Test your English grammar and Verbal Ability skills with practice questions on the use of articles (a, an and the). Practise choosing the correct article in sentences and improve your grammar accuracy. Suitable for TCS NQT, placement tests and competitive exams.
Question 1
Choose the option that correctly fills the blank.

She waited for ______ hour at the bank.
A
a✓✗
B
the✓✗
C
an✓✗
D
No article✓✗
Explanation
"Hour" begins with a vowel sound because the h is silent, so "an" is correct. "A" is used before a consonant sound. The sentence refers to any one hour, so "the" does not fit, and a singular countable noun needs an article.
Question 2
Choose the option that correctly fills the blank.

Riya has joined ______ European company.
A
an✓✗
B
the✓✗
C
No article✓✗
D
a✓✗
Explanation
"European" begins with a "yoo" sound, which is a consonant sound, so "a" is correct. The spelling starts with a vowel, but the sound decides. No specific company is meant, so "the" does not fit.
Question 3
Choose the option that correctly fills the blank.

______ sun rises in the east.
A
The✓✗
B
A✓✗
C
An✓✗
D
No article✓✗
Explanation
There is only one sun, so it takes "the". "A" and "an" would suggest one of many.
Question 4
Choose the option that correctly fills the blank.

Mount Everest is ______ highest peak in the world.
A
a✓✗
B
the✓✗
C
an✓✗
D
No article✓✗
Explanation
A superlative such as "highest" takes "the". The other choices are not used before a superlative here.
Question 5
Choose the option that correctly fills the blank.

I saw a dog in the street. ______ dog was barking loudly.
A
A✓✗
B
An✓✗
C
The✓✗
D
No article✓✗
Explanation
A noun mentioned for the second time takes "the", because the reader now knows which dog is meant.
Question 6
Choose the option that correctly fills the blank.

______ honesty is the best policy.
A
The✓✗
B
A✓✗
C
An✓✗
D
No article✓✗
Explanation
An abstract noun used in a general sense takes no article, so nothing is needed before "honesty".
Question 7
Choose the option that correctly fills the blank.

My sister plays ______ guitar very well.
A
the✓✗
B
a✓✗
C
an✓✗
D
No article✓✗
Explanation
After "play", musical instruments take "the". "A" and "an" are not used in this pattern. Sports, by contrast, take no article.
Question 8
Choose the option that correctly fills the blank.

We had ______ dinner at eight last night.
A
the✓✗
B
No article✓✗
C
a✓✗
D
an✓✗
Explanation
Names of meals used in a general sense take no article, so nothing is needed before "dinner".
Question 9
The sentence below is divided into three parts. Identify the part that has an error. If there is no error, choose "No error".

He is a honest man / and everyone / trusts him.
A
He is a honest man✓✗
B
and everyone✓✗
C
trusts him.✓✗
D
No error✓✗
Explanation
The h in "honest" is silent, so the word begins with a vowel sound and needs "an". It should be "an honest man". The other parts are correct.
Question 10
The sentence below is divided into three parts. Identify the part that has an error. If there is no error, choose "No error".

She completed / an MBA / in 2023.
A
She completed✓✗
B
an MBA✓✗
C
in 2023.✓✗
D
No error✓✗
Explanation
"MBA" is said "em-bee-ay", which begins with a vowel sound, so "an" is correct. The sentence has no error.
Question 11
The sentence below is divided into three parts. Identify the part that has an error. If there is no error, choose "No error".

The Ganga is / a longest river / in India.
A
The Ganga is✓✗
B
a longest river✓✗
C
in India.✓✗
D
No error✓✗
Explanation
A superlative takes "the", so it should be "the longest river". The other parts are correct.
Question 12
The sentence below is divided into three parts. Identify the part that has an error. If there is no error, choose "No error".

The children go / to the bed / at nine.
A
The children go✓✗
B
to the bed✓✗
C
at nine.✓✗
D
No error✓✗
Explanation
When "bed" is used for its main purpose, sleeping, it takes no article: "to bed". The same applies to "school" for study and "church" for worship.
Question 13
The sentence below is divided into three parts. Identify the part that has an error. If there is no error, choose "No error".

He gave me / an useful piece / of advice.
A
He gave me✓✗
B
an useful piece✓✗
C
of advice.✓✗
D
No error✓✗
Explanation
"Useful" begins with a "yoo" sound, a consonant sound, so it takes "a": "a useful piece". The other parts are correct.
Question 14
The sentence below is divided into three parts. Identify the part that has an error. If there is no error, choose "No error".

