A, AN, THE Worksheet for practicing article usage in English grammar, featuring fill-in-the-blank sentences and a cartoon student.
A, AN, THE Worksheet with fill-in-the-blank sentences for practicing article usage in English grammar, featuring a cartoon boy studying and the ExamPlanning.com logo.
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Step-by-step solution for: A, An, The Worksheet with Answers - ExamPlanning
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: A, An, The Worksheet with Answers - ExamPlanning
Let's solve this "A, AN, THE" Worksheet step by step. The goal is to fill in the blanks with the correct article: a, an, or the, based on grammar rules.
---
- A / An: Used for non-specific singular countable nouns.
- Use a before consonant sounds.
- Use an before vowel sounds.
- The: Used for specific nouns or when referring to something unique or previously mentioned.
- No article (zero article) is used with plural or uncountable nouns when generalizing, or with proper nouns (like names), etc.
---
Now let’s go through each sentence:
---
1. ____ horse runs fast.
→ General statement about horses. Non-specific.
✔ A horse runs fast.
2. I saw ____ boy running in ____ street.
→ "Boy" is non-specific; "street" is a general location.
✔ I saw a boy running in the street.
*(We use "the" with streets because it refers to a specific one, even if not named — implied context)*
3. He can pay upon ____ flute very well.
→ Refers to playing a musical instrument generally.
✔ He can play upon a flute very well.
*(Note: "pay" is likely a typo for "play")*
4. I saw ____ old man in ____ street.
→ "Old man" is non-specific; "street" again implies a particular one.
✔ I saw an old man in the street.
*(Use "an" because "old" starts with a vowel sound)*
5. All ____ boys were present.
→ "All" refers to a group of boys — plural, so no article needed.
✔ All the boys were present.
*(Wait — actually, "all" + plural noun usually requires "the" when referring to a specific group)*
✔ All the boys were present.
6. He is ____ M. Phil.
→ "M. Phil." is a degree title. We don’t use an article before academic degrees when stating someone's qualification.
✔ He is a M. Phil. ✘
Actually: He is an M. Phil.
✔ Because "M" is pronounced as "em", which starts with a vowel sound → an
7. ____ moon is shining in ____ sky.
→ Moon and sky are unique entities.
✔ The moon is shining in the sky.
8. Man is ____ rational being.
→ General statement about humanity. Abstract idea.
✔ Man is a rational being.
9. I have read ____ Arabian Nights.
→ "Arabian Nights" is a famous book collection (title). Titles of books do not take articles unless part of the name.
✔ I have read the Arabian Nights.
*(Yes — "The Arabian Nights" is a fixed title)*
10. Dawn is ____ English paper.
→ "Dawn" is a person's name here (likely a newspaper). Names of newspapers often include "the" if they're official titles.
✔ Dawn is an English paper.
*(But wait — "Dawn" is a name, not a general noun. If it's a newspaper called "Dawn", then it's "Dawn is an English paper." Yes — "an" because "English" starts with vowel sound)*
✔ an
11. ____ whole milk was spilled.
→ "Whole milk" is a type of milk. "The" is used before adjectives modifying uncountable nouns when specific.
✔ The whole milk was spilled.
*(Referring to a specific quantity of milk that was whole)*
12. He is ____ European boy.
→ "European" starts with a consonant sound → use a
✔ He is a European boy.
13. ____ higher you go, ____ cooler it is.
→ This is a comparative structure: "The + comparative, the + comparative".
✔ The higher you go, the cooler it is.
14. We saw ____ snake in ____ grass.
→ Non-specific snake; general grass (not a specific patch)
✔ We saw a snake in the grass.
*(“The grass” refers to grass in general, but in this context, it's assumed to be a specific area — still, we use "the" for natural elements like grass when referring to them in a place)*
15. ____ handle of this jug is durable.
→ Specific handle of a specific jug.
✔ The handle of this jug is durable.
16. He came here ____ hour ago.
→ Time expressions like "an hour ago" use "an" because "hour" starts with a vowel sound.
✔ He came here an hour ago.
17. ____ topic we are discussing, is very interesting.
→ Refers to a specific topic — the one currently discussed.
✔ The topic we are discussing is very interesting.
18. She gave me ____ book.
→ Non-specific book.
✔ She gave me a book.
19. He read ____ book I gave him.
→ "The book" — specific book referred to earlier (the one given).
✔ He read the book I gave him.
20. ____ less you work, ____ less you gain.
→ Comparative structure: "The + comparative, the + comparative"
✔ The less you work, the less you gain.
21. I have ____ bag of rice.
→ Non-specific bag.
