This grammar exercise tests your understanding of articles.
Fill in the blanks.
1............... are useful devices.
Wrong!
Use "Computers" to talk about computers in general.
2I love ...............
Wrong!
Use "mushrooms" to talk about mushrooms in general.
3............... birds can fly.
Wrong!
Use "Most" when you mean the majority of a group in general.
4Mother is in ............... because she has kidney trouble.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
For someone who is there as a patient, British English says "in hospital" and American English says "in the hospital"; both are correct.
5Both ............... are good at painting.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
Both "children" and "the children" are correct after "Both" in this sentence.
6All ............... robbers have been arrested.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
Both "five" and "the five" are correct after "All" in this sentence.
7The government should do more to help ...............
Wrong!
Use "the unemployed" to mean unemployed people as a group.
8Who is that sitting at ...............?
Wrong!
Use "the piano" because we mean a particular piano, the one the person is sitting at.
9I heard the news on ............... this morning.
Wrong!
We say "on the radio" when we talk about hearing something broadcast.
10What ............... idea!
Wrong!
Use "a brilliant" before the singular countable noun "idea" in this exclamation.
11Can you get that cat off ...............?
Wrong!
Use "the TV" when you mean the television set.
12I am getting ...............
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
Both "toothache" and "a toothache" are correct names for this pain.
Answers
- Computers are useful devices.
- I love mushrooms.
- Most birds can fly.
- Mother is in hospital / the hospital because she has kidney trouble.
- Both children / the children are good at painting.
- All five / the five robbers have been arrested.
- The government should do more to help the unemployed.
- Who is that sitting at the piano?
- I heard the news on the radio this morning.
- What a brilliant idea!
- Can you get that cat off the TV?
- I am getting toothache / a toothache.