What article to insert. The use of articles a, an, the in English

1. Put the articles a or an.

1. … elephant 2. … English dictionary 3. … butterfly 4. … German car 5. … Italian bag 6. … American college 7. … Russian city 8. … French designer 9. … Indian river 10. … egg 11. … notebook 12. … elegant lady 13. … ice-cream 14. … Japanese phone

2. Put the articles a / an or the where appropriate.

1. I'd like … chicken sandwich and … glass of … mineral water. (I'd like a chicken sandwich and a glass of mineral water.)
2. Would you like … banana or … strawberries? (Do you want a banana or a strawberry?)
3. She always has ... apple, ... toast and ... cup of ... coffee for ... breakfast. (She always eats an apple, toast and a cup of coffee for breakfast.)
4. The fly is on … ceiling in … kitchen. (The fly is on the ceiling in the kitchen.)
5. My mother is … accountant and my father is … lawyer. They work in … same company in … center of … our town. (My mother is an accountant and my father is a lawyer. They work for the same company in the center of our city.)
6. How much are … her Italian lessons? – Ten dollars … hour. (How much does her class cost? Italian? - Ten dollars an hour.
7. Where are … dogs? – They are in … garden. (Where are the dogs? - They are in the garden.)
8. … cats like eating … fish. … cows like eating … grass. … birds like eating … insects. (Cats love to eat fish. Cows love to eat grass. Birds love to eat insects.)
9. My favorite subjects are … chemistry and … biology. (My favorite subjects are chemistry and biology.)
10. There is … parrot in … cage. And there are … pieces of … fruit in it. (There is a parrot in the cage. And there are pieces of fruit in it.)
11. My granny lives in … small village in … country. (My grandmother lives in a small village in the countryside.)
12. Your baby shouldn't sit in … sun on … hot day. (Your baby should not sit in the sun on a hot day.)
13. Please open … book. … exercise is on … page 68. (Please open the book. The exercise is on page 68.)
14. Ann has been looking for … job for … long time. (Anna has been looking for a job for a long time.)
15. What's … matter? - I missed ... 6 o'clock train. (What happened? - I missed the 6 o'clock train.)
16. Do you like … vegetables? (Do you like vegetables?)
17. … mother has got … terrible headache today. (Mom has a terrible headache today.)
18. There were … tears in … her eyes. (There were tears in her eyes.)
19. She is … very nice woman but her sons are … bad boys. (She is a very good woman, but her sons are the bad guys.)
20. Look at … woman. She is … neighbor I told you about. (Look at the woman. This is the neighbor I told you about.)

3. Put the articles a / an or the where appropriate.

1. Yesterday I bought … pair of … shoes. Unfortunately… shoes are too tight. (I bought a pair of shoes yesterday. Unfortunately, the shoes are too tight.)
2. We had … dinner in … restaurant … last night. – What is … name of … restaurant? (Last night we had dinner at a restaurant. - What is the name of the restaurant?)
3. Tony has two children: … boy and … girl. They are…twins. … girl is in … France now. (Tony has two children: a boy and a girl. They are twins. The girl is now in France.)
4. Would you like another piece of … cake? - No, ... cake is too fat for me. (Do you want another piece of cake? - No, the cake is too fat for me.)
5. His office is on … Floor 5. And I live on … tenth floor. (His office is on floor 5. I live on the tenth floor.)
6. Little Mike leaves for … school very early because … school is quite far from … his home. (Little Mike goes to school very early because the school is quite far from his home.)
7. Lara saw … letter under … door. She read … letter and started crying. (Lara saw a letter under the door. She read the letter and began to cry.)
8. Did you enjoy … food at … party … last Friday? (Did you enjoy the food at last Friday night?)
9. Roger is … scientist, he works for … government. (Roger is a scientist, he works for the government.)
10. We go to … gym twice … week. (We go to the gym twice a week.)

