, union, state, kingdom. For example:

the German Federal Republic, the USA, the UK etc.

2.10. The names of deserts also use the definite article the in English:

the Sahara Desert

2.11. As an exception, the definite article the in English is used with the following geographical names: the Netherlands (translated into Russian - No Man's Land, to show that they still belong to someone, they use the definite article in English):

the Crimea, the Caucasus, the Vatican, the Congo, the Lebanon, the Hague and with some others

2.12. With nouns denoting the names of hotels, theaters, museums, ships:

the Hilton, the Covent Garden, the Titanic, the Bolshoy Theater etc.

2.13. With nouns denoting the names of English-language newspapers:

the Financial Times, the Daily Mail etc.

2.14. As part of stable combinations, the definite article the is used:

to play the piano/ the violin / the guitar / the cello etc., to tell the truth, to go to the cinema/ theater, to listen to the radio, the other way

2.15. With surnames, if the surname is plural and denotes the entire family:

the Smiths, the Browns etc.

The use of the zero article “zero article” (omission of articles in English)

3. Articles in English are omitted in the following cases:

3.1. Before proper names, as well as before nouns denoting ranks and titles:

Professor N., General B., Queen Y.

3.2. Before nouns denoting days of the week in English:

Monday, Sunday….

3.3. With nouns combined with prepositions in English “from….to, from…. till":

from beginning to end, from north to south, from nothing till everything, from head to foot etc.

3.4. With nouns followed by number or number:

page 45, room 8, tram 7

3.5. With nouns after the verbs “to appoint”, “to elect”:

to appoint director, to elect deputy.

3.6. Articles in English are not used with nouns denoting the following geographical concepts:

3.6.1. names of continents, as well as countries and cities, consisting of one proper name:

Europe, Asia, Australia, France, Italy, Spain etc.

3.6.2. names of individual islands (if these are not groups of islands), mountains (if this is not a mountain range), as well as names of lakes (if their name contains the word “Lake”):

Malta, Elbrus, Lake Ontario etc.

3.6.3. names of streets and squares:

Red Square, Trafalgar Square, Street, Regent Street etc.

3.7. In newspaper headlines and magazine articles:

Tasty farewell to winter, Color of Dream

3.8. In some stable combinations, articles are not used in English:

on foot, by heart, by car, at home etc.

3.9. When using such nouns in a general sense:

Time is money. Life isn't easy. Love and friendship…

When defining these nouns in a specific meaning, the definite article in English is used:

Don’t you know anything about the life of this people? Where is the money I’ve laid on the shelf?

Many foreign languages ​​have such a concept as an article. Starting to study grammar with this topic would be a good option for those who want to know English. The article (the rule of use will help you understand the question) is a functional part of speech in the English language. It shows certainty or uncertainty. Below in the text are the rules for its use when the article a (an), the is omitted.

Types of articles

There are two types of articles in English:

• definite - the;
• indefinite - a (an) (two forms).

The definite article shows that we are talking about some well-known or familiar object that is more individualized and stands out from others in some way. And indefinite indicates a more generalized meaning or an object that appears in the text for the first time. Examples:

The girl has a dog./The girl has a dog.

From this sentence it can be understood that we are talking about a specific girl who is already familiar to the reader and she was previously mentioned in the text, but the word “dog” is more general, what kind of dog is unknown.

Origin

We have already found out that in English there is such a part of speech as the article: a (an), the. They originally came from other words and to some extent retained their old meaning.

For example, the definite article is a shortened form of the word that (that, that), which is why it carries such a specific meaning.

Comes from the word one (someone, some).

Definite article

In English, the definite article has two functions: the first of them is specifying, and the other is generalizing. And this part of speech is used if a person knows exactly what object is being discussed, or if this object is unique.

The definite article in a specific meaning

• It is used if one item stands out from the entire set, it has some excellent parameters, it stands out due to a unique case, context. Before adjectives in

He is the best player in our team./He is the best player in our team.

• Placed before the words following, last, next, only and very. They make the noun more specific.

And not the next day./And not the next day.

• Superlative adjectives are also preceded by a definite article.

It is the worst day in my life./This is the worst day in my life.

The definite article in its general meaning

• Generalizing - when a noun can be attributed to a whole type of object.

Examples include the German Shepherd - the double coat is straight, and short length./For example, the German Shepherd. The coat has two characteristics: straight and short.

