The document provides guidelines on the usage of articles in English, detailing when to use 'a,' 'an,' and 'the.' It includes examples and explanations about definite and indefinite articles, as well as exceptions and specific cases involving nouns like places, meals, and proper names. Additionally, it clarifies differences in meaning between related terms like 'few' and 'a few.'

1. ARTICLES- QUIZ
Entry 3

2. QUESTION 1
 When do we use ‘a’ and when do we use
‘an’. Give examples.
 We use ‘a’ before countable nouns starting
with consonants and we use ‘an’ before
countable nouns starting with vowels, e.g. ‘a
horse’, ‘an eagle’.

3. QUESTION 2
 Can we use ‘the’ before a singlar countable
noun?
 Yes, e.g. The boy you saw yesterday is my
cousin.

4. QUESTION 3
 When the noun is mentioned for the second
time in the sentence do we use ‘a’/ ‘an’ or
‘the’?
 ‘The’, e.g. There is a bottle on a table. The
bottle is full.

5. QUESTION 4
 What is ‘definite’ and ‘indefinite’ article?
 Definite article is ‘the’, indefinite article is ‘a’
or ‘an’.

6. QUESTION 5
 Which type of article do we use with words
like: cinema, theatre, countryside, beach,
etc.?
 We use the definite article ‘the’, e.g. We’re
going to the beach after the class.

7. QUESTION 6
 What type of article do we use before a
singular countable noun to represent a class
of people, animals or things?
 ‘a’ or ‘the’, e.g. A/the dolphin is more
inteligent than a/the shark.

8. QUESTION 7
 Is the following sentence correct? Why/ why
not?
Dolphins are more intelligent than sharks.
 Yes, we can use plural countable nouns to
represent a class of people, animals or
things without any articles.

9. QUESTION 8
 When do we use indefinite articles? (the
most common rule)
 Before single countable nouns, e.g. I see a
cat.

10. QUESTION 9
 Which type of article do you use with musical
instruments?
 Definite article, e.g. I wish I knew how to play
the guitar.

11. QUESTION 10
 Which type of article do we use for names of
places containing ‘of’?
 Definite article, e.g. The United States of
America, The Tower of London, The United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland

12. QUESTION 11
 Is the definite article omitted before the
names of mountains?
 Yes, e.g. Everest

13. QUESTION 12
 Is the definite article omitted before the
groups of mountains/islands?
 No, e.g. the Alps, the Bahamas, the Canary
Islands

14. QUESTION 13
 Do we use definite article before the names
of seas?
 Yes, e.g. the Black Sea, the Baltic Sea

15. QUESTION 14
 Do we use definite article for titles with
proper names?
 No, e.g. Queen Elizabeth, President Obama

16. QUESTION 15
 Do we use definite article before meals?
 No, e.g. Dinner is ready.

17. QUESTION 16
 Do we omit definite article before names of
continents, cities and parks?
 Yes, e.g. Australia, Hartlepool, Hyde Park

18. QUESTION 17
 Do we use articles before names of sports?
 No, e.g. He plays tennis.

19. QUESTION 18
 Do we use articles with words like home,
hospital, prison, church when they are used
for the reason they exist?
 No, e.g. I go to church every Sunday. (I go
there to pray).

20. QUESTION 19
 Do we use definite articles for adjectives
used as plural nouns?
 Yes, e.g. the rich, the poor, the unemployed,
etc.

21. QUESTION 20
 Is the indefinite article used before the
names of ships, newspapers and pop
groups?
 No, it’s the definite article ‘the’, e.g. the
Queen Mary, The Times, the Beatles

22. QUESTION 21
 Do we use the indefinite article before the
names of oceans?
 No, it’s the definite article, e.g. the Pacific,
the Indian Ocean

23. QUESTION 22
 Which one is correct and why?
A European driving licence/An European
driving licence
 A European driving licence because although
the word ‘European’ starts with a vowel letter,
it is read as a consonant sound /ˌjʊərəˈpiːən/

24. QUESTION 23
 What is the difference between ‘few’ and ‘a
few’?
 There is a difference in meaning. ‘A few’
means several, e.g. A few people came to
the funeral (maybe 4 or 5 people). ‘Few’
means not as many as expected, hardly any,
e.g. Few people came to the funeral (maybe
4 or 5 but not as many as expected).

25. QUESTION 24
 We use indefinite articles for certain
exclamations, e.g. What a beautiful girl!,
What a nice car! Is the following exclamation
correct? Why/ why not?
What a beautiful weather!
 No. Weather is an uncountable noun and it
does not take an indefinite article.