Tag: english

Questions Related to english

Fill in the blank with the most appropriate option:
The two kinds of ______ dogs that I detest most are ______ snow dogs and ______ lap dogs.

proper use of articles articles english

  1. the / _ / _

  2. _ / the / the

  3. no article

  4. the / _ / the

Show answer
Correct Option: C
Explanation:
The articles 'the', 'an' and 'a' are mainly divided into definite and indefinite. 'The' is a definite article used when the noun is specific (or when the noun is made known to the speaker), whereas 'a' and 'an' are used when the noun is non specific.
We omit the article before plural countable nouns that are spoken of in general sense.
In the given sentence, the nouns 'dogs', 'snow dogs' and 'lap dogs' are plural countable nouns that are spoken of in the general sense.
Hence we do not put an article in front of any of the nouns.
So, option C is the right answer and the other answers are wrong.

Fill in the blanks using appropriate articles:

There are two cars parked outside: _____ blue one and  __ grey one.  blue one belongs to my neighbour. I don't know who is  owner of __ grey one.

proper use of articles articles english

  1. a ; a ; The ; a ; a 

  2. a ; a ;The ; the ; the 

  3. a ; an ; The ; the ; the

  4. a ; a ;  The ; the ; a

Show answer
Correct Option: B
Explanation:

The blue car and the grey car are mentioned for the first time in the first sentence and they're known only to the speaker at this point. They're indefinite things starting with a consonant sound, hence the article 'a' is used and 'the' isn't. In the second sentence, these nouns are mentioned for the second time, which is why 'the' is used and not 'a'. The noun 'owner' has not been mentioned before but is still specific, as there is only one owner of the gray car, hence the article 'the' is correct, and 'a' isn't. This makes the option B correct, having all the correct articles mentioned, and for the reasons mentioned above the other options are incorrect.

Choose the option that best corrects the sentence:
Though their father is from Russia, the children cannot speak Russian.

proper use of articles articles english

  1. Though their father is from Russia, the children cannot speak a Russian.

  2. Though their father is from Russia, the children cannot speak an Russian.

  3. Though their father is from Russia, the children cannot speak the Russian.

  4. NO CHANGE

Show answer
Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The article is omitted before the names of continents, countries, capes, cities, towns, days, months, arts, languages, sciences, some diseases, etc. Hence, the correct answer is C).

Choose the option that best corrects the sentence:


Children enjoy playing in the rain.

proper use of articles articles english

  1. The children enjoy playing in the rain.

  2. A children enjoy playing in the rain.

  3. An children enjoy playing in the rain.

  4. NO CHANGE

Show answer
Correct Option: A,D
Explanation:

The given statement can be taken as a general statement and can also be directed towards a particular group of children. Hence Option D is correct (we don't need an article when making general statements). Option A is correct because it refers to a particular group of children which further describes them by mentioning what they enjoy. Options B and C are incorrect because the articles in both of them are used for singular nouns.

Choose the option that best corrects the sentence:
The tea will be served when you return to the hotel.

proper use of articles articles english

  1. Tea will be served when you return to the hotel.

  2. A tea will be served when you return to the hotel.

  3. An tea will be served when you return to the hotel.

  4. NO CHANGE

Show answer
Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Before proper, material and abstract nouns used in a general sense, the article may be omitted. The noun 'tea' is used in a general sense in the given sentence. Hence, the correct answer is A.

Choose the option that best corrects the sentence:
He was studying the Japanese and Chinese.

proper use of articles articles english

  1. He was studying a Japanese and a Chinese.

  2. He was studying an Japanese and an Chinese.

  3. He was studying Japanese and Chinese.

  4. NO CHANGE

Show answer
Correct Option: C
Explanation:

The article is omitted before the names of continents, countries, capes, cities, towns, days, months, arts, languages, sciences, some diseases, etc. Hence, the correct answer is C).

Choose the option that best corrects the sentence:


The Europe has many lakes and castles.

proper use of articles articles english

  1. Europe has many the lakes and castles.

  2. An Europe has many lakes and castles.

  3. Europe has many lakes and castles.

  4. NO CHANGE

Show answer
Correct Option: C
Explanation:
'An/A' is used as an indefinite article for a thing or person when the reader doesn't know which one we are referring to out of many nouns. It states the random nature of the subject.
'The' is used as a definite article for a thing or person when the reader knows which one we are exactly referring to. It states the specific nature of the subject.
We don't use articles in front of names. Thus in the given sentence 'the Europe' needs to be changed. But in option A 'the lakes' is wrong. Similarly in option B 'an Europe' is also wrong. Thus option C is correct.

Choose the option that best corrects the sentence:


After he turned eighteen, he left the home to seek his fortune.

proper use of articles articles english

  1. NO CHANGE

  2. After he turned eighteen, he left a home to seek his fortune.

  3. After he turned eighteen, he left an home to seek his fortune.

  4. After he turned eighteen, he left home to seek his fortune.

Show answer
Correct Option: D
Explanation:

In some common expressions to do with place and time, generally countable nouns act like uncountable nouns and the article is omitted. 'Home' is where the speaker resides hence it does not need to be specified and the article is not used here. 'The' needs to be removed from the sentence hence option A is incorrect. Option D is correct as the sentence in the option has omitted the article 'the'. Options B and C include articles (a, an) used for non-specific nouns, 'home' is not a non-specific noun because it belongs to the speaker. Since we know that the home was his home, we can't use any of these articles, they're both incorrect.

Choose the option that best corrects the sentence:


Mrs Trent became an headmistress of the school last year.

proper use of articles articles english

  1. Mrs Trent became a headmistress of the school last year.

  2. Mrs Trent became the headmistress of the school last year.

  3. Mrs Trent became headmistress of the school last year.

  4. NO CHANGE

Show answer
Correct Option: C
Explanation:

A predicate noun is a noun that provides more information about the subject of the sentence, here 'headmistress' is a predicate noun for the subject "Mrs Trent". The article is omitted before predicate nouns that denote a unique position, there can be only one headmistress in a school. Hence the article is omitted from the sentence and option D is incorrect. Option C is the correct option as there's no article before 'headmistress'. Options A and B are incorrect because the article (a, the) is to be omitted from the statement.

Fill in the blank with the correct or no article:

He is an architect and _____ interior designer. 

proper use of articles articles english

  1. a

  2. an

  3. the

  4. No Article

Show answer
Correct Option: B
Explanation:

There are three articles namely 'a', 'an' and 'the'.  'a', 'an' are stated as indefinite articles whereas 'the' is a definite article.


Option A - 'A' is used for a singular subject that starts with a consonant sound. 'Interior' starts with a vowel sound and hence we can't use 'a' here. Thus option A is incorrect.
Option C - 'The' is used with a singular as well as plural subject, only if the subject is definite. As he is one of the interior designers, the subject is indefinite. Thus option C is incorrect.

Option D - We usually use no article in case of uncountable nouns. Here, the noun is countable and hence we need an article. Thus option D is incorrect.
Option B - 'An' is used with a singular subject that starts with a vowel sound. As 'interior' starts with a vowel sound, we can use 'an' here. Thus option B is the correct answer.
'He is an architect and an interior designer.'