Complete the following sentences. This grammar exercise tests your understanding of rules regarding the use of articles.
1We are having ............... today.
Wrong!
Use "awful weather" because "weather" is uncountable and normally has no indefinite article.
2Do you sell ............... for dry skin?
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
Both are correct: "cold cream" refers to the substance in general, and "a cold cream" means one kind or product of cold cream.
3We have made ............... this month.
Wrong!
Use "good progress" because "progress" is uncountable in this general sense.
4The applicant should be able to speak ...............
Wrong!
Use "good English" because language names normally take no article when used generally.
5We haven't seen ............... in days.
Wrong!
Use "the sun" because we normally use "the" for the unique sun in our sky.
6How did ............... first discover fire?
Wrong!
Use "man" here to mean human beings in general.
7............... have their own language and culture.
Wrong!
Use "The Irish" because "the" plus a nationality adjective can refer to the whole people.
8My children like ..............., but I prefer the countryside.
Wrong!
Use "the sea and the mountains" because these place nouns commonly take "the" when referring to environments in general.
9............... are losing hope.
Wrong!
Use "The unemployed" because "the" plus an adjective can mean a whole group of people.
10This engine does not use ...............
Wrong!
Use "petrol" because it is an uncountable noun in this general use.
11............... is quite complicated.
Wrong!
Use "Life" when talking about life in general.
12I am studying ............... of Lincoln.
Wrong!
Use "the life" because the sentence refers to one particular person's life.
Exercise complete
0 out of 12
correct answers
Answers
- We are having awful weather today.
- Do you sell cold cream / a cold cream for dry skin?
- We have made good progress this month.
- The applicant should be able to speak good English.
- We haven’t seen the sun in days.
- How did man first discover fire?
- The Irish have their own language and culture.
- My children like the sea and the mountains, but I prefer the countryside.
- The unemployed are losing hope.
- This engine does not use petrol.
- Life is quite complicated.
- I am studying the life of Lincoln.