Articles: A2 Exercises

Every answer with the reason behind it. Read the explanation for the ones you got right as well — that is where you find out whether you were right for the right reason.

Multiple choice questions — answers

1. I saw ___ interesting film last night. → an

Interesting begins with a vowel sound, so an is used.

2. She waited for ___ hour outside the station. → an

The h in hour is silent, so the word begins with a vowel sound.

3. He is studying at ___ university in Warsaw. → a

University begins with a y sound, so a is correct despite the vowel letter.

4. I bought a jacket. ___ jacket was on sale. → The

The second mention is identifiable, so it takes the.

5. ___ cats sleep for most of the day. → No article

A general statement about a whole species uses the zero article.

6. Could you close ___ window, please? → the

Both speaker and listener know which window is meant.

7. My father plays ___ guitar every evening. → the

Musical instruments take the after play.

8. We play ___ football on Saturdays. → no article

Sports take no article after play.

9. She goes to ___ work by tram. → no article

Go to work is a fixed expression with no article.

10. He is ___ engineer at a software company. → an

Jobs take a or an, and engineer begins with a vowel sound.

11. ___ sun was very strong yesterday afternoon. → The

Unique things — the sun, the moon, the sky — take the.

12. I don't drink ___ coffee after six. → no article

An uncountable noun used generally takes no article.

13. Which sentence is correct? → He went to bed early.

Go to bed is a fixed expression without an article.

14. We stayed at ___ hotel near the airport. → a

A hotel introduces one of many, unidentified to the listener.

15. ___ Danube flows through several capital cities. → The

Rivers, seas and oceans take the.

16. She lives in ___ Portugal now. → no article

Most country names take no article.

17. It was ___ honest answer, even if it was hard to hear. → an

The h in honest is silent, so the word starts with a vowel sound.

18. He spent three weeks in ___ hospital after the accident. → no article

In hospital as a patient takes no article in British English.

19. I need ___ umbrella — it's pouring. → an

Umbrella begins with a vowel sound, so an is used.

20. ___ children in this class are learning very fast. → The

A specific, identifiable group takes the even in the plural.

Fill-in-the-blank questions — answers

1. She works as ___ nurse in a small clinic. → a

Jobs take a or an, and nurse begins with a consonant sound.

2. I waited for ___ hour and then left. → an

The h in hour is silent, so the word begins with a vowel sound.

3. Please shut ___ door behind you. → the

Both people know which door is meant.

4. He bought a bicycle, but ___ bicycle was stolen a week later. → the

The second mention is identifiable and takes the definite article.

5. ___ moon looked enormous last night. → The

Unique objects in the sky take the.

6. My sister plays ___ violin in an orchestra. → the

Musical instruments take the after play.

7. We had ___ excellent meal at that little place. → an

Excellent begins with a vowel sound.

8. He is ___ university lecturer in Tbilisi. → a

University begins with a y sound, so a is correct.

9. They live near ___ Black Sea. → the

Seas and oceans take the.

10. There is ___ new café on the corner. → a

A first mention of one of many takes the indefinite article.

11. She goes to ___ gym three times a week. → the

Go to the gym is the standard form, unlike go to work or go to bed.

12. It took ___ whole afternoon to finish the report. → a

Whole begins with an h sound that is pronounced as a consonant.

13. I'd like ___ apple and a banana, please. → an

Apple begins with a vowel sound.

14. ___ film we watched last night was terrible. → The

The relative clause identifies exactly which film is meant.

15. He has ___ interview at nine tomorrow morning. → an

Interview begins with a vowel sound.

16. She was ___ only person who noticed. → the

Only makes the noun unique, so it takes the definite article.

17. We're going to ___ cinema on Friday. → the

Go to the cinema is fixed with the definite article in British English.

18. He gave me ___ useful piece of advice. → a

Useful begins with a y sound, so a is used.

19. There was ___ accident on the motorway this morning. → an

Accident begins with a vowel sound.

20. ___ people upstairs are moving out next week. → The

A specific identifiable group takes the.

Sentence structure: word ordering — answers

1. Report an unexpected animal, first mention. → I saw a fox in the garden.

Report an unexpected animal, first mention.

2. Give somebody's profession before a vowel sound. → She is an architect in Istanbul.

Give somebody's profession before a vowel sound.

3. Ask politely about a specific window. → Could you open the window, please?

Ask politely about a specific window.

4. Complain about a long wait, with a silent h. → We waited an hour for the bus.

Complain about a long wait, with a silent h.

5. Make a general statement about a species. → Dogs need a lot of exercise.

Make a general statement about a species.

6. Praise somebody's musical skill. → He plays the piano beautifully.

Praise somebody's musical skill.

7. Describe a commute with a fixed expression. → They go to work by train.

Describe a commute with a fixed expression.

8. Comment on a unique object in the sky. → The sun was very bright yesterday.

Comment on a unique object in the sky.

9. Report a first-mention purchase. → I bought a coat in the sale.

Report a first-mention purchase.

10. Refer back to something just mentioned. → The coat was half the usual price.

Refer back to something just mentioned.

11. Locate a home beside a named river. → She lives near the Thames.

Locate a home beside a named river.

12. Praise a meal, before a vowel sound. → We had an excellent dinner there.

Praise a meal, before a vowel sound.

13. Report a patient's stay, with no article. → He is in hospital for two weeks.

Report a patient's stay, with no article.

14. Make a general claim about a whole group. → Children learn languages very quickly.

Make a general claim about a whole group.

15. Ask a stranger about an unspecified shop. → Is there a chemist near here?

Ask a stranger about an unspecified shop.

16. Describe specific neighbours. → The people next door are very kind.

Describe specific neighbours.

17. Praise directness, before a silent h. → He gave me an honest answer.

Praise directness, before a silent h.

18. Report an evening out with a fixed expression. → We went to the cinema on Friday.

Report an evening out with a fixed expression.

19. Say where somebody studies, before a y sound. → She studies at a university abroad.

Say where somebody studies, before a y sound.

20. State a habit about an uncountable drink. → I never drink tea in the evening.

State a habit about an uncountable drink.