Explanation
Exercises

📚 A / An, The & Zero Article – Uses & Examples

🅰️ Use A/An

  • First mention: I saw an old woman with a dog in the park.
  • Jobs & Descriptions: Paula is a teacher. Paris is an interesting city.
  • Singular countables require an article:
    ❌ I don’t have driving license.
    ✅ I don’t have a driving license.
    ❌ This hotel doesn’t have spa.
    ✅ This hotel doesn’t have a spa.

🔴 Use The

  • Second mention: A man and a woman sat by me. The man was British.
  • Specific items: Where are the kids? They’re in the garden. Can you open the door?
  • Only one exists: The moon looks beautiful today.
  • Common places: I’m going to the bank. I’m at the library.
  • Superlatives: This is the best restaurant in town.
  • Musical instruments: Margaret plays the guitar; I play the flute.

⭕ Zero Article (No Article)

  • General/plural/uncountable: I don’t drink milk. Women drive more cautiously than men.
  • Meals: Dinner is served at 8. I always have breakfast with my children.
  • Years, months, days: Friday is my favourite day. I saw him last week.
  • TV (service): I saw it on TV. (appliance: Turn off the TV.)
  • Languages & Subjects: He doesn’t speak English. I study biology.
  • Next/Last + time: The meeting is next Thursday. I saw him last week.
Exercises:
1
2
3

A/an, the, no article: The use of articles
in English

Choose a/an, the or no article to complete the following sentences.
1
I want to buy new phone next week.
2
sun is shining today.
3
She needs umbrella because it’s raining.
4
Do you have pencil I can borrow?
5
dogs are friendly animals.
6
We went to cinema last night.
7
Can you pass me salt, please?
8
He plays piano beautifully.
9
I saw interesting movie yesterday.
10
They had lunch at home today.

A/an, the, no article: The use of articles
in English

Choose a/an, the or no article to complete the sentences below.
1
Yesterday I saw ___ elephant at the zoo.
A.
B.
C.
D.
2
Could you hand me ___ salt, please?
A.
B.
C.
D.
3
They live in ___ small town in Spain.
A.
B.
C.
D.
4
There’s ___ book on the table.
A.
B.
C.
D.
5
We need to buy ___ milk.
A.
B.
C.
D.
6
He wants to become ___ engineer when he grows up.
A.
B.
C.
D.
7
Do you have ___ idea how to solve this problem?
A.
B.
C.
D.
8
___ students must register online before classes start.
A.
B.
C.
D.
9
I left my keys on ___ kitchen counter.
A.
B.
C.
D.
10
She works as ___ doctor at the hospital.
A.
B.
C.
D.

A/an, the, no article: The use of articles
in English

Complete the following sentences with a/an, the or no article.
1
Tomorrow I’m buying guitar I saw online.
2
She’s excellent cook and always surprises us.
3
Do you need pen from my bag?
4
We spent the afternoon in park near our house.
5
I don’t eat meat on Fridays.
6
He chose cheapest ticket available.
7
Last night we watched interesting film on TV.
8
Please close window before you leave.
9
She speaks Spanish fluently and French a little.
10
honesty is best policy.