Here we are talking about all dogs belonging to a specific breed.

• Omitted if replaced by a possessive pronoun.

She sure had some love for her German Shepards./She definitely loves her German Shepherds.

• If you can put the word “this” in front of a noun.

The hotel also features easy access to the several subway stations./The hotel (this hotel) is also easily accessible from several subway stations.

• When indicating the era, significant events.

The First World War./First World War.

• Before uncountable nouns, only if we are talking about a certain volume of a substance.

And then the farmer has to find another way to deliver the juice./Then the farmer will have to find another way to produce juice.

• Before the names of body parts.

The hand/hand.

• Before social classes and strata of society.

The police./Police officers.

The definite article with proper names and some names

The table below will help you better understand how to use articles with proper names and some names. All the words below must be preceded by the definite article the.

Definite article. Plural

• If the definite article is used before a word in the singular, then it is also placed before it in the plural.

You can bring the ball with, if you want./If you want, take the ball with you.

You can bring the balls with, if you want./If you want, take the balls with you.

• Also, the article remains before the plural if we are talking about a group as a whole.

The members of Golf club can breathe fresh air./Members of the golf club can breathe fresh air. (Everyone can breathe fresh air).

Indefinite article a (an)

Use “a” if the first letter in the word is a consonant, “an” if it is a vowel:

• a table, a carpet, a dog/table, carpet, dog;
• an elephant, an eagle, an orange.

Exceptions to the rule:

• the article "a" is always placed before words that begin with the letter "u" if it is pronounced as /ju:/ (English is a universal language);
• before the words “one”, “ones” the article “a” is always used (a one-parent family);
• If abbreviations begin with a consonant, but are read with a vowel (F is pronounced like /ef/), then the indefinite article “an” (an FBI agent) is always used before them.

Classifying, generalizing and numeral meaning of the indefinite article

• In expressive sentences, in exclamatory sentences that begin with the word what, the indefinite article is used.

What a great!/How great!

• With singular nouns preceded by words such as rather, quite, such and most.

In a rather prescient way./Very far-sighted.

• If a noun is a generalizing meaning for an entire class, type, layer, etc., then an indefinite article is placed before it. Most often, such a noun appears at the beginning of a sentence and does not carry any important information. More significant details are described later in the text.

A newspaper text is a very laconic and relevant essay./Newspaper text is a laconic and relevant essay.

• In its numerical value, the article denotes its original meaning - one.

I can stay in Paris for only a day./I could stay in Paris for just a day. (Here it is clear that the particle -a can be replaced by one, the word from which the article a (an) was formed (the - from that). In this sentence, the particle takes its usual place).

The indefinite article a (an). Plural

Articles that are used before nouns in the singular are not used in the plural.

She had a book of astrology./She had a book on astrology.

She had two books./She had two books. (As you can see, the article is omitted.)

Proper names and articles a (an)

The article a (an) is used before if they:

• unknown

A Mr. Anderson has come to see you./A certain Mr. Anderson came to see you.

• used as common nouns

You think, I am a Leonardoda Vinci?/Do you think I am Leonardo da Vinci?

• point to individual family members

It is no wonder; in fact, she is a Smith./No wonder, because she is Smith.

• describe the position of a place or object

We saw a rebuild Rome./We saw Rome rebuilt.

In addition, there are stable expressions that, regardless of the context, never change and always remain in their place. You just need to learn these phrases:

a few/several, it is a pity/sorry, a little/a little, etc.

When the article is not needed

In English there is such a thing as when it is absent in sentences before nouns. Cases where the article is omitted have already been mentioned in the article. Let's look at a few more typical rules.

• If the nouns are preceded by the adjectives old/old, little/small, poor/poor, lazy/lazy, honest/honest.

She is little girl./She is a little girl.

• If there is no definition for the noun.

I do not like Peter./I don’t like Peter.

• Before titles, titles.

Lord Green./Lord Green.

Exercises on articles

To consolidate the acquired knowledge, you need to do several exercises. Then check your answers with the keys and analyze the errors. For example, you can do the task below.

Fill in the missing article a (an), the:

Paris is…beautiful town./Paris is a beautiful city.

What's going on? I think it's … salute./What's going on? I think it's a fireworks.

Britney Spears is ... singer./Britney Spears is a singer.

