Articles are a form of determiners. They go before nouns or noun phrases. A singular countable noun normally has an article or another determiner with it. We can say a chair, the chair, my chair, this chair, any chair or every chair, but not just chair.

• There is a frog on the wall. (NOT There is frog on wall.)
• She is a pretty girl. (NOT She is pretty girl.)
• I met a boy there. (NOT I met boy there.)
• There is a monkey on the tree.
• He wants to be a doctor. (NOT He wants to be doctor.)
• She is a writer.
• I saw a child in the store. (NOT I saw child in store.)

Plural and uncountable nouns can be used with or without an article or another determiner.
Plural nouns cannot be used with a/an, and uncountable nouns are not generally used with a/an.

Articles with superlatives

We usually use the with superlatives and words like first, second, last, next, same and only.

• She is the best student in the class. (NOT She is best student in the class.)
• This is the third time you have asked the same question.
• You are the next. (NOT You are next.)
• Who was the last to finish the race?
• Who was the first Prime Minister of independent India? (NOT Who was first Prime Minister of independent India?)

Worksheet

Fill in the blanks with appropriate articles.

1. She lives in …………… small house near ……………… river.

2. His eldest daughter is …………………. scientist.

3. I want to buy …………………. car.

4. My mother has promised to get me ……………. laptop for my birthday.

5. Who is ………………. brightest student in ……….. class?

6. India is …………….. third largest economy in …………. world.

7. She has published ……….. novel.

8. I waiting for ………….. result.

9. I have …………. cat and ………… dog.

10. She is …………………. friend of my brother’s.

11. There is no room on …………………….. bus.

12. She doesn’t have …………………… job.

13. They are waiting in …………………. lobby.

14. I am reading …………………… very good story at the moment.

15. It took me ……………………. week to finish …………………… job.

16. It is …………………… good idea.

17. She lives in ……………………. small cottage.

18. We are waiting for ………………….. news.

19. He might arrive in …………………….. afternoon.

20. He wants to be ………………………. pilot.

Answers

1. a, the, 2. a, 3. a, 4. a, 5. the, the, 6. the, the, 7. a, 8. the, 9. a, a, 10. a, 11. the, 12. a, 13. the, 14. a, 15. a, the, 16. a, 17. a, 18. the, 19. the, 20. a