As promised last week, today we’re going to practice, practice some more, and maybe a little more still! As they say, practice makes perfect, especially when it comes to articles. If you haven’t reviewed the basic use of a, the, and the zero article yet, be sure to check out our previous post before starting. Once you’re ready, dive into the exercises waiting for you below. You’ll most likely have questions, comments, or doubts—feel free to share them in the comments. We promise to get back to you with a response!
Exercise 1. Complete the sentences with a, the or no article (-). The answer key is given below.
- I went to ___ school to meet ___ principal.
- She visited ___ university to attend ___ seminar.
- I saw ___ movie you recommended.
- She’s in ___ hospital recovering from ___ surgery.
- He is at ___ war with his own conscience.
- He bought ___ book on ___ language learning.
- She studies at ___ university.
- Let’s go out for ___ dinner.
- We visited ___ church in ___ village.
- He has ___ flu.
- He bought ___ book we discussed yesterday.
- She visited ___ hospital to see her friend.
- They prepared ___ dinner for ___ holiday banquet.
- ___ Mount Everest is ___ highest mountain in ___ world.
- ___ Smiths are coming to ___ dinner.
- He cooked ___ breakfast for his guests.
- ___ French people are known for their fashion.
- They went to ___ church on ___ Sunday.
- ___ Smiths are common in ___ England.
- He fought for ___ freedom of his country.
- He goes to ___ prison for ___ theft.
- They met by ___ chance.
- He went to ___ prison to visit his friend.
- He’s in ___ home for ___ elderly.
- I want to hike ___ Alps this summer.
- She is interested in ___ art.
- ___ museum has ___ art of Picasso.
- Would you like ___ coffee?
Answer Key 🔑 + Brief Commentary 🗒️
- I went to the school to meet the principal. (The speaker refers to a specific school, one that both the speaker and listener are familiar with + “the” denotes a unique, identifiable person holding that position at that particular school.)
- She visited the university to attend a seminar. (The reference is to a specific university known to both the speaker and the listener + “a” to introduce one, non-specific seminar; its exact identity is not important or previously known.)
- I saw the movie you recommended. (a particular movie already identified by context)
- She’s in hospital recovering from surgery. (The phrase “in hospital” (mainly British English) omits the article because it refers to being there as a patient, emphasizing the institution’s function or purpose rather than the building itself. “Surgery is used without an article because it’s an uncountable noun here, referring to the general activity or process of undergoing an operation, not to a specific, countable instance of it.)
- He is at war with his own conscience. (A fixed or idiomatic expression; the noun (“war”) expresses a state or condition rather than a specific, countable thing.)
- He bought a book on language learning. (one/some book + subject in general)
- She studies at university. (This zero-article use (common in BrE) highlights the purpose or role of the institution; “she uses it as a student, as intended.”)
- Let’s go out for dinner. (“Dinner” refers to a meal in general, not a specific one; an article (a/the) would only appear if we specify or individualize the meal, e.g. We had a dinner to celebrate her promotion or The dinner was delicious.)
- We visited the church in the village. (Both nouns take “the” because they refer to specific, identifiable places.)
- He has flu/the flu. (Both acceptable; “the flu” is more common in American English; “flu” – an uncountable condition; “the flu” – a specific illness (the influenza virus) that people recognize as a distinct condition.)
- He bought the book we discussed yesterday. (A particular book already identified by context – which we discussed)
- She visited the hospital to see her friend. (The speaker refers to a specific hospital, known or identifiable in context. Unlike “in hospital” (being there as a patient), here the focus is on visiting someone, not being treated. The article signals that it’s a particular place rather than the institution in its functional sense.)
- They prepared the dinner for the holiday banquet. (The nouns refer to specific, identifiable events and meals.)
- Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world. (Proper name of a specific peak +a superlative + our specific world)
- The Smiths are coming to dinner. (The whole family + meal name)
- He cooked a breakfast for his guests. (One specific instance of breakfast prepared for the occasion)
- French people are known for their fashion. (Plural noun (“people”) referring to a nationality; we could say “the French are known…”)
- They went to church on Sunday. (“Church”: no article is used because it refers to the activity or institution (attending services) rather than a specific building + Sunday: days of the week are treated as proper nouns, which do not take an article)
- Smiths are common in England. (“Smiths”: no article is used because this refers to people with the surname Smith in general, not a specific family + country name)
- He fought for the freedom of his country. (A specific, identifiable freedom – the freedom belonging to or associated with his country)
- He goes to prison for theft. (“Prison”: the institution in its functional sense – he is going there as a prisoner, not just visiting + name of the crime committed, not a specific act of stealing)
- They met by chance. (set expression using no article)
- He went to the prison to visit his friend. (“He went to the building; here, “prison” is not used in its functional sense.)
