A, an, the and no article

Approximate A1–A2 · editorial content label, not a certified rating.

A or an introduces one nonspecific countable thing. Choose by the next sound: a university but an hour. The points to something the listener can identify from context. General plural and uncountable nouns often have no article: Books help; Water freezes.

Try the three exercise formats

Examples to compare

  • I bought a lamp. The lamp is blue.
  • It took an hour.
  • I enjoy music.

Watch the meaning and the limits

A singular countable noun normally needs a determiner such as a, the or my. The is not simply a marker for every noun mentioned before: the listener must be able to identify the intended referent. Names and fixed expressions have their own patterns.

Read each example aloud, then change one detail to make a sentence you could use. Continue with focused practice when you want a different set.

Common mistakes and how to fix them

Mistake: I need a umbrella.

Use: I need an umbrella.

Umbrella begins with a vowel sound, so this singular countable noun takes an.

Try the pattern

3 choose questions · 2 sentence completions · 2 word gaps. Read the reason after every answer. No timer.

Typed answers stay on this page. This guided set checks the requested construction; it does not judge general writing. Read the accepted answers and reasons.

Use it in your own sentence

Write one sentence about your own routine or situation. Check the subject, verb form and intended meaning against the rule above. A different sentence may need a different form: these exercises accept the reviewed answers for their stated context.

Try the next practice set, or choose another grammar point.

All drill answers and reasons

  1. The repair took ___ hour.

    Choices: an / a / no article

    Accepted: an

    Hour begins with a vowel sound, so use an.

  2. I bought a lamp. ___ lamp is blue.

    Choices: The / A / An

    Accepted: The

    The second sentence identifies the lamp just introduced.

  3. I enjoy ___ music in general.

    Choices: no article / a / an

    Accepted: no article

    Music is uncountable and general here; no article is needed.

  4. Complete with an article and the noun: I need ___ to stay dry. (umbrella; one, not yet identified)

    Accepted: an umbrella

    Use an before the vowel sound at the start of umbrella.

  5. Complete with an article and the noun: I bought a desk. ___ is by the window. (desk)

    Accepted: The desk

    The desk refers back to the desk already introduced.

  6. The journey took ___ hour. Type a or an.

    Accepted: an

    Hour starts with a vowel sound because the h is silent.

  7. ___ water is essential for life. Speaking generally, type an article or no article.

    Accepted: no article / none

    Water is uncountable here and refers to water in general, so no article is needed.

Practice questions

How do the three exercise formats work?

Choose asks you to pick an answer. Complete the sentence asks you to type the missing phrase. Fill in the word asks for one word, or no article where stated. Every checked answer includes a reason.

Which typed answers are accepted?

Use the form and meaning requested in the prompt. Reviewed alternatives and contractions are accepted where they fit. Capital letters, surrounding spaces, straight or curly apostrophes and a final full stop, question mark or exclamation mark do not affect marking. The answer reference lists the accepted forms.

Are my typed answers sent or saved?

Typed answers stay on this page in your browser. They are not sent to the server or saved. If device progress is available, completing a set records only the activity and study points on this device.

Can this check my own writing or certify my level?

No. This is a small guided set with reviewed answers, not a general grammar checker or a level certificate. An unlisted answer does not mean it is always wrong in English. Read the prompt and the explanation for this construction.

Further reference: Cambridge English Grammar Today. The explanations, examples and exercises here are original; each lesson covers a useful pattern rather than every exception.