Test it, Fix it. English grammar - Kenna Bourke 2003

Articles(1)

Test it ✓

1. Find and correct the mistake in each sentence.

2. Write a, an or the where necessary.

a Homo sapiens is ... most intelligent species on the planet.

b I met ... very interesting woman today.

c Did you fill the car up with ... petrol yesterday?

d The dog's barking at ... moon again.

e Have a look in... ...fridge. I think there's some milk left.

f That's an interesting bird - ... bird with the blue tail feathers.

g Wow! You've got lots of ... DVDs.

h Is that really ... camel I can see over there?

i Jeff's ... optician.

j Have you got ... garage at your house?

Test it again ✓

1 Match the two halves of each sentence. Add a, an or the where necessary.

a Get into bed. I've got

b The storms last night were

с I think they're

d Oh, no! I've got

e How much is

f Apparently, from space

g Pete, there's

h Which is it? A squid or

i Nick's just bought

j Look! Can you see it? There's

1. ... octopus?

2. ... oil on my favourite shirt.

3. ... email for you.

4. … motorbike.

5. ... fox in the garden.

6. ... bees but they may be wasps.

7. ... earth looks blue.

8. ... black jacket in the window?

9. … new story to read to you.

10. ... worst we've had for years.

2. Find and correct five mistakes.

Fix it

Answers to Test it

Check your answers. Wrong answer?

Read the right Fix it note to find out why.

Answers to Test it again

1. a 9 a

b 10 the

c 6 —

d 2 —

e 8 the

f 7 the

g 3 an

h 1 an

i 4 a

j 5 a

Fix it notes

Don't use a or an with uncountable nouns.

Don't use a or an with plural nouns.

Use a (not an) before a consonant sound. Use an (not a) before a vowel sound.

Use a or an when you mention something for the first time.

Use the when you mention something for the second time.

Use the when it's obvious which person or thing you're talking about.

Use the when the thing you're talking about is unique: there's only one of them.

Use the with superlative adjectives.

Review

Articles (1)

In this book there are three units on articles. Articles (1) helps you to choose between a, an or the. Articles (2) deals mostly with the definite article, the, and tells you when you shouldn't use an article at all. Articles (3) shows you when to use articles with common expressions.

A and an

• You use the indefinite article a (not an) before a consonant sound. You use the indefinite article an (not a) before a vowel sound.

Is that a camel?

He wears a uniform.

I live in a house.

I live in an old house.

Would you like an orange?

I'll take an umbrella.

• You don’t use a or an with uncountable nouns or plural nouns.

Саn you smell gas?

I'm wearing red gloves.

• You use a or an when you mention something for the first time.

A boy was walking down the street when suddenly he saw an elephant.

Would you like to go and see a film tonight? (Any film, not a particular film.)

The

• You use the when you mention something for a second time.

A boy was walking down the street. Suddenly the boy saw an elephant. The elephant was enormous.

• You use the when the person you're talking to knows which person or thing you're talking about.

Can I speak to the manager? (The manager of this shop.)

Your books are in the kitchen. (You know which kitchen.)

• You use the when the person or thing you're talking about is unique. (There's only one.)

When I was little, I gave some flowers to the Queen.

The moon looks beautiful tonight.

I love watching the sun go down.

• You use the with superlative adjectives.

The cheetah is the fastest animal on earth.

You're the nicest person I know.