A, An, The Worksheet with Answers - ExamPlanning - Free Printable

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.

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🔹 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 and uncountable nouns when general.

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Now, let’s go through each sentence:

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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 (not specific).
✔ I saw a boy running in the street.
*(We use "the" for streets in general context, like "in the street")*

3. He can pay upon ____ flute very well.
→ "Flute" is a musical instrument, not specific.
✔ He can play upon a flute very well.
*(Note: "pay" should be "play", but assuming typo)*

4. I saw ____ old man in ____ street.
→ "Old man" is non-specific; "street" is general.
✔ I saw an old man in the street.
*(Use "an" because "old" starts with a vowel sound)*

5. All ____ boys were present.
→ Plural noun; no article needed for plural countable nouns in general.
✔ All the boys were present.
*(Wait — “all” implies specificity — we use “the” here because it refers to all of a particular group.)*
✔ All the boys were present.

6. He is ____ M. Phil.
→ "M. Phil." is a degree title. We don't use articles with academic degrees when used after "is".
✔ He is a M. Phil. → ✘ Incorrect.
Actually, no article is used with titles like "M.Phil.", "B.Sc.", etc., when stating someone's qualification.
✔ He is an M. Phil. → Wait, "M. Phil." starts with a vowel sound? Yes, "M" is pronounced as "em" → vowel sound.
But actually, we don’t use articles with degrees when saying “He is an M.Phil.” — it's incorrect.
Correct usage: He has an M.Phil.
But here it says “He is ____ M. Phil.” — this is grammatically incorrect unless we say:
✔ He is a M. Phil. → ✘
✔ Actually, no article is used:
👉 He is M. Phil. — still awkward.
Better: He holds an M.Phil.
But since the sentence is structured as “He is ____ M. Phil.”, and considering common usage, people sometimes say:
✔ He is an M. Phil. — though not standard.
However, standard rule: Do not use articles before academic degrees when using them as titles.
So, best answer: No article → ✔ He is M. Phil.
But that feels odd. Let’s reconsider:
Actually, in some contexts, we say:
“He is a philosopher”, but “M.Phil.” is not a person — it's a degree.
So:
✔ He is an M. Phil. — Incorrect
✔ He has an M. Phil. — Correct
But the sentence says “He is ___ M. Phil.” — so likely intended to be:
✔ He is an M. Phil. — accepted in informal English?
Actually, no article is correct:
✔ He is M. Phil. — rare.
Alternatively, perhaps the question expects:
✔ He is an M. Phil. — even though technically incorrect, many learners use it.
But better: No article — He is M. Phil. → Not natural.
Wait — actually, correct usage is: "He is a holder of an M.Phil."
But given the structure, likely expected answer is:
✔ He is an M. Phil. → Acceptable in some dialects, but not standard.
Best: No article — but if forced, an might be accepted.
Let’s assume the intended answer is: ✔ an

7. ____ moon is shining in ____ sky.
→ Moon is unique → the moon
Sky is general → the sky
✔ The moon is shining in the sky.

8. Man is ____ rational being.
→ General statement about mankind. "Man" is used generically.
✔ Man is a rational being.
(“a” because it's one example of a rational being — general category)

9. I have read ____ Arabian Nights.
→ "Arabian Nights" is a specific book title.
✔ I have read the Arabian Nights.
(Definite article for titles)

10. Dawn is ____ English paper.
→ "Dawn" is a name (probably a person), and "English paper" means a newspaper.
Assuming Dawn is a student who writes for a paper.
But "English paper" = a paper written in English? Or a newspaper?
If it's a newspaper, then:
✔ Dawn is an English paper. → But "paper" as newspaper is countable.
But "Dawn" is a person, so she can't *be* a paper.
Possibility: "Dawn is an English paper" doesn't make sense.
Alternative: Maybe "Dawn" is a name of a paper? Like "Dawn" is the name of a newspaper?
Then:
✔ Dawn is an English paper. → If "Dawn" is the name of a newspaper, then yes.
But more likely: It's a typo or misphrasing.
Perhaps: "Dawn is an English student"?
But as written: "Dawn is ____ English paper."
Assuming "paper" = newspaper, and "Dawn" is the name of a newspaper:
✔ Dawn is an English paper.
Yes, if "Dawn" is the name of a publication.
So: ✔ an

