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๐ Content updated on 21 April 2026
๐ฐ Articles (A, An, The) – Quick Summary:
Articles are words that define a noun as specific or unspecific. 'A' and 'An' are indefinite articles used before singular countable nouns when the noun is general or not known. 'A' comes before consonant sounds, 'An' before vowel sounds. 'The' is the definite article used for specific, particular, or previously mentioned nouns.
๐ง๐ซ Instructions for Teachers & Students: Read each sentence and fill in the correct article: 'a', 'an', or 'the' (or leave blank if no article is needed). Then click “Show Answer” for the right choice, a simple explanation, and a fresh example.
๐ง๐ซ Instructions for Teachers & Students: Read each sentence and fill in the correct article: 'a', 'an', or 'the' (or leave blank if no article is needed). Then click “Show Answer” for the right choice, a simple explanation, and a fresh example.
In this worksheet:
(Click any topic to jump straight to that section)
Articles are the tiny words that make a big difference in meaning. For more on words that point to specific things, the
Demonstratives & Possessive Determiners worksheet
is a great next step. And the
Articles and Determiners hub
has all the basics covered.
✅ Solved Examples (20 Questions with Answers)
Let's learn when to use 'a', 'an', and 'the' correctly.
Solved Q.1
"I saw _____ elephant at the zoo." (a/an/the)
Show Answer
Answer: an
Explanation: 'An' is used before words that begin with a vowel sound. 'Elephant' starts with the vowel sound 'e'.
Example: She ate an apple for breakfast.
Explanation: 'An' is used before words that begin with a vowel sound. 'Elephant' starts with the vowel sound 'e'.
Example: She ate an apple for breakfast.
Solved Q.2
"He bought _____ new car." (a/an/the)
Show Answer
Answer: a
Explanation: 'A' is used before words that begin with a consonant sound. 'New' starts with the consonant sound 'n'.
Example: She wants a bicycle for her birthday.
Explanation: 'A' is used before words that begin with a consonant sound. 'New' starts with the consonant sound 'n'.
Example: She wants a bicycle for her birthday.
Solved Q.3
"_____ sun rises in the east." (a/an/the)
Show Answer
Answer: The
Explanation: 'The' is used for unique things—there is only one sun. We also use 'the' for things that are specific or known.
Example: The moon looks beautiful tonight.
Explanation: 'The' is used for unique things—there is only one sun. We also use 'the' for things that are specific or known.
Example: The moon looks beautiful tonight.
Solved Q.4
"She is _____ honest woman." (a/an/the)
Show Answer
Answer: an
Explanation: 'Honest' begins with a silent 'h', so the first sound is the vowel 'o'. We use 'an' before vowel sounds.
Example: He waited for an hour.
Explanation: 'Honest' begins with a silent 'h', so the first sound is the vowel 'o'. We use 'an' before vowel sounds.
Example: He waited for an hour.
Solved Q.5
"I have _____ umbrella." (a/an/the)
Show Answer
Answer: an
Explanation: 'Umbrella' starts with the vowel sound 'u'. Use 'an' before vowel sounds.
Example: He wore an unusual hat.
Explanation: 'Umbrella' starts with the vowel sound 'u'. Use 'an' before vowel sounds.
Example: He wore an unusual hat.
Solved Q.6
"I need _____ pen to write."
Show Answer
Answer: a
Example: She wants a glass of water.
Example: She wants a glass of water.
Solved Q.7
"He is _____ best player in the team."
Show Answer
Answer: the
Example: This is the highest building.
Example: This is the highest building.
Solved Q.8
"She adopted _____ dog. _____ dog is very friendly."
Show Answer
Answer: a; The
Explanation: First mention: 'a dog' (indefinite). Second mention: 'The dog' (definite, now known).
Example: I saw a movie. The movie was great.
Explanation: First mention: 'a dog' (indefinite). Second mention: 'The dog' (definite, now known).
Example: I saw a movie. The movie was great.
Solved Q.9
"He goes to _____ school by bus." (a/an/the/×)
Show Answer
Answer: × (no article)
Explanation: No article is used before 'school' when it refers to the purpose of going (to study).
Example: She goes to church every Sunday.
Explanation: No article is used before 'school' when it refers to the purpose of going (to study).
Example: She goes to church every Sunday.
Solved Q.10
"He is _____ European." (a/an)
Show Answer
Answer: a
Explanation: 'European' begins with the consonant sound 'yoo'. Sound matters, not spelling.
Example: He is a university student.
Explanation: 'European' begins with the consonant sound 'yoo'. Sound matters, not spelling.
Example: He is a university student.
Solved Q.11
"_____ Ganga is a holy river."
