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Articles MCQ (A / An / The) β Daily Practice Set with Answers
Practice Articles (A/An/The/Zero Article) MCQs for SSC, Banking, Railways,
TPSC/APSC/WBPSC/State PSC and other competitive exams. Instant feedback + solution helps you improve accuracy.
Rule tip: Use βanβ with vowel sound (an hour), βaβ with consonant sound (a university),
βtheβ for specific/unique (the sun), and zero article for general plural/uncountable (Books are useful).
Q11. Nelson was __________ boy without fear.
π 12 viewsQ12. __________ book you want is out of print.
π 10 viewsQ13. He is not _________ honourable man.
π 8 viewsQ14. My wife and I have _________ appointment.
π 12 viewsQ15. It is ________ one-day cricket match.
π 7 viewsUse the indefinite article a before singular countable nouns that begin with a consonant sound. The phrase one-day starts with the sound /w/ (as in "one" pronounced "wuhn"), which is a consonant sound, so we say βa one-day cricket match.β If the word began with a vowel sound, weβd use an (e.g., an hour, an honest person, where the h is silent).
One tricky rule: the choice of a vs an depends on pronunciation, not spelling.
Before a word, use a β starting with a consonant sound; use an β starting with a vowel sound.
Q16. He is _______ honourable man.
π 6 viewsQ17. He will join _______ army.
π 14 viewsthe
We use the definite article "the" with "army" here because it refers to a specific armyβthe military force that the person is joining. "Join the army" is a common fixed collocation. Using "a" or "an" would imply any army, which is not the intended meaning, and "zero article" is incorrect for a singular, countable noun in this fixed sense.
Use "the" with singular nouns when you refer to a specific, identifiable thing (the army, the sun, the door). "A" or "an" introduces a non-specific item. Zero article is common with plurals and uncountables or when speaking in general terms.
He joined the army after finishing school.
Q18. Iron is _______ useful metal.
π 4 viewsUse the indefinite article a before a singular countable noun when it starts with a consonant sound. Here, the noun phrase is βa useful metal.β The word βusefulβ begins with a consonant sound (/ΛjuΛ/ acts like a consonant sound here), so we say βa useful metal.β Do not use an before it because βusefulβ starts with a consonant sound. Another example: βShe is a useful helper.β
Indefinite articles a/an are chosen by sound, not just by the first letter. Use a before consonant sounds and an before vowel sounds.
Before a word with a consonant sound β a.
Q19. Give him three rupees and ______ half.
π 6 viewsUse an indefinite article before a singular countable noun when it begins with a consonant sound, and use an before a vowel sound. In "a half," half is singular and begins with a consonant sound /h/, so we say "a half." We donβt use "three rupees and an half" or "zero article" here. The phrase expresses 1/2 along with three rupees, so the correct completion is "a" half.
Indefinite articles use a before consonant sounds and an before vowel sounds, regardless of spelling (e.g., a university, an hour).
Before a singular countable noun: consonant sound = a; vowel sound = an.
Q20. He is _________ honorary Magistrate.
π 4 viewsThe article 'an' is used before a word that begins with a vowel sound. The word "honorary" has a silent 'h' and starts with a vowel sound (/ΛΙnΙrΙri/ or /ΛΙΛnΙrΙri/). Therefore, we say βan honorary Magistrate.β Using 'a' would be for a consonant sound, and 'the' is a definite article, not appropriate here. Zero article is not used with a singular count noun unless specified.
Silent or mute initials (like silent 'h' in honor) mean you should check the actual sound, not the letter.
An before vowel sound.