The Himalayas / form the highest / mountain range in the world.
A
The Himalayas✓✗
B
form the highest✓✗
C
mountain range in the world.✓✗
D
No error✓✗
Explanation
Mountain ranges take "the", and a superlative takes "the", so both uses are correct. The sentence has no error.
Question 15
The sentence below is divided into three parts. Identify the part that has an error. If there is no error, choose "No error".

She speaks / the French / fluently at work.
A
She speaks✓✗
B
the French✓✗
C
fluently at work.✓✗
D
No error✓✗
Explanation
A language name takes no article, so it should be just "French". "The French" means the people of France.
Question 16
The sentence below is divided into three parts. Identify the part that has an error. If there is no error, choose "No error".

We must / help poor / in our society.
A
We must✓✗
B
help poor✓✗
C
in our society.✓✗
D
No error✓✗
Explanation
An adjective used for a whole group takes "the": "the poor". The other parts are correct.
Question 17
Choose the option that correctly fills the blank.

______ rich should pay more tax.
A
A✓✗
B
An✓✗
C
The✓✗
D
No article✓✗
Explanation
"The" plus an adjective refers to a whole group of people, so "the rich" means rich people. The verb "should pay" fits this plural sense.
Question 18
Choose the option that correctly fills the blank.

Priya is ______ only person who solved the puzzle.
A
a✓✗
B
an✓✗
C
No article✓✗
D
the✓✗
Explanation
"Only" points to one particular person, so it takes "the".
Question 19
Choose the option that correctly fills the blank.

He was ______ first candidate to finish the test.
A
the✓✗
B
a✓✗
C
an✓✗
D
No article✓✗
Explanation
Ordinal words such as "first" and "second" take "the" when they describe a particular position in order.
Question 20
Choose the option that correctly fills the blank.

______ Pacific is the largest ocean on Earth.
A
A✓✗
B
The✓✗
C
An✓✗
D
No article✓✗
Explanation
Names of oceans, seas and rivers take "the".
Question 21
Choose the option that correctly fills the blank.

They sailed across ______ Lake Victoria.
A
the✓✗
B
a✓✗
C
No article✓✗
D
an✓✗
Explanation
A single named lake takes no article, as in "Lake Victoria". By contrast, oceans and rivers take "the".
Question 22
Choose the option that correctly fills the blank.

The doctor told him to take the tablet twice ______ day.
A
the✓✗
B
an✓✗
C
No article✓✗
D
a✓✗
Explanation
In rate expressions, "a" means "per", as in "twice a day". "An" would need a vowel sound, and "the" does not give this meaning.
Question 23
Choose the option that correctly fills the blank.

What ______ beautiful view this is!
A
a✓✗
B
an✓✗
C
the✓✗
D
No article✓✗
Explanation
In an exclamation with a singular countable noun, "what" is followed by "a" or "an". "Beautiful" begins with a consonant sound, so it is "a".
Question 24
Choose the option that correctly fills the blank.

It took half ______ hour to reach the station.
A
a✓✗
B
an✓✗
C
the✓✗
D
No article✓✗
Explanation
The h in "hour" is silent, so it takes "an". The fixed form is "half an hour".
Question 25
Choose the option that correctly fills the blank.

There is ______ little milk left, enough for one cup.
A
an✓✗
B
few✓✗
C
a✓✗
D
No article✓✗
Explanation
"A little" means "some", which matches "enough for one cup". "Little" alone would mean "almost none". "An" does not fit before a consonant sound, and "few" is used with countable nouns.
Question 26
Choose the option that correctly fills the blank.

Fortunately, he had ______ few friends who helped him.
A
an✓✗
B
much✓✗
C
No article✓✗
D
a✓✗
Explanation
"A few" means "some", which matches "Fortunately". "Few" alone would mean "almost none". "An" does not fit before a consonant sound, and "much" cannot go with "few".
Question 27
Choose the option that correctly fills the blank.

She goes to work by ______ bus.
A
No article✓✗
B
the✓✗
C
a✓✗
D
an✓✗
Explanation
After "by", a means of transport takes no article, as in "by bus" and "by train".
Question 28
Choose the option that correctly fills the blank.

