Grammar 14.

A – AN - THE
Part I. A - AN
A An
We use A with indefinite singular nouns. We use AN for definite singular nouns.
E.g: There is a book on the table. Do you know E.g: That is an orange, not an apple.
whose it is? Take some more examples of these nouns with AN:
Take some more examples of these nouns with A: …………….. ………………. ………………….
…………….. ………………. …………………. ……………. ………………. ………………….
……………. ………………. ………………….

Special cases: Special cases:

a university a European country an hour an honest man an old lady
a rotten orange a big ape
Exercise 1: Fill in A or AN.

Exercise 2: Write “a” or “an”:

1. ___umbrella 6. ___eraser 11. ___man 16. ___orange
2. ___igloo 7. ___desk 12. ___house 17. ___skirt
3. ___tiger 8. ___envelope 13. ___hour 18. ___egg
4. ___unit 9. ___kite 14. ___year 19. ___knuckle
5. ___pear 10. ___heir 15. ___jump rope 20. ___knee
Exercise 3: Write a, an, or nothing to complete these sentences.
Example: 1. I'd like ..a.. sandwich, please.
2. He asked me for ..-.. money.
3. They want ……………………… information about the trains.
4. I'd like ……………… apple and ……………… orange, please.
5. They've got ……………….. very big house.
6. Do you like ………………. fast cars?
7. We watched ……………….. films all afternoon.
8. Have you got ………………….. umbrella?
9. I asked for ……………………… bread and cheese.
10. Are you drinking …………………… milk?
11. I had ……………….. glass of water.
12. He gave me ………………. orange.
13. Is there …………………… telephone here?
14. We had ……………….. eggs for breakfast.
15. I like …………………. coffee and tea.
Exercise 4: Fill in the blank with A or An or Nothing:
(1)…………………. Mrs. Jones has (2) ……………….. new office. It has
(3) ……………. desk, (4) …………. telephone and (5) ………………
expensive computer. Mrs. Jones is making (6) ………… phone call now
to (7) ………….. customer. She often has (8) …………… lot of customers
every day. She talks to them all (9) ……………. day and she loves her
(10) …………… work so much.
Exercise 4: Fill in the blank with A or An or Nothing:
Part II. THE
THE is used before all kinds of Nouns on the condition that the Nouns are referring to something
specific or when they are mentioned the second time.
Exercise 1: Put “an”, “an” or “the” into the gaps if they are required. Leave the gaps empty if

nothing is required.

1. I want to put some money into my bank account, so I’m going to __the__bank this afternoon.

It’s in ___-___Midland Street.

2. I had ________sandwich for ________lunch today.

3. We flew to ________Dublin Airport in ________Ireland.

4. It was ________long flight, but eventually we arrived in ________U.S.A.

5. I’m trying to learn ________Japanese. I’m having ________lesson tomorrow.

6. He made ________angry speech against ________government.

7. She is ________famous actress and she is appearing in ________popular TV series.

8. They live in ________Paris in ________area near to ________River Seine.

9.They’ve bought ________small flat in ________Park Street.

Exercise 2: Circle the correct answer to complete the following sentences.

1. They went out …… few minutes before you arrived.

a. a b. an c. the d. -
2. … is a valuable metal.
a. The gold b. Gold c. A gold d. All gold
3. You buy petrol by … litre.
a. a b. the c. - d. one
4. Butter is made from … milk.
a. the b. a c. some d. -
5. It’s easy for …. they are strong and healthy.
a. young b. the young c. a young d. the youngs
6. What …. beautiful picture!
a. - b. the b. a d. one
7. When there is a change in the weather I always have …. headache.
a. a b. - c. the d. an
8. What … nice dress!
a. one b. a c. - d. the
9. It’s easy for …. they can buy everything.
a. rich b. a rich c. the rich d. the riches
10. Apples are sold by …. pound.
a. the b. one c. a d. -
11. Did you get to the cinema in …. time?
a. the b. a c. an d. -
12. Did you come by … air?
a. an b. the c. - d. a
13. You should brush your teeth after … breakfast.
a. a b. the c. one d. -
14. ’Can you tell me … time?’ ’ It is five o’clock.’
a. the b. - c. a d. an
15. Don’t ask me. I am not … teacher.
a. - b. any c. a d. one
16. From the hotel we had a beautiful view of … Atlantic.
a. the b. - c. an d. a
17. Susan plays ….. violin well ,but she isn’t good at playing …….football.
a. the. the b. -. The c. the. - d. -. -
18. In England on … Xmas Eve many people go to … church at midnight.
a. the. the b. -. The c. the. - d. -. -
19. After … collision they were immediately taken to … hospital.
a. the. - b. the. The c. -. the d. -. -
20. … greatest invention of the 20 century is … computer.
th

