ESL Inventory

Articles: Rules, Examples & Exercises

In English, articles are small words we use before nouns to show if we are talking about something specific or general. There are two types of articles: indefinite and definite. They can be difficult because there are many exceptions. But don’t worry, the more you practice, the easier it becomes. Study the article below.

Infographic explaining Articles in English: ‘a/an’ for one non-specific thing versus ‘the’ for a specific one, illustrated with a group of dogs where one dog is circled. More on esl-inventory.com
Download PNG
Download PDF

Definite: “The”

Always use ‘the’ when:

  • Speaking about a specific groups: the stars that we can see.
  • It’s a physical environment: the mountains, the river.
  • The one mentioned.
  • The only one around: the sun, the moon.
  • Daily life things: the bus, the bakery.
  • With Superlatives.

Examples:

SentenceExplanation
I saw the cat outside.It is a specific cat that we known.
We visited the museum yesterday.A specific museum, already mentioned or known.

NEVER use ‘the’ when:

  • Speaking in a general way: stars have different sizes.
  • Expressions with all: all day, all summer.
  • These nouns, when mentioned in a general context: nature, society, space.
  • Before possessive and demonstrative pronouns.
  • Daily life things: the bus, the bakery.
  • Before proper nouns: Switzerland, Shakespeare, Paris.

Examples:

SentenceExplanation
Maria is from Portugal.Maria and Portugal are proper nouns
Society is changing very fast.General idea of society – no article

Exercises on Definite Articles in English

AgendaWeb1 | AgendaWeb2 | AgendaWeb3 | IST | UsingEnglish1 | UsingEnglish2 |

Indefinites: “A” and “An”

  • Use “a” before words that start with a consonant sound.
  • Use “an” before words that start with a vowel sound (a, e, i, o, u).

Examples:

SentenceExplanation
She bought a book.Refers to any book, not a specific one.
I saw an elephant at the zoo.Refers to any elephant, not a specific one.

ALWAYS use indefinite articles for:

  • Occupations and roles: a teacher, a manager, an actor.
  • Singular countable nouns: a notebook, an hour.
  • Descriptions: a tall woman, a red apple.

NEVER use indefinite articles for:

  • Plurals: an oranges, a cars.
  • Uncountable nouns: an information, a music.
  • Adjectives without nouns: a beautiful, a yellow.

Exercises on Indefinite Articles

EXERCISE: A / AN – choose the right article

Choose the correct article according to the word.

1 / 10

Choose the correct indefinite article:

2 / 10

Choose the correct indefinite article:

3 / 10

Choose the correct indefinite article:

4 / 10

Choose the correct indefinite article:

5 / 10

Choose the correct indefinite article:

6 / 10

Choose the correct indefinite article:

7 / 10

Choose the correct indefinite article:

8 / 10

Choose the correct indefinite article:

9 / 10

Choose the correct indefinite article:

10 / 10

Choose the correct indefinite article:

Your score is

0%

By Wordpress Quiz plugin

EnglischHilfen | AgendaWeb1 | AgendaWeb2 | AgendaWeb3 | AgendaWeb4 | AgendaWeb5 | AgendaWeb6 | AgendaWeb7 | EnglishExercises | EnglishRoom1 |EnglishRoom2 | LearningApps | UsingEnglish | Grammarism |

Articles Exercises

EXERCISE: Articles – a, an, the – (Round 1)

Choose the correct article – or no article – to complete the sentences.

1 / 10

I need ___ hour to finish my homework.

2 / 10

I saw ___ elephant at the zoo yesterday.

3 / 10

My father bought ___ umbrella for the rainy season.

4 / 10

He found ___ old coin while walking in the park.

5 / 10

They live in ___ small house near the mountains.

6 / 10

We visited ___ Eiffel Tower when we were in Paris.

7 / 10

She is ___ teacher at the local school.

8 / 10

I don’t like ___ milk in my coffee.

9 / 10

There is ___ water in the bottle.

10 / 10

We went to ___ beach last weekend.

Your score is

0%

By Wordpress Quiz plugin

EXERCISE: Articles – a, an, the (Round 2)

Choose the correct article – or no article – to complete the sentences.

1 / 10

I saw ___ bird in the garden.

2 / 10

___ sun is shining today.

3 / 10

I need ___ umbrella, it’s raining.

4 / 10

Can you close ___ door, please?

5 / 10

They saw ___ elephant at the zoo.

6 / 10

We stayed at ___ hotel near the beach.

7 / 10

She adopted ___ dog from the shelter.

8 / 10

She read ___ book you gave her.

9 / 10

He wants to be ___ engineer.

10 / 10

___ moon looks beautiful tonight.

Your score is

0%

By Wordpress Quiz plugin

EXERCISE: Articles – a, an, the, – (Round 3)

Choose the correct article – or no article – to complete the sentences.

1 / 10

There is ___ spider on the ceiling!

2 / 10

He bought ___ new car last week.

3 / 10

We waited at ___ bus stop for 20 minutes.

4 / 10

My sister plays ___ piano very well.

5 / 10

___ sun rises in the east.

6 / 10

They climbed ___ highest mountain in the region.

7 / 10

She works in ___ office I showed you this morning.

8 / 10

I saw ___ shooting star last night.

9 / 10

He doesn’t eat ___ meat because he’s vegetarian.

10 / 10

She wants to be ___ engineer when she grows up.

Your score is

0%

By Wordpress Quiz plugin

UsingEnglish | TestEnglish | ESLBlues | Grammarism | LiveWorksheets | AgendaWeb1 | AgendaWeb2 | AgendaWeb3 | AgendaWeb4 | AgendaWeb5 | AgendaWeb6 | AgendaWeb7 | AgendaWeb8 | AgendaWeb9 | AgendaWeb10 | AgendaWeb11 | AgendaWeb12 | Lingolia | EnglishExercises1 | EnglishExercises2 | EnglishExercises3 | EnglishExercises4 | EnglishExercises5 | IST1 | IST2 | IST3 | EnglishGrammarAt1 | EnglishGrammarAt2 | OxfordUP | EnglishGrammarAt3 | EnglishGrammarAt4 | English4u | EnglishGrammarAt5 | EnglishCurrent | Engblocks | EnglishGrammarAt6 | EnglishGrammarAt7 | EnglishGrammarAt8 | EnglishGrammarAt9 | EnglishGrammarAt10 | MyEnglishPages EnglishGrammarAt11 | BritishCouncil | FeelGood

Others/Exceptions:  EnglishGrammarAt1 | EnglishGrammarAt2 | EslBlues | AgendaWeb1 | AgendaWeb2 | PerfectEnglishGrammar

What’s next? You choose:

Pronouns
Question Words
Genitive Case