Fill in the blanks with “a”, “an” or “the” or leave the blanks empty “x”.

This worksheet is about using the articles a, an, and the. Students read and answer the questions. The paper has an answer key.

Download this English worksheet in pdf: Articles Grammar worksheet a, an, the ESL EFL worksheets. 

Articles in English Language

Articles are words that precede nouns to specify whether the noun is specific or nonspecific. In English, there are different ways to indicate specificity or nonspecificity, including definite and indefinite articles, as well as the absence of an article.

Definite Article: “The”

• Usage: “The” is used to refer to specific nouns that are known to both the speaker and the listener or reader.

  • Example: “The cat climbed the tree.” Here, “the” indicates that both the speaker and the listener are aware of which cat and which tree are being referred to.

• Specific Instances: “The” is also used when there is only one of a particular thing.

  • Example: “The sun rises in the east.” There is only one sun, so “the” is used to refer to it.

Indefinite Articles: “A” and “An”

• Usage: “A” and “an” are used to refer to nonspecific or unknown nouns. “A” is used before words that begin with consonant sounds, while “an” is used before words that begin with vowel sounds.

  • Example: “A cat walked by.” Here, the speaker is referring to any cat, not a specific one.

• Indicating a Single Instance: They can also be used to indicate one of a kind or singular instances.

  • Example: “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Here, the speaker is referring to the general concept of an apple, not a specific one.

No Article

• Usage: Sometimes, no article is used before nouns. This typically occurs in certain general or abstract contexts, or when referring to plural or mass nouns.

  • Example: “Dogs are loyal animals.” Here, “dogs” is a plural noun, and no article is needed to refer to them in a general sense.

Usage Table: