Home › Worksheets › Grammar › Articles

Articles Worksheet (a, an, the)

Free printable exercises: fill-in-the-blank, true/false, and sentence writing. Includes answer key.

Level: A2–B1 3 Exercises Answer Key Included A4 Format

📖 Quick Grammar Reference: Articles

ArticleUsed forExample
aconsonant sound, first mentionI bought a book.
anvowel sound, first mentionShe waited an hour.
thealready known / unique / superlativeThe book was expensive. The sun is bright.
Ø (no article)general plural / uncountableDogs are loyal. Water is essential.
some / anyaffirmative / negative & questionI have some apples. Is there any milk?

Exercise 1 — Fill in the Blank (Write a, an, the, or leave the space blank (–) for no article.)

  1. I saw cat in the garden. cat was black.
  2. She waited hour for the bus.
  3. dogs are loyal animals. (general statement)
  4. Please close door. (the one in this room)
  5. She works as university lecturer.
  6. My brother lives in London.
  7. sun rises in the east.
  8. Have you got money for the ticket?
  9. He is honest man.
  10. We usually have breakfast at 8 o’clock.

Exercise 2 — True or False (Read each statement about articles and circle T (True) or F (False).)

  • We use a before a vowel sound and an before a consonant sound.
    T F
  • We say an hour because the h is silent, so the word starts with a vowel sound.
    T F
  • We normally use no article with general plural nouns, such as Dogs are loyal.
    T F
  • Most country names take the, for example the France, the England.
    T F
  • We use many with uncountable nouns and much with countable plural nouns.
    T F

Print version: write T or F on the line next to each statement.

Exercise 3 — Write Your Own Sentences (Write 5 sentences using articles and determiners correctly.)

  • Describe something you bought recently using “a” or “an”.
  • Name something unique in the world using “the” (e.g. the moon, the internet).
  • Make a general statement about an uncountable noun with no article (e.g. music, water).
  • Write a question using “any”.
  • Write a sentence with a demonstrative (this, that, these, those) and a noun.
📋 Show Answer Key

Exercise 1

  1. a … The
  2. an
  3. – (no article)
  4. the
  5. a
  6. – (no article)
  7. The
  8. any
  9. an
  10. – (no article)

Exercise 2

  1. False — It is the opposite: a before a consonant sound, an before a vowel sound
  2. True — The silent h means the first sound is a vowel
  3. True — No article with plural nouns used in a general sense
  4. False — Most country names take no article (France, England); only some take the (the United States)
  5. False — It is the opposite: much with uncountable, many with countable plural

Exercise 3

Open answers. Check that students use: a/an correctly by sound (not spelling), the for unique or already-mentioned things, no article for general plurals/uncountables, and any in negatives/questions.

📄

Practice Online: Cloze Dropdown

Select the correct article or determiner from a dropdown to complete each sentence with instant feedback.

Try the exercise →

Articles Worksheet — FAQ

What does this articles worksheet cover?
This worksheet covers the indefinite articles a/an, the definite article the, and the zero article (no article) with plural and uncountable nouns. It includes fill-in-the-blank, true/false, and sentence-writing exercises.
What level is this articles worksheet?
This worksheet is designed for A2 (Elementary) to B1 (Pre-Intermediate) learners who are consolidating the rules for choosing between a, an, the, and no article.
When do I use ‘a’ and when do I use ‘an’?
Use a before a consonant sound and an before a vowel sound — the sound matters, not the spelling. We say a university (starts with a /j/ sound) but an hour (the h is silent, so the word starts with a vowel sound).
When do I use ‘the’ instead of ‘a/an’?
Use the when both speaker and listener know exactly which thing is meant: when something has already been mentioned (I bought a book. The book was expensive.), when there is only one (the sun, the moon), when context makes it clear (close the door), or with superlatives and ordinals (the best, the first).
When do I use no article at all?
Use no article (zero article) with general plural nouns (Dogs are loyal), uncountable nouns used generally (Water is essential), most countries, cities and languages (France, London, English), and with meals, days, and months (at breakfast, on Monday, in July).
Can I save this worksheet as a PDF?
Yes. Click the orange ‘Print / Save as PDF’ button at the top of the page. In your browser’s print dialogue, select ‘Save as PDF’ as the destination. The worksheet is formatted for A4 paper.
Is the answer key included?
Yes. Scroll to the bottom of the worksheet to find the collapsible answer key. Click ‘Show Answer Key’ to reveal all answers. If you want to print the answers too, open the key before clicking Print.
What online exercise goes with this worksheet?
The related online exercise is Cloze Dropdown at lexfizz.com/exercises/cloze-dropdown/ — it lets you select the correct article or determiner in a passage with instant feedback.
What is the difference between countable and uncountable nouns for articles?
Countable nouns (book, apple) can take a/an in the singular and many in the plural. Uncountable nouns (water, music, advice) never take a/an and use much instead of many. This distinction directly controls which article or quantifier is correct.
How long does this worksheet take to complete?
The three exercises take approximately 20–25 minutes for most A2–B1 learners. Allow extra time for the writing task in Exercise 3 if students need to think carefully about forming original sentences.