Articles Test

Question 1

Explain the articles used.

“He was a (1) glum, unsociable person with a (2) raucous voice and (3) very thick eyebrows, and as a (4) mason he suffered from the (5) defect that he could not be depended on.

Answer 1

1. Introduces new information. The noun “person” is singular.
2. Introduces new information. The noun “voice” is singular.
3. Although it introduces new info - the noun eyebrows is plural.
4. Introduces new information. The noun “mason” is singular.
5. “The” signals a particular defect.

Question 2

Explain the articles used.

“He would promise to start (6) work on a (7) certain day, all the (8) furniture would be moved to the (9) far end of the (10) house, and then he would not turn up.

Answer 2

6. We leave out the article before many work related expressions.
7. “a certain” is a fixed expression. “A certain” is always used before a singular noun.
8. “the” signals that we are talking about specific furniture.
9. “the far end of” is a fixed expression. Also it’s use can be explained that “the far end” is qualified by of
10. “the” signals that it is a particular house.

Question 3

Explain and correct the mistakes.

The (1) last week I decided to go to a (2) cinema. It was difficult to choose an interesting film which I could understand without a (3) problem. I looked in a (4) newspaper and found a film.

Answer 3

1. “the last week” refers to a final week - learner may be translating from their native language.
2. “The cinema” is more correct - it’s more idiomatic
3. “Without any problems” “with no problems” “without too many difficulties” would be more appropriate in this case.
4. I looked in “the newspaper” (fixed expression) is more correct.