2. QUESTION 1
When do we use ‘a’ and when do we use ‘an’.
Give examples.
We use ‘a’ before countable nouns starting
with consonants and we use ‘an’ before
countable nouns starting with vowels, e.g. ‘a
horse’, ‘an eagle’.
3. QUESTION 2
Can we use ‘the’ before a singlar countable
noun?
Yes, e.g. The boy you saw yesterday is my
cousin.
4. QUESTION 3
When the noun is mentioned for the second
time in the sentence do we use ‘a’/ ‘an’ or
‘the’?
‘The’, e.g. There is a bottle on a table. The
bottle is full.
5. QUESTION 4
What is ‘definite’ and ‘indefinite’ article?
Definite article is ‘the’, indefinite article is ‘a’ or
‘an’.
6. QUESTION 5
Which type of article do we use with words like:
cinema, theatre, countryside, beach, etc.?
We use the definite article ‘the’, e.g. We’re
going to the beach after the class.
7. QUESTION 6
What type of article do we use before a singular
countable noun to represent a class of people,
animals or things?
‘a’ or ‘the’, e.g. A/the dolphin is more inteligent
than a/the shark.
8. QUESTION 7
Is the following sentence correct? Why/ why
not? Dolphins
are more intelligent than sharks.
Yes, we can use plural countable nouns to
represent a class of people, animals or things
without any articles.
9. QUESTION 8
When do we use indefinite articles? (the most
common rule)
Before single countable nouns, e.g. I see a cat.
10. QUESTION 9
Which type of article do you use with musical
instruments?
Definite article, e.g. I wish I knew how to play
the guitar.
11. QUESTION 10
Which type of article do we use for names of
places containing ‘of’?
Definite article, e.g. The United States of
America, The Tower of London, The United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
12. QUESTION 11
Is the definite article omitted before the names
of mountains?
Yes, e.g. Everest
13. QUESTION 12
Is the definite article omitted before the groups
of mountains/islands?
No, e.g. the Alps, the Bahamas, the Canary
Islands
14. QUESTION 13
Do we use definite article before the names of
seas?
Yes, e.g. the Black Sea, the Baltic Sea
15. QUESTION 14
Do we use definite article for titles with proper
names?
No, e.g. Queen Elizabeth, President Obama
16. QUESTION 15
Do we use definite article before meals?
No, e.g. Dinner is ready.
17. QUESTION 16
Do we omit definite article before names of
continents, cities and parks?
Yes, e.g. Australia, Hartlepool, Hyde Park
18. QUESTION 17
Do we use articles before names of sports?
No, e.g. He plays tennis.
19. QUESTION 18
Do we use articles with words like home,
hospital, prison, church when they are used for
the reason they exist?
No, e.g. I go to church every Sunday. (I go there
to pray).
20. QUESTION 19
Do we use definite articles for adjectives used
as plural nouns?
Yes, e.g. the rich, the poor, the unemployed,
etc.
21. QUESTION 20
Is the indefinite article used before the names
of ships, newspapers and pop groups?
No, it’s the definite article ‘the’, e.g. the Queen
Mary, The Times, the Beatles
22. QUESTION 21
Do we use the indefinite article before the
names of oceans?
No, it’s the definite article, e.g. the Pacific, the
Indian Ocean
23. QUESTION 22
Which one is correct and why?
A European driving licence/An European driving
licence
A European driving licence because although
the word ‘European’ starts with a vowel letter, it
is read as a consonant sound / j r pi n/
ˌ ʊə əˈ ːə
24. QUESTION 23
What is the difference between ‘few’ and ‘a
few’?
There is a difference in meaning. ‘A few’ means
several, e.g. A few people came to the funeral
(maybe 4 or 5 people). ‘Few’ means not as
many as expected, hardly any, e.g. Few people
came to the funeral (maybe 4 or 5 but not as
many as expected).
25. QUESTION 24
We use indefinite articles for certain
exclamations, e.g. What a beautiful girl!, What a
nice car! Is the following exclamation correct?
Why/ why not?
What a beautiful weather!
No. Weather is an uncountable noun and it
does not take an indefinite article.