a. The. - b. The. The c. -. the d. -. -

21. The highest mountain in … world is in … Himalayas.
a. a. the b. the. - c. -. the d. the. the
22. … breakfast is a meal that I do not normally enjoy but … breakfast we ate today was good.
a. The. - b. -. The c. -. - d. The. the
23.I’m sorry. I have to go. I’m in … hurry.
a. the b. a c. - d. one
24. ’Which is … largest planet?’ ’ It is … Jupiter.’
a. the. the b. -. The c. the. - d. -. -
Exercise 3: Write a /an/the where necessary.
1. Tom has got ………… brother. 25 ..........people are always in a hurry in these
2. Jane can play………… piano. days.
3. Bob is ………… intelligent boy. 26 I had ......wonderful holidays in ............Alps.
4. My cat is ………… quickest animal I know. 27 Where are........cherries I bought for........
5. Jim has got …… English friend. lunch?
6. There is …………envelope on.......table. 28 My mother doesn’t like ...........red dresses.
7. Where’s ………… pen I gave you? 29 ...........friend helps you when you
8. ......... flower you painted is beautiful. have....problems.
9 There is …… man in the garden. ……… man 30 ........CDs you lent me are wonderful.
is watering ............lawn. 31…….. London is ……..capital of England.
10 Where are …… children? They are in … 32 What ………nice jacket!
classroom. 33 Picasso was …….. artist.
11 Jim likes................flowers. 34 Would you please turn on……………..
12 Ann is waiting for ........bus at …… bus- music?
stop. 35 There's …………….fly in my drink.
13 Mr Brown can’t stand.........children. 36 What….. beautiful trousers! …... color
14 Give me ………apple, please. really suits you.
15 John lives in.......house next to mine. 37 I like …salt on my food, so could you please
16 ...........dogs are .........most faithful animals. pass …... salt?
17 There are ………boys and girls in.......room. 38 Jack goes to …… church every Sunday, but
18 Look at ....tree! It needs.........water. he went to ……. church on Monday to repair
19 I need ........ pencil. …….. roof.
 20 James is.................architect. 39 For dinner I had …… hamburger and ……..
21 ………… Paris is ………… big city. cup of tea.
22 I don’t like ........hats but ....... hat you are 40 …..service at ……. restaurant was good.
wearing is fashionable. 41 Are you interested in ………. art?
23 ....... thief was arrested and taken to ...... 42 I eat …………bread when I
prison. have……….dinner.
24 ………… moon is full tonight. 43. I live in …….. city of Milan, which is
in……..north of ……Italy.
44 I live in…………… Milan.
45 Milan is ……….best city in ………… world.

Exercise 4: Underline and correct the mistakes.

1. What time is the lunch? I want to eat the meat today. ______________

2. Picasso was painter; he was Spanish painter. ______________

3. I love the rock music; my favorite group is Rolling Stones. ______________

4. Tom’s sister is the interpreter; she is in the Japan now. ______________

5. Could you turn off a light? I want to go to the bed. ______________

6. Jane is looking for an job. ______________

7. I love the pineapples. ______________

8. I have a breakfast early in the morning. ______________

9. Charles is most interesting person I know. ______________

10. Children enjoy watching the television. ______________

Exercise 5: Fill in A/ An/ THE where necessary.

Exercise 6: Fill in A/ An/ THE where necessary.

Exercise 7:

______ The End_____