✔ I have a bag of rice.
22. ____ river is full of water.
→ General statement about rivers? But "river" is singular. Likely refers to a specific river.
However, without specifying which river, it might be general. But since it's singular and not specified, it should be:
✔ A river is full of water.
*(But note: if it's a known river, we’d say "The Nile is full..." — here it's general)*
✔ A river is full of water.
23. We rode ____ elephant.
→ Non-specific elephant.
✔ We rode an elephant.
*(Because "elephant" starts with a vowel sound)*
24. He hit himself with ____ stick.
→ Non-specific stick.
✔ He hit himself with a stick.
---
| No | Sentence | Answer |
|----|--------|--------|
| 1 | ___ horse runs fast. | A |
| 2 | I saw ___ boy running in ___ street. | a, the |
| 3 | He can pay upon ___ flute very well. | a (assuming typo: "play") |
| 4 | I saw ___ old man in ___ street. | an, the |
| 5 | All ___ boys were present. | the |
| 6 | He is ___ M. Phil. | an |
| 7 | ___ moon is shining in ___ sky. | The, the |
| 8 | Man is ___ rational being. | a |
| 9 | I have read ___ Arabian Nights. | the |
| 10 | Dawn is ___ English paper. | an |
| 11 | ___ whole milk was spilled. | The |
| 12 | He is ___ European boy. | a |
| 13 | ___ higher you go, ___ cooler it is. | The, the |
| 14 | We saw ___ snake in ___ grass. | a, the |
| 15 | ___ handle of this jug is durable. | The |
| 16 | He came here ___ hour ago. | an |
| 17 | ___ topic we are discussing, is very interesting. | The |
| 18 | She gave me ___ book. | a |
| 19 | He read ___ book I gave him. | the |
| 20 | ___ less you work, ___ less you gain. | The, the |
| 21 | I have ___ bag of rice. | a |
| 22 | ___ river is full of water. | A |
| 23 | We rode ___ elephant. | an |
| 24 | He hit himself with ___ stick. | a |
---
- Use a/an for general, non-specific singular nouns.
- Use the for specific nouns, unique things, or when already mentioned.
- Use the with titles like "The Arabian Nights".
- Use the in comparative structures: "The more..., the more..."
- Use an before words starting with vowel sounds (e.g., "hour", "elephant", "old").
- Academic degrees: "an M.Phil.", "a PhD".
✔ This worksheet helps reinforce the correct usage of definite and indefinite articles in various contexts.
Let me know if you'd like a printable version or explanation in simpler terms!
---
🔹 Rules for Articles:
- A / An: Used for non-specific singular countable nouns.
- Use a before consonant sounds.
- Use an before vowel sounds.
- The: Used for specific nouns or when referring to something unique or previously mentioned.
- No article (zero article) is used with plural or uncountable nouns when generalizing, or with proper nouns (like names), etc.
---
Now let’s go through each sentence:
---
1. ____ horse runs fast.
→ General statement about horses. Non-specific.
✔ A horse runs fast.
2. I saw ____ boy running in ____ street.
→ "Boy" is non-specific; "street" is a general location.
✔ I saw a boy running in the street.
*(We use "the" with streets because it refers to a specific one, even if not named — implied context)*
3. He can pay upon ____ flute very well.
→ Refers to playing a musical instrument generally.
✔ He can play upon a flute very well.
*(Note: "pay" is likely a typo for "play")*
4. I saw ____ old man in ____ street.
→ "Old man" is non-specific; "street" again implies a particular one.
✔ I saw an old man in the street.
*(Use "an" because "old" starts with a vowel sound)*
5. All ____ boys were present.
→ "All" refers to a group of boys — plural, so no article needed.
✔ All the boys were present.
*(Wait — actually, "all" + plural noun usually requires "the" when referring to a specific group)*
✔ All the boys were present.
6. He is ____ M. Phil.
→ "M. Phil." is a degree title. We don’t use an article before academic degrees when stating someone's qualification.
✔ He is a M. Phil. ✘
Actually: He is an M. Phil.
✔ Because "M" is pronounced as "em", which starts with a vowel sound → an
7. ____ moon is shining in ____ sky.
→ Moon and sky are unique entities.
✔ The moon is shining in the sky.
8. Man is ____ rational being.
→ General statement about humanity. Abstract idea.
✔ Man is a rational being.
9. I have read ____ Arabian Nights.
→ "Arabian Nights" is a famous book collection (title). Titles of books do not take articles unless part of the name.
✔ I have read the Arabian Nights.