- He’s in the home for the elderly. (Specific, identifiable care home (unlike idiomatic expressions like in hospital (British English) or at university, here the focus is on a particular place rather than the institution in general. It signals that the speaker means a specific home known or understood in context.) + “the” before a group of people)
- I want to hike the Alps this summer. (mountain range)
- She is interested in art. (subject in general)
- The museum has the art of Picasso. (specific, identifiable museum + specific works of art (by Picasso))
- Would you like a coffee? (one cup of coffee)
Exercise 2. Complete the text below with ‘a’ or ‘the’ where necessary.
Last summer, I went on trip to France. On first day, I visited Eiffel Tower, which was more impressive than I had imagined. After that, I had lunch at small café near Seine River.
In afternoon, I walked through beautiful park and saw children playing. Later, I joined guided tour of Louvre Museum, where I saw famous painting by Leonardo da Vinci.
Every evening, I enjoyed dinner at different restaurants, trying local cheeses and wines. One night, I went to opera at Grand Theatre, which was unforgettable experience.
During my stay, I also met artist who was painting streets of Paris. He explained that art of capturing everyday life is very popular in city.
By end of trip, I realized that visiting museums, parks, and cafés had given me a true sense of French culture. It was experience I will never forget.
Answer Key 🔑
Last summer, I went on a trip to France. On the first day, I visited the Eiffel Tower, which was more impressive than I had imagined. After that, I had lunch at a small café near the Seine River.
In the afternoon, I walked through a beautiful park and saw children playing. Later, I joined a guided tour of the Louvre Museum, where I saw a famous painting by Leonardo da Vinci.
Every evening, I enjoyed dinner at different restaurants, trying local cheeses and wines. One night, I went to opera at the Grand Theatre, which was an unforgettable experience.
During my stay, I also met an artist who was painting the streets of Paris. He explained that the art of capturing everyday life is very popular in the city.
By the end of the trip, I realized that visiting museums, parks, and cafés had given me a true sense of French culture. It was an experience I will never forget.
Exercise 3. Complete the text below with “a,” “an,” or “the” where needed. Some spaces may require no article.
Last weekend, I decided to explore ___ countryside near my town. I packed ___ picnic and set off early in ___ morning. On my way, I saw ___ old barn surrounded by ___ fields of ___ wildflowers. It reminded me of ___ childhood summers I spent in my grandparents’ village.
After walking for ___ while, I reached ___ small lake. ___ water was clear, and ___ ducks were swimming peacefully. I found ___ nice spot under ___ large oak tree to have my picnic.
Later, I met ___ local farmer who was tending ___ sheep in ___ meadow. He told me ___ stories about ___ history of ___ village and ___ festivals that happen every year. I also saw ___ fox darting across ___ fields and ___ hawk circling high above.
As ___ sun began to set, I packed up my things and walked back to ___ town, feeling refreshed and full of ___ energy. It was truly ___ day to remember.
Answer Key 🔑
Last weekend, I decided to explore the countryside near my town. I packed a picnic and set off early in the morning. On my way, I saw an old barn surrounded by fields of wildflowers. It reminded me of childhood summers I spent in my grandparents’ village.
After walking for a while, I reached a small lake. The water was clear, and ducks were swimming peacefully. I found a nice spot under a large oak tree to have my picnic.
Later, I met a local farmer who was tending sheep in the meadow. He told me stories about the history of the village and the festivals that happen every year. I also saw a fox darting across the fields and a hawk circling high above.
As the sun began to set, I packed up my things and walked back to the town, feeling refreshed and full of energy. It was truly a day to remember.
How are you feeling after the practice you’ve just completed? Do you have any questions or feedback? We’d love to hear your thoughts. Also, remember that next week we’ll continue our journey into the world of articles, so be sure to stay tuned. Until then, let the material sink in. 😉
Enguroo Online English School 