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Articles with Countable Nouns Grammar Exercises for English Language

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Mastering the use of articles with countable nouns is an essential skill for anyone learning English. Articles, such as "a," "an," and "the," play a crucial role in providing clarity and specificity in communication. Whether you are discussing a single item or multiple items, understanding when and how to use these articles correctly can greatly enhance your ability to convey precise meaning. This page offers a variety of grammar exercises designed to help you practice and perfect your use of articles with countable nouns, ensuring that you can confidently express yourself in any context. Countable nouns refer to items that can be counted, such as "apple," "book," or "car." These nouns require the appropriate article to indicate whether you are talking about one specific item, any one of a group, or all items of that type. For example, "a book" refers to any single book, "the book" refers to a specific book known to the speaker and listener, and "books" refers to more than one book without specifying which ones. Through targeted practice exercises on this page, you will learn to distinguish between these uses and apply the correct articles, enhancing both your written and spoken English skills.

Exercise 1

1. She bought *an* apple from the market (singular countable noun, fruit). 2. He needs *a* pencil to complete his homework (singular countable noun, writing tool). 3. There is *an* elephant in the zoo (singular countable noun, large animal). 4. I saw *a* bird flying in the sky (singular countable noun, animal with wings). 5. We need *a* plan to solve this problem (singular countable noun, strategy). 6. She has *a* dog that she takes for walks (singular countable noun, pet). 7. He read *a* book about ancient history (singular countable noun, reading material). 8. They found *a* solution to the puzzle (singular countable noun, answer). 9. He wants *an* orange for his snack (singular countable noun, fruit). 10. She owns *a* car that is very fast (singular countable noun, vehicle).

Exercise 2

1. She bought *a* new dress for the party (indefinite article for singular countable noun). 2. He wants to become *an* engineer when he grows up (indefinite article before a word starting with a vowel sound). 3. They visited *the* Eiffel Tower during their trip to Paris (definite article for a specific landmark). 4. I saw *a* cat sitting on the fence (indefinite article for a non-specific singular countable noun). 5. She has *an* apple in her bag (indefinite article before a word starting with a vowel sound). 6. We need to find *the* library to return the books (definite article for a specific place). 7. John is reading *a* book about history (indefinite article for a non-specific singular countable noun). 8. Can you pass me *the* salt, please? (definite article for a specific item). 9. There is *a* bird on the tree (indefinite article for a non-specific singular countable noun). 10. She wants to buy *an* umbrella because it might rain (indefinite article before a word starting with a vowel sound).

Exercise 3

1. She adopted *a* kitten from the shelter (one single kitten). 2. I saw *an* eagle flying over the mountains (bird of prey, starting with a vowel). 3. He brought *a* cake to the party (one item of dessert). 4. She gave me *an* orange to eat (fruit starting with a vowel). 5. They bought *a* car last month (one vehicle). 6. We have *an* idea for the project (one concept, starting with a vowel). 7. He is reading *a* book in the library (one item of literature). 8. She found *an* old coin in the garden (one item, starting with a vowel). 9. They are watching *a* movie tonight (one film). 10. I need *an* umbrella because it's raining (item used for protection from rain, starting with a vowel).