Fill in the blanks with an appropriate article.
1Yesterday I heard ............... interesting story, which is the best I have ever heard.
Wrong!
Use "an, the" because "interesting" begins with a vowel sound and superlatives take "the".
2I saw ............... pretty woman in the store.
Wrong!
Use "a" because the woman is mentioned for the first time and is not specified.
3Ceylon is ............... Indian Ocean.
Wrong!
Use "an, the" because "island" begins with a vowel sound and ocean names take "the".
4He has ............... keen eye for detail.
Wrong!
Use "a" in the fixed expression "a keen eye for detail".
5He was ............... only child of a rich merchant.
Wrong!
Use "the" before "only child" when referring to the unique child in a family.
6We expect ............... official inquiry into the incident.
Wrong!
Use "an" because "official" begins with a vowel sound and the inquiry is first mentioned.
7............... heart patient.
Wrong!
Use "The, a" because the person is specified, but "heart patient" classifies him generally.
8Son: "I want ............... pencil I gave you yesterday?"
Wrong!
Use "a, the" because the pencil is first introduced and then identified as the one given yesterday.
9I saw ............... umbrella.
Wrong!
Use "an, an" because both "old" and "umbrella" begin with vowel sounds.
10I saw ............... rhino at the city zoo.
Wrong!
Use "a" because "rhino" is singular, countable, and mentioned for the first time.
11May is ............... hottest month of the year.
Wrong!
Use "the" before a superlative adjective such as "hottest".
12There is ............... blind in this city.
Wrong!
Use "a, the" because one school is introduced and "the blind" means blind people as a group.
Done.
Score: 0/12
Answers
- Yesterday I heard an, the interesting story, which is the best I have ever heard.
- I saw a pretty woman in the store.
- Ceylon is an, the Indian Ocean.
- He has a keen eye for detail.
- He was the only child of a rich merchant.
- We expect an official inquiry into the incident.
- The, a heart patient.
- Son: “I want a, the pencil I gave you yesterday?”
- I saw an, an umbrella.
- I saw a rhino at the city zoo.
- May is the hottest month of the year.
- There is a, the blind in this city.
