A, An, The, or Leave it alone
Contrasting
Correct the mistakes or say "Correct"!
Geography
What is the rule? Justify the usage.
100
For dinner I had ___ soup and ___salad.
For dinner I had soup and a salad.
100
(1) _________ firefighters face dangers.
(2) _________ firefighters were the first to arrive at the scene of the accident.
(1) Firefighters face dangers.
(2) The firefighters were the first to arrive at the scene of the accident.
100
When you get to my house, you don't have to ring doorbell. Just walk in.
When you get to my house, you don't have to ring the doorbell. Just walk in.
100
___ Jordan is a country in ___ Middle East.
Jordan is a country in the Middle East.
100

Everyone in the class missed_______ question number 20 on the test.

Key: Everyone in the class missed question number 20 on the test.

Do not use an article when referring to numbers or letters in a list.

200
My name starts with ________ L and ends with ________U.
My name starts with an L and ends with a U.
200
(1) _________ cigarettes kill many people every year.
(2) _________ cigarette broke before I could light it.
(1) Cigarettes kill many people every year.
(2) The cigarette broke before I could light it.
200
She graduated with a major in the mathematics and physics.
She graduated with a major in mathematics and physics.
200
My brother is ___ mountain climber; he has climbed ___ Mount Everest.
My brother is a mountain climber; he has climbed Mount Everest.
200

My cousin studies at ____ North Hennepin Community College.

I study at _______ University of Minnesota.

Key: My cousin studies at North Hennepin Community College. I study at the University of Minnesota.

Do not use an article with the names of universities or colleges.


Exception: Use "the" with names of colleges and universities that contain the word "of".

300
Indiana Jones found ___ Ark of the Covenant while in ___ Egypt.
Indiana Jones found the Ark of the Covenant while in Egypt.
300
I didn’t eat _________ cookie because I just don’t like _________ cookies.
I didn’t eat the/a cookie because I just don’t like cookies.
300
I love the rock music; my favorite group is Beatles.
I love rock music; my favorite group is the Beatles.
300
___ Museum of Modern Art is on ___ 53rd Street in New York City.
The Museum of Modern Art is on 53rd Street in New York City.
300

Henry won_______ second prize in the university jeopardy contest.

Key: Henry won second prize in the university jeopardy contest.

Use "the" with ordinal numbers and other ranking words like "next" and "last".


Exception: Do not use "the" with ordinal numbers when referring to names of prizes.

400
That hooting sound you heard was ___ owl.
___ owl is a large predatory bird.
That hooting sound you heard was an owl. The owl is a large predatory bird.
400
(1) _________ firefighters are often the first to arrive at the scene of an accident.
(2) _________ firefighters inhale many dangerous fumes on the job.
(1) Firefighters are often the first to arrive at the scene of an accident.
(2) Firefighters inhale many dangerous fumes on the job.
400
Calcium is a mineral.
Correct.
400
___ Hague is ___ city in ___ Netherlands.
The Hague is a city in the Netherlands.
400

I will stay in____ Hilton Hotel, but my conference will be held at the Anthropology Department which is located in ____ Lincoln Hall.

Key: I will stay in the Hilton Hotel, but my conference will be held at the Anthropology Department which is located in Lincoln Hall.

 Use the with the names of hotels, motels, theaters, bridges and buildings.


Exception: Do not use an article with the names of halls or hospitals.

500
My cousin wanted to be ___ surgeon, but he fainted at ___ sight of blood.
My cousin wanted to be a surgeon, but he fainted at the sight of blood.
500
(1) _________ doctors recommend eating more fish.
(2) _________ doctor recommended that I cut down on fats.
(1) Doctors recommend eating more fish.
(2) The doctor recommended that I cut down on fats.
500
We wanted to go to movies, but instead we stayed home and watched the TV.
We wanted to go to the movies, but instead we stayed home and watched TV.
500
___ Dominican Republic is on ___ island in ___ Caribbean.
The Dominican Republic is on an island in the Caribbean.
500

The ship sailed out of the harbor and headed____north.

If you look into____north on a clear night, you will see the North Star.

Key: The ship sailed out of the harbor and headed north. If you look into the north on a clear night, you will see the North Star.

Do not use an article if a compass direction immediately follows an action verb like go, travel, turn, look, sail, fly, walk, or move.


Rule 41: Use the for compass directions if they follow prepositions like to, in, on, at or from.

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