Fill in the correct article in the sentences: a, an, the, or x.
Worksheet with sentences to fill in the correct article (a, an, the, or x) for English language learners.
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Articles online exercise
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Articles online exercise
Let's go through each sentence and fill in the correct article: a, an, the, or x (meaning no article is needed). I'll explain the reasoning for each.
---
1. Are you coming to ______ party next Saturday?
→ the
✔ *We use "the" when referring to a specific, known event (this particular party).*
👉 Answer: *the*
2. I bought ______ new TV set yesterday.
→ a
✔ *It’s a general, non-specific TV set — one of many.*
👉 Answer: *a*
3. I think ______ man over there is very ill. He can't stand on his feet.
→ the
✔ *"The man over there"* specifies a particular person visible to both speaker and listener.
👉 Answer: *the*
4. I watched ______ video you had sent me.
→ the
✔ *Refers to a specific video previously mentioned (sent by the other person).*
👉 Answer: *the*
5. She was wearing ______ ugly dress when she met him.
→ an
✔ *"Ugly" starts with a vowel sound (/ʌ/), so we use "an".*
👉 Answer: *an*
6. I am crazy about reading ______ history books.
→ x (no article)
✔ *When talking about categories in general (e.g., types of books), we don’t use articles.*
👉 Answer: *x*
7. She is such ______ nice girl.
→ a
✔ *"Such a + adjective + noun"* is a common structure. "Nice" begins with a consonant sound.
👉 Answer: *a*
8. Do you want to go to ______ restaurant where we first met?
→ the
✔ *Specific restaurant — the one where they first met.*
👉 Answer: *the*
9. He is ______ engineer.
→ an
✔ *"Engineer" starts with a vowel sound (/ɪ/), so use "an".*
👉 Answer: *an*
10. He thinks that ______ love is what will save us all.
→ x (no article)
✔ *Abstract nouns like "love" in general do not take an article when used in a universal sense.*
👉 Answer: *x*
11. I bought ______ pair of shoes.
→ a
✔ *One unspecified pair — general countable noun.*
👉 Answer: *a*
12. I saw ______ good movie last night.
→ a
✔ *A non-specific movie; just one of many possible movies.*
👉 Answer: *a*
13. They are staying at ______ hotel.
→ a
✔ *General reference — any hotel, not a specific one.*
👉 Answer: *a*
14. ______ man over there is unfriendly.
→ The
✔ *Specific person pointed out ("over there") → definite article.*
👉 Answer: *the*
15. I do not like ______ basketball.
→ x (no article)
✔ *Sports in general do not take articles.*
👉 Answer: *x*
16. That is ______ problem I told you about.
→ the
✔ *Specific problem previously mentioned.*
👉 Answer: *the*
17. ______ night is quiet. Let us take a walk!
→ The
✔ *We use "the" before time periods when referring to them generally (e.g., "the night", "the day").*
👉 Answer: *the*
18. ______ price of gas keeps rising.
→ The
✔ *"The price of..." is a fixed expression — always uses "the".*
👉 Answer: *the*
19. John travelled to ______ Mexico.
→ x (no article)
✔ *Names of countries usually don’t take articles unless specified (like "the USA"). Mexico doesn’t need an article.*
👉 Answer: *x*
20. Juan is ______ Spanish.
→ x (no article)
✔ *Nationalities don’t take articles when used as adjectives or subjects.*
👉 Answer: *x*
21. I read ______ amazing story.
→ an
✔ *"Amazing" starts with a vowel sound (/ə/), so use "an".*
👉 Answer: *an*
22. My brother does not eat ______ chicken.
→ x (no article)
✔ *Meat as a food category (general) doesn’t take an article.*
👉 Answer: *x*
23. Love is such ______ beautiful thing.
→ a
✔ *"Such a + adjective + noun"* — "beautiful" starts with a consonant sound.
👉 Answer: *a*
24. I live in ______ apartment. ______ apartment is new.
→ an / The
✔ First: general apartment → "an"
Second: refers back to the same apartment — now specific → "the"
👉 Answer: *an / the*
25. I would like ______ piece of cake.
→ a
✔ *One unspecified piece — general countable noun.*
👉 Answer: *a*
26. I was in ______ Japanese restaurant. ______ restaurant served good food.
→ a / The
✔ First: general restaurant → "a"
Second: refers to the same restaurant mentioned earlier → "the"
👉 Answer: *a / the*
---
1. the
2. a
3. the
4. the
5. an
6. x
7. a
8. the
9. an
10. x
11. a
12. a
13. a
14. the
15. x
16. the
17. the
18. the
19. x
20. x
21. an
22. x
23. a
24. an / the
25. a
26. a / the
---
- "a/an": for singular, non-specific nouns.
- Use "a" before consonant sounds.
- Use "an" before vowel sounds.
- "the": for specific or previously mentioned nouns.
- "x" (no article): for:
- General categories (books, sports, food).
- Nationalities.
- Countries (unless named with "the").