Show Answer
Answer: The
Example: The Himalayas are majestic.
Example: The Himalayas are majestic.
Solved Q.12
"I had _____ egg for breakfast."
Show Answer
Answer: an
Example: She boiled an egg.
Example: She boiled an egg.
Solved Q.13
"She is _____ only child of her parents."
Show Answer
Answer: the
Example: He is the first person to arrive.
Example: He is the first person to arrive.
Solved Q.14
"I need _____ hour to finish this."
Show Answer
Answer: an
Example: Wait an hour, please.
Example: Wait an hour, please.
Solved Q.15
"_____ Mount Everest is the highest peak."
Show Answer
Answer: × (no article)
Explanation: No article before names of single mountains.
Example: Mount Kilimanjaro is in Africa.
Explanation: No article before names of single mountains.
Example: Mount Kilimanjaro is in Africa.
Solved Q.16
"He is _____ honest man."
Show Answer
Answer: an
Example: She is an honourable person.
Example: She is an honourable person.
Solved Q.17
"_____ Amazon is the largest river."
Show Answer
Answer: The
Example: The Nile flows through Egypt.
Example: The Nile flows through Egypt.
Solved Q.18
"She bought _____ new dress. _____ dress is red."
Show Answer
Answer: a; The
Example: He has a bike. The bike is new.
Example: He has a bike. The bike is new.
Solved Q.19
"I have _____ one-rupee coin."
Show Answer
Answer: a
Explanation: 'One' begins with the consonant sound 'w'. Use 'a'.
Example: He gave me a one-way ticket.
Explanation: 'One' begins with the consonant sound 'w'. Use 'a'.
Example: He gave me a one-way ticket.
Solved Q.20
"_____ English is spoken all over the world."
Show Answer
Answer: × (no article)
Explanation: No article before languages.
Example: She speaks Hindi fluently.
Explanation: No article before languages.
Example: She speaks Hindi fluently.
In Hindi, there is no exact equivalent of 'a/an', but เคฏเคน/เคตเคน (this/that) function similarly to 'the'. Explore more at the
Articles and Determiners hub.
Next, learn about words that point and show ownership with the
Demonstratives & Possessive Determiners worksheet.
✏️ Practice Questions (20 Questions with Answers)
Now fill in 'a', 'an', 'the', or leave blank (×).
Practice Q.1
"I saw _____ owl on the tree."
Show Answer
Answer: an
Example: An ant is tiny.
Example: An ant is tiny.
Practice Q.2
"He wants to be _____ engineer."
Show Answer
Answer: an
Example: She is an artist.
Example: She is an artist.
Practice Q.3
"_____ Taj Mahal is in Agra."
Show Answer
Answer: The
Example: The Eiffel Tower is in Paris.
Example: The Eiffel Tower is in Paris.
Practice Q.4
"She has _____ university degree."
Show Answer
Answer: a
Example: He joined a union.
Example: He joined a union.
Practice Q.5
"_____ moon is very bright tonight."
Show Answer
Answer: The
Example: The sky is clear.
Example: The sky is clear.
Practice Q.6
"I need _____ advice." (a/an/×)
Show Answer
Answer: × (no article)
Explanation: 'Advice' is uncountable, no indefinite article.
Example: She gave me information.
Explanation: 'Advice' is uncountable, no indefinite article.
Example: She gave me information.
Practice Q.7
"He is _____ MP." (Member of Parliament)
Show Answer
Answer: an
Explanation: 'MP' begins with vowel sound 'em'.
Example: She is an MBA graduate.
Explanation: 'MP' begins with vowel sound 'em'.
Example: She is an MBA graduate.
Practice Q.8
"She is _____ tallest girl in class."
Show Answer
Answer: the
Example: He is the fastest runner.
Example: He is the fastest runner.
Practice Q.9
"We had _____ lunch at 1 pm."
Show Answer
Answer: × (no article)
Example: Let's have dinner together.
Example: Let's have dinner together.
Practice Q.10
"He lives in _____ United Kingdom."
Show Answer
Answer: the
Example: She is from the USA.
Example: She is from the USA.
Practice Q.11
"I have _____ idea."
Show Answer
Answer: an
Example: That's an interesting thought.
Example: That's an interesting thought.
Practice Q.12
"_____ Andaman and Nicobar Islands are beautiful."
Show Answer
Answer: The
Example: The Himalayas are majestic.
Example: The Himalayas are majestic.
Practice Q.13
"He is _____ heir to the throne."
Show Answer
Answer: an
Example: She is an honourable person.
Example: She is an honourable person.
Practice Q.14
"She plays _____ guitar very well."
