Articles Level 1 Practice: A, An and The Basics in English Grammar
These Level 1 questions test the first rules of English articles: choosing a or an by the opening sound of a word, using the for unique things and ordinal numbers, and leaving out the article before language names. Aptitude360 gives a worked solution for every question, so each rule is explained as you practise.
Article rules covered in this Level 1 set
- Choosing a or an by sound, including words that begin with a silent h
- Words spelt with a vowel letter but spoken with a consonant sound, such as European
- Abbreviations read letter by letter, such as NCC and LPG, that need an
- The before things that are one of a kind, such as the sky
- The before ordinal numbers like fifth or first
- No article before the names of languages in general use
Basic article concepts to revise
- A and an as indefinite articles for one non-specific countable noun
- The as the definite article for something specific or unique
- Pronunciation, not spelling, as the deciding test for a versus an
- Error-spotting sentences where only one segment carries the wrong article
Tips for getting basic articles right
- Say the word aloud before choosing a or an, since your ear catches a silent h faster than your eye
- Keep a short list of tricky words, such as honest, heir and European, with the correct article beside each
- In error-spotting sentences, check every abbreviation and every ordinal number for its article
Who this articles practice suits
Students starting English grammar for competitive exams or school tests who want a firm base in a, an and the.