- Abstract ideas (love, peace).
- Fixed expressions (the price of, the night).
Let me know if you'd like this as a printable worksheet!
---
1. Are you coming to ______ party next Saturday?
→ the
✔ *We use "the" when referring to a specific, known event (this particular party).*
👉 Answer: *the*
2. I bought ______ new TV set yesterday.
→ a
✔ *It’s a general, non-specific TV set — one of many.*
👉 Answer: *a*
3. I think ______ man over there is very ill. He can't stand on his feet.
→ the
✔ *"The man over there"* specifies a particular person visible to both speaker and listener.
👉 Answer: *the*
4. I watched ______ video you had sent me.
→ the
✔ *Refers to a specific video previously mentioned (sent by the other person).*
👉 Answer: *the*
5. She was wearing ______ ugly dress when she met him.
→ an
✔ *"Ugly" starts with a vowel sound (/ʌ/), so we use "an".*
👉 Answer: *an*
6. I am crazy about reading ______ history books.
→ x (no article)
✔ *When talking about categories in general (e.g., types of books), we don’t use articles.*
👉 Answer: *x*
7. She is such ______ nice girl.
→ a
✔ *"Such a + adjective + noun"* is a common structure. "Nice" begins with a consonant sound.
👉 Answer: *a*
8. Do you want to go to ______ restaurant where we first met?
→ the
✔ *Specific restaurant — the one where they first met.*
👉 Answer: *the*
9. He is ______ engineer.
→ an
✔ *"Engineer" starts with a vowel sound (/ɪ/), so use "an".*
👉 Answer: *an*
10. He thinks that ______ love is what will save us all.
→ x (no article)
✔ *Abstract nouns like "love" in general do not take an article when used in a universal sense.*
👉 Answer: *x*
11. I bought ______ pair of shoes.
→ a
✔ *One unspecified pair — general countable noun.*
👉 Answer: *a*
12. I saw ______ good movie last night.
→ a
✔ *A non-specific movie; just one of many possible movies.*
👉 Answer: *a*
13. They are staying at ______ hotel.
→ a
✔ *General reference — any hotel, not a specific one.*
👉 Answer: *a*
14. ______ man over there is unfriendly.
→ The
✔ *Specific person pointed out ("over there") → definite article.*
👉 Answer: *the*
15. I do not like ______ basketball.
→ x (no article)
✔ *Sports in general do not take articles.*
👉 Answer: *x*
16. That is ______ problem I told you about.
→ the
✔ *Specific problem previously mentioned.*
👉 Answer: *the*
17. ______ night is quiet. Let us take a walk!
→ The
✔ *We use "the" before time periods when referring to them generally (e.g., "the night", "the day").*
👉 Answer: *the*
18. ______ price of gas keeps rising.
→ The
✔ *"The price of..." is a fixed expression — always uses "the".*
👉 Answer: *the*
19. John travelled to ______ Mexico.
→ x (no article)
✔ *Names of countries usually don’t take articles unless specified (like "the USA"). Mexico doesn’t need an article.*
👉 Answer: *x*
20. Juan is ______ Spanish.
→ x (no article)
✔ *Nationalities don’t take articles when used as adjectives or subjects.*
👉 Answer: *x*
21. I read ______ amazing story.
→ an
✔ *"Amazing" starts with a vowel sound (/ə/), so use "an".*
👉 Answer: *an*
22. My brother does not eat ______ chicken.
→ x (no article)
✔ *Meat as a food category (general) doesn’t take an article.*
👉 Answer: *x*
23. Love is such ______ beautiful thing.
→ a
✔ *"Such a + adjective + noun"* — "beautiful" starts with a consonant sound.
👉 Answer: *a*
24. I live in ______ apartment. ______ apartment is new.
→ an / The
✔ First: general apartment → "an"
Second: refers back to the same apartment — now specific → "the"
👉 Answer: *an / the*
25. I would like ______ piece of cake.
→ a
✔ *One unspecified piece — general countable noun.*
👉 Answer: *a*
26. I was in ______ Japanese restaurant. ______ restaurant served good food.
→ a / The
✔ First: general restaurant → "a"
Second: refers to the same restaurant mentioned earlier → "the"
👉 Answer: *a / the*
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✔ Final Answers:
1. the
2. a
3. the
4. the
5. an
6. x
7. a
8. the
9. an
10. x
11. a
12. a
13. a
14. the
15. x
16. the
17. the
18. the
19. x
20. x
21. an
22. x
23. a
24. an / the
25. a
26. a / the
---
🔍 Summary Rules Used:
- "a/an": for singular, non-specific nouns.
- Use "a" before consonant sounds.
- Use "an" before vowel sounds.
- "the": for specific or previously mentioned nouns.
- "x" (no article): for:
- General categories (books, sports, food).
- Nationalities.
- Countries (unless named with "the").
- Abstract ideas (love, peace).
- Fixed expressions (the price of, the night).
Let me know if you'd like this as a printable worksheet!
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of esl articles worksheet.