This is Nick. He is... engineer./This is Nick. He is an engineer.

… spider has eight legs./Spiders have eight legs.

It is... tomato./This is a tomato.

I am...nurse./I am a nurse.

She is... best./She is the best.

To take... seat./Sit down.

In... country./In the country.

Answers to the exercise. How to correctly insert the article a (an), the:

1. a. 2. a. 3. a. 4. an. 5. a. 6. a. 7. a. 8. the. 9. a. 10. the.

Articles

1) Put in a/an or the where necessary

1. I wrote to her but ... letter never arrived.

2. Britain is... island.

3. What is ... name of this village?

5. Montreal is ... large city in ... Canada.

6. What is ... largest city in ... Canada?

7. "What time is it?" "I don't know." I haven't got... watch."

8. When I went to ... Rome, I stayed with ... Italian friend of mine.

9. You look very tired. You need...holiday.

10. Don't sit on ... floor. It's very dirty.

11. "Let"s go to ... restaurant this evening." "That"s ... good idea. Which restaurant shall we go?"

12. Can you turn on... radio, please? I want to listen to some... music.

13. Tom is in ... bathroom. He"s having...bath.

14. This is ... nice room, but I don't like ... color of ... carpet.

15. We live in ... old house near ... station. It"s... two miles from... center.

2) Put a / an or the , where necessary:

1. I turned off the light, opened the door and went out.

2. Excuse me, can I ask a question, please?

3. Alan is the best player in our football team.

4. How far is from here to airport?

5. Enjoy your holiday and don't forget to send me postcard!

6. Have you got a ticket for concert tomorrow night?

7. What is the name of director of film we saw last night?

8. Yesterday I bought a jacket and shirt. Jacket was cheap but shirt was expensive.

9. Peter and Mary have two children, boy and girl. Boy is seven years old and girl is three.

1. Rome is________________ of Italy.

2. When we were in London, we stayed at ___________.

3. Can you ride ___________?

4. What's that man doing on _________ of that house? Is he repairing something?

5. We went to the theater last night but _________ wasn't very good.

6. Do you think English is _________________ for people to learn?

7. "Would you like ________?" "No, thanks. I don't smoke."

8. "Where is jack?" "He"s in ________. He's cooking something."

9. Excuse me, what time is___________ to London?

10. It"s ______________ today. Let"s go out.

Answers:

1. I wrote to her but the letter never arrived.

2. Britain is an island.

3. What is the name of this village?

5. Montreal is a large city in Canada.

6. What is the largest city in Canada?

7. "What time is it?" "I don't know." I haven't got a watch."

8. When I went to Rome, I stayed with an Italian friend of mine.

9. You look very tired. You need a holiday.

10. Don't sit on the floor. It's very dirty.

11. "Let"s go to a restaurant this evening." "That"s a good idea. Which restaurant shall we go?"

12. Can you turn on the radio, please? I want to listen to some music.

13. Tom is in the bathroom. He"s having a bath.

14. This is a nice room, but I don't like the color of the carpet.

15. We live in an old house near the station. It's two miles from the center.

2) Put a / an or the , where necessary:

1. I turned off the light, opened the door and went out.

2. Excuse me, can I ask a question, please?

3. Alan is the best player in our football team.

4. How far is from here to the airport?

5. Enjoy your holiday and don't forget to send me a postcard!

6. Have you got a ticket for the concert tomorrow night?

7. What is the name of the director of the film we saw last night?

8. Yesterday I bought a jacket and a shirt. The jacket was cheap but the shirt was expensive.

9. Peter and Mary have two children, a boy and a girl. The boy is seven years old and the girl is three.

You must complete the sentences using articles plus these words or pairs of words:

Bicycle, capital, cigarette, play, difficult language, kitchen, nice day, next train, roof, small hotel.

1. Rome is________________ of Italy.

2. When we were in London, we stayed at ___________.

3. Can you ride ___________?

4. What"s that man doing on _________ of that house? Is he repairing something?

5. We went to the theater last night but _________ wasn't very good.

6. Do you think English is _________________ for people to learn?

7. "Would you like ________?" "No, thanks. I don't smoke."

8. "Where is jack?" "He"s in ________. He's cooking something."

9. Excuse me, what time is___________ to London?

10. It"s ______________ today. Let"s go out.