Show Answer
Answer: the
Example: He learns the piano.
Example: He learns the piano.
Practice Q.15
"I read _____ interesting book yesterday."
Show Answer
Answer: an
Example: She told me an amazing story.
Example: She told me an amazing story.
Practice Q.16
"_____ honesty is the best policy."
Show Answer
Answer: × (no article)
Example: Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder.
Example: Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder.
Practice Q.17
"She is _____ European citizen."
Show Answer
Answer: a
Example: He is a European tourist.
Example: He is a European tourist.
Practice Q.18
"_____ sun sets in the west."
Show Answer
Answer: The
Example: The earth revolves around the sun.
Example: The earth revolves around the sun.
Practice Q.19
"I bought _____ umbrella and _____ raincoat."
Show Answer
Answer: an; a
Example: She has an apple and a banana.
Example: She has an apple and a banana.
Practice Q.20
"He is _____ best singer in the choir."
Show Answer
Answer: the
Example: This is the most delicious cake.
Example: This is the most delicious cake.
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๐ Challenge Questions (10 Questions with Answers)
These questions test trickier article usage and exceptions.
Challenge Q.1
"He is _____ one-eyed man."
Show Answer
Answer: a
Example: She gave me a one-way ticket.
Example: She gave me a one-way ticket.
Challenge Q.2
"_____ French is spoken in France." (a/an/the/×)
Show Answer
Answer: × (no article)
Example: Spanish is her mother tongue.
Example: Spanish is her mother tongue.
Challenge Q.3
"She is _____ MBA from IIM Ahmedabad."
Show Answer
Answer: an
Example: He is an NCC cadet.
Example: He is an NCC cadet.
Challenge Q.4
"_____ more you practice, _____ better you become."
Show Answer
Answer: The; the
Example: The sooner, the better.
Example: The sooner, the better.
Challenge Q.5
"He went to _____ school to meet the principal." (a/an/the/×)
Show Answer
Answer: the
Explanation: Here 'school' is a specific building, not the purpose of studying.
Example: She went to the hospital to visit a friend.
Explanation: Here 'school' is a specific building, not the purpose of studying.
Example: She went to the hospital to visit a friend.
Challenge Q.6
"I love _____ music of Mozart."
Show Answer
Answer: the
Example: She admires the paintings of Picasso.
Example: She admires the paintings of Picasso.
Challenge Q.7
"_____ man is mortal." (a/an/the/×)
Show Answer
Answer: × (no article)
Explanation: 'Man' meaning humankind takes no article.
Example: Woman is often underrepresented.
Explanation: 'Man' meaning humankind takes no article.
Example: Woman is often underrepresented.
Challenge Q.8
"She is _____ Rani of Jhansi of our school."
Show Answer
Answer: the
Explanation: 'The' used before a proper noun used as a common noun to show comparison.
Example: He is the Shakespeare of our class.
Explanation: 'The' used before a proper noun used as a common noun to show comparison.
Example: He is the Shakespeare of our class.
Challenge Q.9
"_____ rich should help _____ poor."
Show Answer
Answer: The; the
Explanation: 'The' + adjective refers to a group of people.
Example: The young are full of energy.
Explanation: 'The' + adjective refers to a group of people.
Example: The young are full of energy.
Challenge Q.10
"We spent _____ hour and _____ half at the museum."
Show Answer
Answer: an; a
Example: Wait an hour and a quarter.
Example: Wait an hour and a quarter.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
FAQ 1
What is the difference between 'a' and 'an'?
Show Answer
Answer: Use 'a' before words that begin with a consonant sound (a cat, a house). Use 'an' before words that begin with a vowel sound (an apple, an hour). The sound matters, not the spelling.
FAQ 2
When do we use 'the'?
Show Answer
Answer: 'The' is used for specific or particular nouns—things both speaker and listener know about, unique things, superlatives, and previously mentioned items.
FAQ 3
When do we NOT use any article?
Show Answer
Answer: No article before plural and uncountable nouns used generally (I like dogs; Water is essential), proper names (Riya, India), languages, meals (have breakfast), and certain institutions (go to school).
FAQ 4
Why do we say 'a university' but 'an umbrella'?
Show Answer
Answer: 'University' begins with a 'yoo' consonant sound, so 'a'. 'Umbrella' begins with a vowel sound 'u', so 'an'. Focus on the first sound you hear.
FAQ 5
Do we use 'the' before names of countries?
Show Answer
Answer: Not usually. Use 'the' for countries with plural names (the Netherlands, the Philippines) or names containing 'Kingdom', 'Republic', 'States' (the United Kingdom, the USA). Most single-name countries take no article (India, France).
