Definite and Indefinite Articles - ESL worksheet by montesdegira - Free Printable

Let's solve the exercises step by step and explain the rules for using a, an, the, and zero article in English.

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🔹 Rule Summary:

- Use "a" before words that start with a consonant sound.
- Use "an" before words that start with a vowel sound (a, e, i, o, u).
- "The" is used for specific or unique things.
- Zero article means no article is used — usually with uncountable nouns, plural nouns, or general concepts.

> Note: The choice between a/an depends on the sound, not just the letter.
> For example: "an hour" (starts with a silent 'h', so it sounds like "our" → vowel sound).

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## ✔ A. Write a or an (Indefinite article)

We need to choose a or an based on the starting sound of the noun.

| # | Word | Sound Type | Article |
|---|--------------|-------------------|--------|
| 1 | doctor | /d/ (consonant) | a |
| 2 | farmer | /f/ (consonant) | a |
| 3 | engineer | /ɛ/ (vowel) | an |
| 4 | astronaut | /æ/ (vowel) | an |
| 5 | pupil | /p/ (consonant) | a |
| 6 | secretary | /s/ (consonant) | a |
| 7 | actress | /æ/ (vowel) | an |
| 8 | architect | /ɑː/ (vowel) | an |
| 9 | apple | /æ/ (vowel) | an |
|10 | elephant | /ɛ/ (vowel) | an |
|11 | hamburger | /h/ (consonant) | a |
|12 | chocolate | /ch/ (consonant) | a |
|13 | girl | /g/ (consonant) | a |
|14 | ant | /æ/ (vowel) | an |
|15 | boy | /b/ (consonant) | a |
|16 | orange | /ɒ/ (vowel) | an |
|17 | mechanic | /m/ (consonant) | a |
|18 | hour | /ˈaʊər/ (vowel) | an *(silent 'h')* |
|19 | composer | /k/ (consonant) | a |
|20 | airplane | /æ/ (vowel) | an |
|21 | umbrella | /ʌ/ (vowel) | an |
|22 | car | /k/ (consonant) | a |
|23 | university | /juː/ (vowel) | a *(starts with 'u' but pronounced 'yoo')* |
|24 | housewife | /haʊ/ (consonant) | a |

✔ Answers A:
1. a
2. a
3. an
4. an
5. a
6. a
7. an
8. an
9. an
10. an
11. a
12. a
13. a
14. an
15. a
16. an
17. a
18. an
19. a
20. an
21. an
22. a
23. a
24. a

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## ✔ B. Put a or an before the following nouns

Same rule applies.

| # | Noun | Sound | Article |
|---|------------------|------------------|--------|
|1 | artist | /ɑː/ (vowel) | an |
|2 | man | /m/ (consonant) | a |
|3 | house | /haʊ/ (consonant)| a |
|4 | horse | /h/ (consonant) | a |
|5 | watch | /w/ (consonant) | a |
|6 | pen | /p/ (consonant) | a |
|7 | woman | /w/ (consonant) | a |
|8 | dog | /d/ (consonant) | a |
|9 | box | /b/ (consonant) | a |
|10| window | /w/ (consonant) | a |
|11| orange | /ɒ/ (vowel) | an |
|12| girl | /g/ (consonant) | a |
|13| elephant | /ɛ/ (vowel) | an |
|14| English girl | /ɪ/ (vowel) | an *(English starts with /ɪ/) |
|15| old scooter | /oʊ/ (vowel) | an *(old starts with /oʊ/, vowel sound)* |

✔ Answers B:
1. an
2. a
3. a
4. a
5. a
6. a
7. a
8. a
9. a
10. a
11. an
12. a
13. an
14. an
15. an

> 📌 Note: In sentence 14, "English girl" – we use an because "English" starts with a vowel sound (/ɪ/).
> In sentence 15, "old scooter" – "old" starts with a vowel sound (/oʊ/), so an is correct.

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## ✔ C. Complete the following sentences with a or an

We apply the same rule, considering the first word after the blank.

1. I'm a student and he is an engineer.
→ "student" starts with /s/ → a; "engineer" starts with /ɛ/ → an

2. She is a nurse and you are an artist.
→ "nurse" starts with /n/ → a; "artist" starts with /ɑː/ → an

3. She is an actress and he is a lawyer.
→ "actress" starts with /æ/ → an; "lawyer" starts with /l/ → a

4. I'm a teacher and you are an architect.
→ "teacher" starts with /t/ → a; "architect" starts with /ɑː/ → an

5. She is a typist and he is a taxi-driver.
→ "typist" starts with /t/ → a; "taxi-driver" starts with /t/ → a

6. You are a footballer and she is a hairdresser.
→ "footballer" starts with /f/ → a; "hairdresser" starts with /h/ → a

✔ Answers C:
1. a, an
2. a, an
3. an, a
4. a, an
5. a, a
6. a, a

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## ✔ Final Answer Key:

A.

1. a
2. a
3. an
4. an
5. a
6. a
7. an
8. an
9. an
10. an
11. a
12. a
13. a
14. an
15. a
16. an
17. a
18. an
19. a
20. an
21. an
22. a
23. a
24. a

B.

1. an
2. a
3. a
4. a
5. a
6. a
7. a
8. a
9. a
10. a
11. an
12. a
13. an
14. an
15. an

C.

1. a, an
2. a, an
3. an, a
4. a, an
5. a, a
6. a, a

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✔ Summary Tips:

- Always think about the sound, not just the letter.
- Words starting with h (like "hour", "honest") often have silent 'h' → use an.
- Words starting with u (like "university") are pronounced with /juː/ → a.
- Words starting with y (like "yellow") → a (because /j/ is a consonant sound).

Let me know if you'd like this as a printable PDF or want explanations in another language! 😊