4. Put articles where necessary.

1. I come to … work by … bus. Today … bus was a bit late. (I go to work by bus. The bus was a bit late today.)
2. … Jack is … youngest but … cleverest boy at … school. (Jack is the youngest but smartest boy in the school.)
3. It rained, so I stayed at … home in … evening. But today… sun is shining brightly in… sky. (It was raining, so I stayed at home in the evening. But today the sun is shining brightly in the sky.)
4. On … Monday … kids were tired and they went to … bed very early. (On Monday the children were tired and went to bed very early.)
5. My wife is … best woman in … world and I’m … happiest husband! (My wife - best woman in the world, and I am the happiest husband!)
6. They are having … test on … third of December. (They will have a test on the third of December.)
7. What…beautiful painting! … artist is such … talented person. (What a beautiful picture! The artist is such a talented person.)
8. Robin Hood robbed … rich and helped … poor. (Robin Hood robbed the rich and helped the poor.)
9. David is … old friend of mine. He plays … guitar perfectly. His sister has been playing … tennis since … age of ten. (David is an old friend of mine. He plays the guitar very well. His sister has been playing tennis since she was 10.)
10. … Jacksons live in that lovely cottage with … fantastic garden. (The Jackson family lives in that nice cottage with a fantastic garden.)
11. Sam used … drugs and was sent to … prison in … August. What a shame! (Sam used drugs and was sent to prison in August. What a shame!)
12. … Harrisons are not religious and they never go to … church. (The Harrison family is not religious and they never go to church.)
13. He has been in … hospital for … month. (He has been in the hospital for a month.)
14. … English are very fond of … gardening. (The English are very fond of gardening.)
15. I’ve tried to learn … Japanese many times. (I have tried learning Japanese many times.)
16. She is … famous actress and she often appears on … TV. (She is a famous actress and often appears on television.)
17. It’s such … original idea! Besides you've got … good sense of humor. (This is such an original idea! Besides, you have a good sense of humor.)
18. On … rainy day … castle looks like … prison. (On a rainy day, the castle looks like a prison.)

5. Insert articles with proper nouns if necessary.

1. … Cairo is … capital of … Egypt. (Cairo is the capital of Egypt.)
2. It was so picturesque in … Crimea … last summer. (It was so picturesque in Crimea last summer.)
3. ... London stands on … Thames. (London stands on the Thames.)
4. I had … my holiday in … northern Italy … last year but I’m going to cross … Atlantic ocean and visit … USA … next year. (I spent a holiday in northern Italy last year, but next year I'm going to cross the Atlantic Ocean and visit the USA.)
5. … Moon moves round … Earth. (The moon moves around the earth.)
6. ... Great Patriotic war started in 1941. (Great Patriotic War started in 1941.)
7. … Volga is … longest river in … Russia. (Volga is the longest river in Russia.)
8. … Ukraine and … Turkey are separated by … Black sea. (Ukraine and Turkey are separated by the Black Sea.)
9. My friend usually goes to … Alps in … spring by … plane. (My friend usually travels to the Alps in the spring by plane.)
10. …Urals are lower than…Caucasus. (Ural Mountains below the Caucasus.)
11. … Great Britain is located on … two large islands. (Great Britain is located on two large islands.)
12. … Christmas and … Easter are my favorite holidays. (Christmas and Easter are my favorite holidays.)
13. It takes about … an hour to get from … Domodedovo airport to … Lenin street. (It takes about an hour to get from Domodedovo Airport to Lenina Street.)
14. What’s … weather like today in … Australia? (What is the weather like in Australia today?)
15. … Colorado river flows through … Grand Canyon. (The Colorado River flows through the Grand Canyon.)
16. My English friend took me to see … National gallery, … Houses of … Parliament and … Tower bridge. (My English friend took me to see the National Gallery, Houses of Parliament and Tower Bridge.)
17. … Statue of … Liberty was … present from … French people. (The Statue of Liberty was a gift from the French people.)
18. … Galaxy where we live is called … Milky Way. (The galaxy we live in is called the Milky Way.)

