Pariksha SaathiArticles (A, An, The) Questions with Solutions
"A"/"an" versus "the" comes down to one question — is this something specific and already identified, or just any one example of its kind? Here’s the approach, four fully worked examples, and a few to try yourself.
The approach, quickly
- "A" and "an" are indefinite articles, used for one unspecified item from a class, or when introducing something for the first time. "The" is the definite article, used for something already identified, unique, or previously mentioned.
- Choose "a" or "an" based on the SOUND of the next word, not its spelling: "an" before a vowel sound (an hour, an MBA), "a" before a consonant sound (a university, a one-rupee coin) — "hour" starts with a silent "h" (a vowel sound), while "university" starts with a "y" consonant sound despite the spelled vowel "u".
- "The" is used for something unique in context (the sun, the Prime Minister), something already mentioned ("I saw a dog. The dog was brown."), superlatives (the best, the tallest), and specific well-known geographic features (the Ganges, the Himalayas) — but not before most country/person names, or uncountable nouns used generally.
- No article at all is used before plural or uncountable nouns speaking generally ("Dogs are loyal," not "The dogs are loyal," unless referring to specific known dogs), and before most proper nouns.
Worked examples
1. Fill in the blank: "She bought ___ umbrella because it looked like rain." (A) a (B) an (C) the (D) no article
Solution
- "Umbrella" starts with a vowel sound, so "an" is correct.
- This is also the first mention of a non-specific umbrella.
Answer: (B) an
2. Fill in the blank: "He is ___ honest man, and everyone trusts him." (A) a (B) an (C) the (D) no article
Solution
- "Honest" starts with a silent "h", so it begins with a vowel sound, requiring "an" despite the spelled consonant.
Answer: (B) an
3. Fill in the blank: "___ Ganges is one of the longest rivers in India." (A) A (B) An (C) The (D) No article
Solution
- Specific, well-known geographic features like major rivers conventionally take "the".
Answer: (C) The
4. Fill in the blank: "I saw a cat in the garden. ___ cat was black." (A) A (B) An (C) The (D) No article
Solution
- The cat has already been mentioned once ("a cat"), so the second reference uses "the", since it’s now specific and identified.
Answer: (C) The
Try these yourself
Work through these the same way, then check against the answer.
1. Fill in the blank: "She wants to become ___ engineer." (A) a (B) an (C) the (D) no article
Answer: (B) an
2. Fill in the blank: "___ Taj Mahal is located in Agra." (A) A (B) An (C) The (D) No article
Answer: (C) The
3. Fill in the blank: "He completed ___ one-year course in just six months." (A) a (B) an (C) the (D) no article
Answer: (A) a (because "one" starts with a "w" consonant sound)
Where this comes up
Articles is a regular topic in the English Language section of every exam Pariksha Saathi covers — SSC CGL, SSC MTS, SSC CHSL, IBPS PO, IBPS Clerk, SBI PO and SBI Clerk.
Practice more Articles questions
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