The parents went to ______ school to meet the teacher.
A
an✓✗
B
the✓✗
C
No article✓✗
D
those✓✗
Explanation
The parents are visiting, not going to study there, so "school" is a particular building and takes "the". With no article, "go to school" means going as a student. "An" and "those" do not fit a singular noun starting with a consonant sound.
Question 29
Choose the option that correctly fills the blank.

The more you practise, ______ better you become.
A
a✓✗
B
an✓✗
C
the✓✗
D
No article✓✗
Explanation
Paired comparatives use "the" before each comparative, as in "the more ... the better".
Question 30
Choose the option that correctly fills the blank.

Kalidasa is often called ______ Shakespeare of India.
A
a✓✗
B
an✓✗
C
No article✓✗
D
the✓✗
Explanation
A proper noun used as a comparison, with a phrase such as "of India" that identifies one person, takes "the".
Question 31
Choose the option that correctly fills the blank.

______ tiger is now an endangered species.
A
The✓✗
B
A✓✗
C
An✓✗
D
No article✓✗
Explanation
"The" plus a singular noun can stand for a whole class. A species is a whole class, not one animal, so "A tiger" does not fit "species".
Question 32
Which of these sentences shows that two different people attended?
A
The secretary and treasurer was present.✓✗
B
The secretary and the treasurer were present.✓✗
C
A secretary and treasurer was present.✓✗
D
Secretary and treasurer was present.✓✗
Explanation
Repeating "the" before each noun shows two different people, and the plural verb "were" confirms it. With one article and a singular verb, one person holds both posts.
Question 33
The sentence below is divided into three parts. Identify the part that has an error. If there is no error, choose "No error".

He is / as rich man as / his brother.
A
He is✓✗
B
as rich man as✓✗
C
his brother.✓✗
D
No error✓✗
Explanation
In "as + adjective + noun + as", the article comes after the adjective: "as rich a man as". The other parts are correct.
Question 34
The sentence below is divided into three parts. Identify the part that has an error. If there is no error, choose "No error".

It was / so a difficult test that / many students failed.
A
It was✓✗
B
so a difficult test that✓✗
C
many students failed.✓✗
D
No error✓✗
Explanation
Before "a + adjective + noun", the correct word is "such": "such a difficult test that". "So" would need the pattern "so difficult a test". The other parts are correct.
Question 35
The sentence below is divided into three parts. Identify the part that has an error. If there is no error, choose "No error".

She gave me / an advice / on my resume.
A
She gave me✓✗
B
an advice✓✗
C
on my resume.✓✗
D
No error✓✗
Explanation
"Advice" is uncountable, so it cannot take "a" or "an". It should be "some advice" or "a piece of advice". The other parts are correct.
Question 36
The sentence below is divided into three parts. Identify the part that has an error. If there is no error, choose "No error".

I read / Times of India / every morning.
A
I read✓✗
B
Times of India✓✗
C
every morning.✓✗
D
No error✓✗
Explanation
Newspaper names take "the", so it should be "The Times of India". The other parts are correct.
Question 37
A part of the sentence is underlined. Choose the option that improves it. If no improvement is needed, choose "No improvement".

Netherlands is known for its tulips.
A
A Netherlands✓✗
B
An Netherlands✓✗
C
The Netherlands✓✗
D
No improvement✓✗
Explanation
Country names that are plural in form take "the", as in "the Netherlands". "A" and "an" cannot go before a proper name like this.
Question 38
A part of the sentence is underlined. Choose the option that improves it. If no improvement is needed, choose "No improvement".

Number of applicants has doubled this year.
A
The number of✓✗
B
A number of✓✗
C
Numbers of✓✗
D
No improvement✓✗
Explanation
"The number of" means the count, and it takes a singular verb like "has doubled". "A number of" means "many" and needs a plural verb, and "Numbers of" does not fit here.
Question 39
Choose the option that correctly fills the blank.

The company opened ______ R&D centre in Bengaluru last year.
A
a✓✗
B
the✓✗
C
No article✓✗
D
an✓✗
Explanation
The letter R is said "ar", which begins with a vowel sound, so it takes "an". The sound of the letter decides, not its spelling. The sentence introduces the centre for the first time, so "the" does not fit.
Question 40
Read the short passage and choose the option that correctly fills the blank.

Our team spent a week in ______ Andaman Islands last winter. The beaches were clean, and the people were friendly.
A
a✓✗
B
the✓✗
C
an✓✗
D
No article✓✗
Explanation
Groups of islands take "the", as in "the Andaman Islands". "A" and "an" cannot go with a plural noun.
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