You can also analyze the exercises individually with

One of the significant differences between English and Russian is the use of articles before nouns. This topic is difficult for Russian speakers, because in our mother tongue There are no analogues to these service words. In English, they are used in front of almost every noun, so we simply have to figure out their correct use. We will study the main cases of setting these service parts of speech in a sentence and perform various exercises on articles in English language for learning and memorizing them.

In total, there are two types of articles in English: and the indefinite article. Each of them has its own meaning, rules and cases of use. Correct use The article is an important point in English speech, because it allows you to clarify the sentence and achieve understanding with the interlocutor.

Indefinite article

Official word a(an) has a relationship with the numeral one and means the singularity of any case, phenomenon, object. Accordingly, it can only be used with those nouns that are in the singular and belong to the class of countables. Another meaning of this article is the classification of a person / object in the meaning "everyone, anyone, everyone". Consider how indefinite articles are used in English, and later we will work out the exercises.

Grammar note: if the word to which the article refers begins with a vowel, then the article has the form an , in other cases A .

Definite article

Unlike the previous part of speech, the article the is used with all possible classes of nouns, both in the singular and in plural. It is used in those cases when it comes to a specific object, person, phenomenon. We will understand the rules for the use of this service part of speech and practice their application during the exercise for definite articles in English.

Grammar note: no kind of article is used if the nouns are preceded by a pronoun, a demonstrative pronoun, a cardinal number, another noun in the possessive case, or negation no(not not!). Uncountable nouns, with rare exceptions, are used without articles.

So, we have studied the basic rules for the use of articles. There are still separate laws that use or do not use articles with geographical names, proper names, names of diseases, as well as nationalities, designations of residents, foreign languages etc. The list of these special cases is quite extensive, you can read and study it. Now our task is to consolidate the acquired general knowledge. To do this, we will perform grammar exercises on articles in modern English.

Article exercises in English

Let's practice using articles with a few exercises.

Exercise 1 (indefinite article)

Write the indefinite article a or an:

orange

car

mouse

book

apple

word

actor

arm

cat

animal

Exercise 2 (articles)

Fill in the missing article a(an) or the

child needs love and care.

computer is out of order.

What hectic life.

It is the second picture.

students are at canteen.

English is very beautiful language.

It is the final version of our project.

Exercise 3 (article the)

Write the article "the" where necessary or "-" where the article is not needed:

It is my first book.

fish are hungry.

open window, please.

My grandfather is eldest in our family.

What is right answer?

your sun is set.

Do you like cars?

My mother lives on third floor.

Do you remember Peter's words?

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

Exercise 1

Put 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 for exercise #1

1. girl
2. a house
3. an apple
4. an ice-cream
5. a rose
6. 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. fish
19. a cow
20. (x) tea

Exercise 2

Put the articles where they are needed.

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 for 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

Look for mistakes.

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

Correct answers for exercise # 3

1. 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 the 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 a pencil?
i) Weather is good today.

Correct answers for 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 the 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 for 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's my favorite city.

Articles in English are a real torment for those who go through the first lessons. They are especially difficult for children who want to learn English. Articles always bite at first. But if you look closely, they turn out to be quite “fluffy animals”.

As you know, the article determines the noun. It can be put simply: nouns in English cannot be left alone, they definitely need company. It can be a numeral or a pronoun, and in the absence of anything else, an article.

So, there is a task: "insert the article where necessary"

Let's try to figure out where it is needed. Where should the definite article be inserted and where should the indefinite article be inserted?

Indefinite (the indefinite article a/an) is used only with singular countable nouns. For example: a cat, an apple. As a test, you can refer to the translation: "one apple."

Definite (the definite article the) is somewhat more difficult to use. It applies to both singular and plural nouns, both countable and uncountable. Example: the table - the tables, the sugar. As a test, you can put "this, this, this." It is this table, this sugar. You can’t say, for example: “one apple” or “one sugar”.

The article the can also be used next to ordinal numbers. For example: the first, the fourth. He does not disdain adjectives: the best.

