English Articles Exercise 1: A, An, The or No Article
A2–B1 · IntermediateUseful for:✓ IELTS✓ TOEIC
Practice choosing between a, an, the, and no article in everyday English sentences. This mixed exercise helps you review the basic rules and see how they work in context.
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Complete each of the sentences below with a, an, the, or no article.
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Grammar review
Mixed articles — a, an, the, or no article?
This exercise covers all article choices in English. The core questions to ask for each sentence:
Is the noun specific and known to both speaker and listener?
→ Use the: “Pass me the salt.” (we both know which one)
Is it being introduced for the first time, or is it one of many?
→ Use a/an: “She bought a new car.”
Is it a general, uncountable, or abstract noun used in a broad sense?
→ No article: “She loves music.” “He works in sales.”
Quick reference:
the = specific, identified, unique, or already mentioned
a/an = unspecific, first mention, one of many, job/role descriptions
No article = proper nouns (most), sports, languages, subjects, uncountable nouns in general sense
This exercise covers all article choices in English. The core questions to ask for each sentence:
Is the noun specific and known to both speaker and listener?
→ Use the: “Pass me the salt.” (we both know which one)
Is it being introduced for the first time, or is it one of many?
→ Use a/an: “She bought a new car.”
Is it a general, uncountable, or abstract noun used in a broad sense?
→ No article: “She loves music.” “He works in sales.”
Quick reference:
the = specific, identified, unique, or already mentioned
a/an = unspecific, first mention, one of many, job/role descriptions
No article = proper nouns (most), sports, languages, subjects, uncountable nouns in general sense
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