English exercises / A1 / Nouns, articles & adjectives

Articles a, an, the

First mention, second mention, and the times you use no article.

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Articles a, an, the

Articles a, an, the: worked examples

Five from the set, with the answer filled in and the rule that decides it. The remaining questions are in the answer key below.

  1. 01

    The film only lasts about an hour and a half.

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

  2. 02

    I bought a jacket and a scarf, but the jacket was too big.

    First mention takes a/an; after that we both know which one, so 'the'.

  3. 03

    Both my parents are (none) teachers.

    No article before a plural noun naming a job: they are teachers.

  4. 04

    You need a university degree for that job.

    'university' starts with a /y/ sound, so it takes 'a', not 'an'.

  5. 05

    It was an honest mistake, so nobody blamed her.

    Silent h again: honest, hour, honour all begin with a vowel sound.

Answer key: all 24 questions
  1. 01The film only lasts about an hour and a half.
  2. 02I bought a jacket and a scarf, but the jacket was too big.
  3. 03Both my parents are (none) teachers.
  4. 04You need a university degree for that job.
  5. 05It was an honest mistake, so nobody blamed her.
  6. 06We usually have (none) dinner at about seven.
  7. 07That was the best meal I've had for months.
  8. 08Spain is a European country, and Morocco is an African one.
  9. 09Do you speak (none) Japanese?
  10. 10Her brother is a lawyer and her sister is an MP.
  11. 11In June the sun doesn't set here until ten o'clock.
  12. 12This machine runs on (none) electricity, not petrol.
  13. 13It's a one-way street, so you can't turn right here.
  14. 14Emma was the first person to answer.
  15. 15He was so tired that he went to (none) bed at eight o'clock.
  16. 16Yesterday I met an old friend from school in town.
  17. 17My grandparents live in (none) Portugal.
  18. 18You can find almost anything on the internet these days.
  19. 19There's a good film on television tonight.
  20. 20My daughter is very good at (none) chemistry.
  21. 21Is there an umbrella in the car?
  22. 22Turn left at the hospital and my flat is the third on the right.
  23. 23In Spain children start (none) school at six.
  24. 24Tonight the moon looks really big.
The rule behind it
  • English articlesUse a or an when you mention a countable thing for the first time, or when any one of a kind will do.
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