Different articles are needed - but not everywhere

Since the desire to insert the article where necessary includes the need to know where it should not be inserted, let's consider cases in which the article the is not used.

• The article cannot be inserted if there is a possessive pronoun before the noun: His book, her pen or a demonstrative pronoun: This cartoon, this western. The presence of a second noun in the possessive case also removes the need for the definite article: Mother's friend. This also includes the negation of “no” (it is important to remember that it is not “not”!!!). Example: There is no money.
• There is one more nuance that you need to pay attention to when completing the task “insert the article where necessary”. When mentioning an object for the first time, it is necessary to use the indefinite article (“a”) before it, and when naming the same object a second time, the definite (“the”) is already put: This is a book. The book is interesting.
• There are exception phrases in which the article is not used: At school, at home, at work. They need to be remembered.
• An adjective referring to a noun is wedged between the article and the noun: This is a good book.

In some cases, even at the first mention of an object, a definite article is placed before it: if it is the only object in the world (The sun is shining brightly); if the subject is specific to the situation (Put the book on the table).

A huge number of phrases in which the article is traditionally absent or used must be learned by heart. For example, In the corner, In the morning, At night, After work…

Insert the article where necessary in cases with geographical names

• Certain - when rivers, canals, seas, bays, straits, oceans, archipelagos, mountain ranges are called.
• Not used: when lakes, individual mountain peaks, individual islands, cities, countries, continents are called.
• Exceptions are: The United States of America, the Ukraine, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Crimea, the Netherlands, the Congo.

Nothing complicated, right?

Do you want to try individual trial lesson English via Skype (Skype) for free and at a convenient time for you? No problem! .

The article is one of the determinants of a noun and is placed before the noun or before the words that are definitions for it.

Indefinite article a(an - before words beginning with a vowel) comes from the numeral one and means one of many, some, any.

I am a student. I am a student (one of many).
This is an apple. This is an apple (one of many).

If a singular noun is preceded by indefinite article, then it is omitted in the plural.

This is a book. These are books.

Thus, the indefinite article a(an) can only be used before singular nouns.

The definite article the comes from the demonstrative pronoun that. Often translated by the words this, this, this, these. Used before nouns in both singular and plural.

The definite article is used:

When it comes to a specific person or thing.
Where is the pen? Where is the pen? (known to us)

Before a noun if it is preceded by a superlative adjective or ordinal number.
What is the longest river in the world? He was the first to come.

Before geographical names (names of oceans, seas, rivers, mountain ranges, parts of the world, etc.).
The Indian ocean, the Baltic sea, the North, the Thames, the Alps.

Before nouns, the only ones of their kind.
What is the highest mountain in the world?

In some expressions such as
in the morning, in the evening, in the afternoon, etc.

If you are mentioning a subject for the first time, use the article a (an). The next time you mention this item, give details, use the.

I have a dog.
The dog is black and has white ears.

Zero article. Articles are not used:

If any noun is used in the most generalized sense.
Crime is a probem in most big cities. Crime as such, not any specific crime.
Life has changed a lot in the last two years. Life as such, in general.

Before proper names (names of countries, cities, states, provinces, lakes, mountain peaks; the exception is the union of states or the plural in the name, for example, The United States, The Netherlands):
England, Russia, London, Mr. Johnson, Tuscany.

However, surnames used in the plural to refer to members of the same family are preceded by the definite article.
The Johnsons. Johnson family.

Before the names of the seasons, months and days of the week.
He always goes the South in summer. English classes are on Monday.

When it comes to eating, using transport, and also when it comes to places (for example: home, work, hospital, university, church, prison, etc.)

I go home by bus.
I go to school. (I am a student)
We have dinner at 2 o'clock.

In the previous example - I go to school, the article is not used, since it is understood that I am a student, therefore, the purpose of going to school lies in the purpose of the building itself - study.

But such a situation is also possible I go to the school. In this case, this means that the purpose of the visit to the school is different. For example, I go to the school, because I want to see the head master.

My mother is in hospital now. (She's ill.)
Every day I go to the hospital to see her.