Articles MCQ (A / An / The) – Daily Practice Set with Answers

Answer: It was a unit of measurement.

• Rule: Use a before a singular count noun beginning with a consonant sound to mean “one,” non-specific (indefinite article).
• Why “a” is correct: “unit” starts with a consonant sound /juː/ (yoo-nit), so we use a.

Correct option: B - an

• Rule: Use a before a consonant sound and an before a vowel sound. Here unjust starts with a vowel sound /ʌ/, so we use an.
• Why others are wrong:
  • the unjust charge = refers to a specific charge; not indicated.
  • a unjust charge = incorrect because a before a vowel sound.
  • no article = ungrammatical with a countable noun like charge.

Explanation

• The correct answer is an because we use an before a word that begins with a vowel sound. hour starts with a silent h, so it sounds like "our" — a vowel sound.
• A would be wrong since hour does not start with a consonant sound.
• The is incorrect because the hour is not a specific known hour in this sentence.
• No article is incorrect for a singular countable noun here.

Grammar rule: Use a before consonant sounds, an before vowel sounds, the for specific items, and zero article for plural/uncountable in general.

Explanation in simple English

• Correct answer: D — no article.
• “Man” here means humankind in general, not one specific man. We use zero article for general statements about a class: “Man is mortal.”
• Rules:
  • a/an: used for any one member of a class (indefinite, specific noun with count).
  • the: used for a specific person/item or a unique thing.
  • zero article: used for general statements or plural/general nouns.
• Why others are wrong: A would mean a specific man; B is incorrect form; C is possible but changes meaning to “a man” not a general statement.

Explain the answer

• Correct option: C — a.
• Reason: Before a singular, countable noun, use the indefinite article a or an; here noise starts with a consonant sound, so we use a noise.
• Rule: a/an = indefinite article for one item; the = definite article for a specific item; zero article = used with plural/uncountable nouns in general;
• Why others wrong: A) the makes it specific; B) an would be before a vowel sound; D) no article is wrong for a singular countable noun here.

Explanation (≤120 words)

• Correct answer: a — Use a before a singular, countable noun that begins with a consonant sound. union begins with a consonant sound (/juː/). So we say a union.
• A and the are not needed here: “a union” is non-specific; “the union” would refer to a known, particular union.
• An is incorrect because union starts with a consonant sound, not a vowel sound.
• No article is incorrect for a singular, countable noun requiring a determiner in this context.

Correct option: D – no article

Explanation: In standard English, we say It is half past six without any article before time expressions like “half past six.”

• Theory: Use zero article before time phrases that tell the time.
• Why others are wrong:
  • “the half past six” – wrong; you don’t use the before a time expression.
  • “an half past six” / “a half past six” – wrong; a/an is not used before time fractions.

Correct option: A

• The is used with specific, identifiable things.
• Here, Vedas refers to a well-known, specific set of sacred scriptures, so we use the.
• Rule: Use the with unique items, and with named works (books, poems, etc.).
• Options an and a are wrong because Vedas begins with a consonant sound and is not a single countable noun here.
• Zero article would be wrong because the sentence needs a definite reference.

"a" is used with "one-act" ( Vowel word with a consonant sound.)
similar: a university, a one-man army, a union