11. ____ whole milk was spilled.
→ "Whole milk" = type of milk (unspecified quantity)
But "whole" is an adjective modifying "milk" — "milk" is uncountable.
We don't use articles with uncountable nouns in general.
But "whole milk" is a specific kind — but still, no article?
Wait: "The whole milk" could mean all of the milk.
But here: "____ whole milk was spilled" — implies a quantity of milk.
But "whole milk" is a product.
We usually say: "I spilled some whole milk" or "the whole milk" if referring to a specific container.
But here, it's ambiguous.
But note: "whole" is an adjective — "whole milk" is a compound noun.
We often say: "The whole milk" when referring to a specific batch.
But in general, no article.
But if it's the entire amount of milk, then:
✔ The whole milk was spilled.
Yes — "the" indicates the entire quantity.
✔ The whole milk was spilled.

12. He is ____ European boy.
→ "European" starts with a vowel sound ("Yoo-rope-an"), so:
✔ He is a European boy.
Wait: "European" starts with "E" — pronounced "Yoo" → vowel sound → use an
✔ He is an European boy? → No!
"European" starts with "Eu", pronounced "Yoo" → vowel sound → an
✔ He is an European boy. → ✘
Wait: "European" starts with "E", which is a vowel letter, but the pronunciation is "yoo" — so vowel sound → use an
✔ He is an European boy.
But wait — actually, "European" is pronounced "yoo-ROH-peean" — starts with "y" sound → consonant sound → use a
Yes! The word "European" begins with a "y" sound, which is a consonant sound.
So: ✔ He is a European boy.

13. ____ higher you go, ____ cooler it is.
→ Comparative structure: "The + comparative, the + comparative"
✔ The higher you go, the cooler it is.

14. We saw ____ snake in ____ grass.
→ Snake is non-specific → a
Grass is general → the grass (when referring to grass in a place)
✔ We saw a snake in the grass.

15. ____ handle of this jug is durable.
→ "Handle" is specific — it's the handle of this jug → definite
✔ The handle of this jug is durable.

16. He came here ____ hour ago.
→ Time expressions: "an hour ago" — "hour" starts with vowel sound → an
✔ He came here an hour ago.

17. ____ topic we are discussing, is very interesting.
→ "The topic" — specific topic being discussed
✔ The topic we are discussing is very interesting.

18. She gave me ____ book.
→ Non-specific book → a
✔ She gave me a book.

19. He read ____ book I gave him.
→ Specific book — the one I gave him → the
✔ 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 → a
✔ I have a bag of rice.

22. ____ river is full of water.
→ General statement about rivers? Or specific?
But "river" is singular and not specific.
But rivers are usually referred to with the when generic?
No — "A river" is general, "the river" is specific.
Here: "____ river is full of water" — general statement about rivers?
But it's singular. So likely: A river is full of water. — meaning any river.
But also possible: The river (if referring to a specific one).
But since no context, assume general:
✔ A river is full of water.

23. We rode ____ elephant.
→ Non-specific elephant → an?
"Elephant" starts with vowel sound → an
✔ We rode an elephant.

24. He hit himself with ____ stick.
→ Non-specific stick → a
✔ He hit himself with a stick.

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✔ Final Answers:

| No | Answer |
|----|--------|
| 1 | A |
| 2 | a, the |
| 3 | a |
| 4 | an, the |
| 5 | the |
| 6 | an *(controversial, but likely expected)* |
| 7 | The, the |
| 8 | a |
| 9 | the |
| 10 | an |
| 11 | The |
| 12 | a |
| 13 | The, the |
| 14 | a, the |
| 15 | The |
| 16 | an |
| 17 | The |
| 18 | a |
| 19 | the |
| 20 | The, the |
| 21 | a |
| 22 | A |
| 23 | an |
| 24 | a |

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📝 Summary of Key Points:

- Use a/an for non-specific singular nouns.
- Use the for specific or unique things.
- No article for plural/uncountable nouns in general.
- The is used with comparative structures: "The more..., the more..."
- The is used with titles like "The Arabian Nights"
- An before words starting with vowel sounds, even if spelled with consonants (e.g., "an hour", "an umbrella")
- A before consonant sounds, even if spelled with vowels (e.g., "a university" — "uni" starts with "y" sound)

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✔ Final Answer Sheet:

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

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