*(Yes — "The Arabian Nights" is a fixed title)*
10. Dawn is ____ English paper.
→ "Dawn" is a person's name here (likely a newspaper). Names of newspapers often include "the" if they're official titles.
✔ Dawn is an English paper.
*(But wait — "Dawn" is a name, not a general noun. If it's a newspaper called "Dawn", then it's "Dawn is an English paper." Yes — "an" because "English" starts with vowel sound)*
✔ an
11. ____ whole milk was spilled.
→ "Whole milk" is a type of milk. "The" is used before adjectives modifying uncountable nouns when specific.
✔ The whole milk was spilled.
*(Referring to a specific quantity of milk that was whole)*
12. He is ____ European boy.
→ "European" starts with a consonant sound → use a
✔ He is a European boy.
13. ____ higher you go, ____ cooler it is.
→ This is a comparative structure: "The + comparative, the + comparative".
✔ The higher you go, the cooler it is.
14. We saw ____ snake in ____ grass.
→ Non-specific snake; general grass (not a specific patch)
✔ We saw a snake in the grass.
*(“The grass” refers to grass in general, but in this context, it's assumed to be a specific area — still, we use "the" for natural elements like grass when referring to them in a place)*
15. ____ handle of this jug is durable.
→ Specific handle of a specific jug.
✔ The handle of this jug is durable.
16. He came here ____ hour ago.
→ Time expressions like "an hour ago" use "an" because "hour" starts with a vowel sound.
✔ He came here an hour ago.
17. ____ topic we are discussing, is very interesting.
→ Refers to a specific topic — the one currently discussed.
✔ The topic we are discussing is very interesting.
18. She gave me ____ book.
→ Non-specific book.
✔ She gave me a book.
19. He read ____ book I gave him.
→ "The book" — specific book referred to earlier (the one given).
✔ He read the book I gave him.
20. ____ less you work, ____ less you gain.
→ Comparative structure: "The + comparative, the + comparative"
✔ The less you work, the less you gain.
21. I have ____ bag of rice.
→ Non-specific bag.
✔ I have a bag of rice.
22. ____ river is full of water.
→ General statement about rivers? But "river" is singular. Likely refers to a specific river.
However, without specifying which river, it might be general. But since it's singular and not specified, it should be:
✔ A river is full of water.
*(But note: if it's a known river, we’d say "The Nile is full..." — here it's general)*
✔ A river is full of water.
23. We rode ____ elephant.
→ Non-specific elephant.
✔ We rode an elephant.
*(Because "elephant" starts with a vowel sound)*
24. He hit himself with ____ stick.
→ Non-specific stick.
✔ He hit himself with a stick.
---
✔ Final Answers:
| No | Sentence | Answer |
|----|--------|--------|
| 1 | ___ horse runs fast. | A |
| 2 | I saw ___ boy running in ___ street. | a, the |
| 3 | He can pay upon ___ flute very well. | a (assuming typo: "play") |
| 4 | I saw ___ old man in ___ street. | an, the |
| 5 | All ___ boys were present. | the |
| 6 | He is ___ M. Phil. | an |
| 7 | ___ moon is shining in ___ sky. | The, the |
| 8 | Man is ___ rational being. | a |
| 9 | I have read ___ Arabian Nights. | the |
| 10 | Dawn is ___ English paper. | an |
| 11 | ___ whole milk was spilled. | The |
| 12 | He is ___ European boy. | a |
| 13 | ___ higher you go, ___ cooler it is. | The, the |
| 14 | We saw ___ snake in ___ grass. | a, the |
| 15 | ___ handle of this jug is durable. | The |
| 16 | He came here ___ hour ago. | an |
| 17 | ___ topic we are discussing, is very interesting. | The |
| 18 | She gave me ___ book. | a |
| 19 | He read ___ book I gave him. | the |
| 20 | ___ less you work, ___ less you gain. | The, the |
| 21 | I have ___ bag of rice. | a |
| 22 | ___ river is full of water. | A |
| 23 | We rode ___ elephant. | an |
| 24 | He hit himself with ___ stick. | a |
---
📝 Summary of Key Points:
- Use a/an for general, non-specific singular nouns.
- Use the for specific nouns, unique things, or when already mentioned.
- Use the with titles like "The Arabian Nights".
- Use the in comparative structures: "The more..., the more..."
- Use an before words starting with vowel sounds (e.g., "hour", "elephant", "old").
- Academic degrees: "an M.Phil.", "a PhD".
✔ This worksheet helps reinforce the correct usage of definite and indefinite articles in various contexts.
Let me know if you'd like a printable version or explanation in simpler terms!
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of grammar articles worksheet.
