Nouns can be countable or uncountable. Countable nouns have plural forms. Examples are: apple, apples, child, children, toy, toys.

Always use an article with a singular countable noun. For example, say a boy, this boy, that boy, the boy, my boy or any boy. Don’t just say boy.

Uncountable nouns do not have a plural form. Examples are: rice, milk, water, honey, grass etc. We cannot say rices or milks.

We cannot normally use a/an with uncountable nouns. However, we can say ‘a blade of grass’, ‘a glass of milk’ etc.

Generally speaking, we do not use any article with uncountable nouns.

Study the examples given below.

• Rice is the staple food of South Indians. (NOT The rice …)
• I do not like milk. (NOT I do not like the milk.)
• Bees make honey from nectar.

Plural nouns are also used without articles when we are talking about people or things in general.

• Bananas are rich in nutrients.
• Accidents can happen anytime.

Fill in the blanks with an appropriate article. This worksheet is helpful for students preparing for their CBSE, Kerala SSLC, Karnataka SSLC, Tamil Nadu Board and MH board English exams.

11. …………………… parliament approved ……………………. new farm laws.

12. ……………………… approximate time of our arrival will be two o’clock.

Answers

1. Land will continue to appreciate in the years ahead.

2. The police expect to arrest the kidnappers before nightfall.

3. The public doesn’t fully understand the complexity of space flight.

4. Police should apprise an arrested person of his right to remain silent and to be represented by a lawyer.

5. The car slowed as it approached the corner.

6. His whole approach to the problem is wrong.

7. A long dress is appropriate for a formal wedding.

8. Let’s buy an appropriate gift for him.

9. The mayor approved the allocation for the new building.

10. In this state, parental approval is necessary before a seventeen-year-old can obtain a driver’s license.

11. The parliament approved the new farm laws.

12. The approximate time of our arrival will be two o’clock.

Worksheet 2

Fill in the blanks with an appropriate article. In some cases, no article is necessary.

1. ………………… ant is …………………. insect.

2. She didn’t answer ……………………. call.

3. It seems to be …………………… grasshopper.

4. He has got ………………. black eyes.

5. I heard …………………… loud noise.

6. That was …………………….. miracle.

7. Although he had …………………… lot of experience, he didn’t get …………………….. job.

8. He went to Mumbai to look for …………………. work.

9. It is ……………………… pleasant weather today.

10. She doesn’t have ……………………. job.

11. I want to talk to ……………………. manager.

12. ………………… information that we have received is not reliable.

Answers

1. an, an, 2. the, 3. a, 4. no article, 5. a, 6. a, 7. a, the, 8. no article, 9. no article, 10. a, 11. the, 12. the

Notes

Weather and work are uncountable nouns. They do not have plural forms. We cannot use the article ‘a’ with them.