Practice 2 | Definite and Indefinite Articles in English
Instructions
Instructions. Based on this lesson about definite and indefinite articles, fill in the blanks with the indefinite article (a, an) or definite article (the) to complete the blank. If no article is needed, leave it blank.
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PDF Handout
The Amazon is a large river in the Brazilian rainforest.
The Amazon is the name of a river. The Brazilian rainforest is a specific forest, so you need the article.
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What is the name of the TV show that starts at 8 on Mondays?
”The name” is a specific name (the name of the show starting at 8).
”The show” is also a specific show (the show starting at 8 on Mondays).
”Mondays” is a plural noun with a general sense (it’s not a specific Monday, but any Monday).
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Africa is the only continent through which the Tropic of Cancer, the Equator, and the Tropic of Capricorn pass.
”Africa” is the name of a continent. Do not use the article.
The others are geographical points. They each need the definite article.
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I have a blue jacket and a black jacket. I prefer the black one.
In the first sentence, “a blue jacket” and “a black jacket” are not specific. They can be any blue or black jackets.
In the second sentence, you refer to a specific black jacket.
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Oktoberfest is a family friendly event bringing thousands of people from the City of Dallas and surrounding areas.
”Oktoberfest is a proper name. Do not use “the.”
”A family friendly event” is used to describe any kind of such events.
In “thousands of people,” the word “people” can refer to any people, not any specific people.
You say “Dallas” (no article) but “the City of Dallas.”
Note.”… the surrounding areas” is also possible as it makes it specific to “the areas surrounding Dallas.” Using no article sounds better because “the” is already, so the expression is “the City of Dallas and surrounding areas."
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Although many people call it Holland, the official name of the country is the Netherlands.
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President Barack Obama is visiting Governor Smith this week. The former president wants to discuss several political matters with the governor.
Do not use “the” with a title followed by a name. Use “the” when only the title is used to refer to someone.
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The Bahamas used to be a British colony. It became an independent country in 1973 by the order of Prince Charles.
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Stars are made mostly of hydrogen and helium. As they burn the hydrogen and helium in their cores, they produce heat and light.
”Stars" refers to a general noun. “Hydrogen and helium" also refer to a non-specific nouns.
“The” hydrogen and helium" in the next sentence refers to those gases specifically, that is, the hydrogen and helium that is in the core of the stars. (This sentence could also have no “the” before hydrogen and helium, but then it would not refer to those gases in the first sentence.)
“Heat and light" refers to non-specific nouns.
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Professor Ecks’s student had an interesting question, about the lecture. Instead of answering the question, the wise professor turned it into an assignment.
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More Practice
Have you completed Practice 1 yet?