Hello, dear article masters! We’ve been on our article-mastery journey for weeks now, and it’s high time we did some thorough consolidation practice. This post is going to be all about that. To make sure you have everything you need at hand, here are the links to the previous theoretical posts covering the rules of using articles in depth: “Articles” Essential Rules,” “Articles: Expanding the Nuance.” Once you’re ready, let’s get down to practice!

Exercise 1. Practice the difference between few, a few, little, and a little. Complete the sentences with “a” where necessary or leave the blank if no “a” is needed.

1. ___ few people attended the meeting, so it was canceled.
2. There is ___ little hope of finding the missing keys.
3. I have ___ few friends coming over tonight.
4. I have ___ little money left for lunch.
5. She knows ___ little French, enough to get by in Paris.
6. He has ___ little patience for long lectures.
7. She bought ___ few apples at the market.
8. There are ___ few opportunities like this in life.
9. There are ___ few students in the classroom today, so the teacher can give more individual attention.
10. I have ___ few friends who can help me move this weekend.
11. She has ___ little interest in watching TV; she prefers reading books.
12. We have ___ little milk left, just enough to make a cup of tea.

Answer key 🔑

1. no article
2. no article
3. a few friends
4. a little money
5. a little French
6. no article
7. a few
8. no article
9. no article
10. a few friends
11. no article
12. a little milk

Exercise 2. a) Complete the sentences with a/the or leave the space blank.

1. All ___ students finished the assignment early.
2. He ate half ___ cake by himself.
3. He drank half ___ glass of water before giving quite ___ long speech.
4. We walked half ___ distance before stopping to rest.
5. She spent ___ whole afternoon reading ___ rather interesting book.

Answer key 🔑

1. all the students
2. half the cake
3. half a glass; quite a long speech
4. half the distance
5. the whole afternoon; a rather interesting book

b) Rewrite the sentences using the target word + correct article.

1. The soup is very hot. (use rather)
2. I read an interesting story. (use quite)
3. They shared the pizza equally. (use half)
4. The two brothers are talented. (use both)
5. She completed the tasks for the day. (use all)

Answer key 🔑

1. The soup is rather hot.
2. I read quite an interesting story.
3. They shared half the pizza equally.
4. Both brothers are talented. (“Both the brothers” is also correct.)
5. She completed all the tasks for the day.

Exercise 3. Complete the text with a/an/the or leave the spaces blank.

Answer key 🔑

Last year I decided I wanted to learn the guitar, but I didn’t even own a guitar at the time. My friend Leo, who plays the piano pretty well, came with me to buy a second-hand guitar from a small music shop in town. The guy in the shop showed me a really cheap instrument, but it sounded awful, so I picked a nicer one that wasn’t too expensive.

Leo told me that playing the piano is totally different from playing the guitar, but he still helped me figure out the basic chords. Later that week, I met Emma, who can play the drums like a pro. She said she started by borrowing a drum kit from a neighbor, because she didn’t want to spend all her money on an expensive set at first.

Now I try to practice every day after work. I still make a lot of mistakes, but I’m getting better. One day I’d love to join a band, even if it’s just for the fun of it. For now, though, I’m happy practicing in the living room and annoying the neighbors a little bit.

Exercise 4. Insert a/an/the before each proper noun, or leave the spaces blank where necessary.

1. ___ United States signed an agreement with ___ Philippines last year.
2. They travelled across ___ Alps and then sailed down ___ Danube.
3. She spent a semester studying in ___ Oxford and later moved to ___ Netherlands.
4. He hopes to work for ___ United Nations after finishing his degree at ___ London School of Economics.
5. Her research was funded by ___ European Space Agency.
6. We finally visited ___ Louvre and then walked past ___ Eiffel Tower.
7. They stayed at a hotel near ___ University of Sydney.
8. He reads ___ New York Times every morning.
9. The museum displayed a replica of ___ Mona Lisa.
10. She specializes in literature from ___ Victorian Age and is writing a book about ___ French Revolution.
11. Without ___ Sun, life on ___ Earth could not exist, and scientists still study the effects of ___ Moon on ocean tides.
12. Many people now rely on ___ Internet for daily communication.

Answer key 🔑

1. The United States signed an agreement with the Philippines last year.
2. They travelled across the Alps and then sailed down the Danube.
3. She spent a semester studying in Oxford and later moved to the Netherlands.
4. He hopes to work for the United Nations after finishing his degree at London School of Economics.
5. Her research was funded by the European Space Agency.
6. We finally visited the Louvre and then walked past the Eiffel Tower.
7. They stayed at a hotel near the University of Sydney.
8. He reads the New York Times every morning.
9. The museum displayed a replica of the Mona Lisa.
10. She specializes in literature from the Victorian Age and is writing a book about the French Revolution.
11. Without the Sun, life on Earth could not exist, and scientists still study the effects of the Moon on ocean tides.
12. Many people now rely on the Internet for daily communication.

Exercise 5. Complete the text with a/an/the or leave the spaces blank.

Answer key 🔑

In recent decades, the study of biodiversity has become an essential component of environmental science. Researchers argue that protecting a species requires an understanding of both its ecological role and the broader ecosystem in which it exists. For example, the tiger (Panthera tigris) is often cited as a keystone species due to its position at the top of the food chain. Preserving the species involves not only safeguarding the individual animals but also maintaining the habitats that support them.

In contrast, species with limited ranges, such as the Iberian lynx, demand a different conservation strategy. Unlike the tiger, which occupies a wide geographic area, the lynx depends on a very specific environment, particularly regions with high densities of the European rabbit, which serves as the primary prey. Without the rabbit, the species cannot sustain a stable population.

Furthermore, research on climate change indicates that rising temperatures may alter the distribution patterns of numerous species, including the coral species that form the foundation of many marine ecosystems. In such cases, conservationists must balance the need for immediate action with a long-term commitment to monitoring ecological change. This requires careful integration of field data, computer modeling, and a clear methodological framework.

Ultimately, protection of species is not merely an environmental goal but a reflection of the responsibility societies hold toward the natural world. Ensuring the survival of species such as the tiger, the lynx, and the coral demands a comprehensive approach grounded in scientific evidence and supported by the international community.

Do you have any questions about the use of articles in the sentences or texts? Feel free to drop us a line in the comments. Let’s discuss it until it’s completely clear!