Articles: a, the or no article? Article exercises for daily life and travel
About this lesson
This A2 drill lesson gives a/an, the and no article exercises, from She's a nurse and the moon to Life is short and have breakfast.
- Grammar
- A / an for one of many and jobs; the for the second time, the only one and superlatives; no article in general and in phrases like have breakfast and by bus.
- Topic
- Travel: Ottilie's blog about a week in Mexico City, her friend's messages, the welcome note at Casa Tortuga, an invented hotel, and a chat with Casimir.
- Activities
- Sorting, choices, corrections, gap-fills, drag-and-drop texts, matching, word order, tables, quizzes, a memory game of set phrases, a chat and a final test.
What's inside
Chapter 1The rule
- PictureUnlock
- Study the scheme: articlesGrammar schemeTry it
- Is the sentence correct? Mark true or falseTrue or falseUnlock
- Sort the sentences: a / an, the or no article?Sort into columnsTry it
- Choose the right wordsChoose the optionUnlock
- Correct the mistakes and write the right wordsFill in the gapsUnlock
Chapter 2A, an or the?
- Choose a, an or theChoose the optionTry it
- Fill in the gaps: one of many or the one we know?Fill in the gapsUnlock
- Drag the words into the gapsDrag and dropUnlock
- Match the beginnings and the endingsMatchUnlock
- Put the words in the right orderUnjumbleUnlock
- Find the mistake and choose the right wordsQuizUnlock
- Read the story and fill in the gapsFill in the gapsUnlock
Chapter 3In general or the one we know?
- Choose the right words: in general or the one we know?Choose the optionUnlock
- Fill in the table: in general or the one we know?Fill in the tableTry it
- Drag the words into the gaps: in general or the one we know?Drag and dropUnlock
- Choose the right sentence for each situationQuizUnlock
- Match the sentences and their meaningsMatchUnlock
- Fill in the gaps: in general or the ones we know?Fill in the gapsUnlock
Chapter 4From breakfast to bed
- Sort the sentences: the or no article?Sort into columnsUnlock
- Choose the right words: meals, places and transportChoose the optionUnlock
- Fill in the gaps: add an article where you need itFill in the gapsTry it
- Read about Amaru's day and drag the words into the gapsDrag and dropUnlock
- Choose the right answerQuizUnlock
- Put the words in the right order: daily lifeUnjumbleUnlock
Chapter 5Real life: A week in Mexico City
- Read Ottilie's travel blogReal-life documentUnlock
- Read the blog again: true or false?True or falseUnlock
- Read Ragnhild's messages and fill in the gapsFill in the gapsUnlock
- Read Rosalba's welcome note and drag the words into the gapsDrag and dropUnlock
- Read Ottilie's tips and choose the right wordsChoose the optionUnlock
- Choose the right replies: Casimir texts youChatTry it
- Test yourself: choose the right answerQuizUnlock
Chapter 6Homework
- Choose the right words: a busy familyChoose the optionUnlock
- Fill in the gaps: jobs, the only one and the second timeFill in the gapsUnlock
- Sort the phrases: which article?Sort into columnsUnlock
- Find the matching pairs: phrase and meaningMemory gameUnlock
- Put the words in the right order: family and placesUnjumbleUnlock
- Match the questions and the answersMatchUnlock
- Fill in the table: one of many or the one we know?Fill in the tableUnlock
- Choose the correct sentenceQuizUnlock
- Decide: is the sentence correct? True or falseTrue or falseUnlock
- Find the mistakes and write the right wordsFill in the gapsUnlock
- Read about the trip to the zoo and drag the words into the gapsDrag and dropUnlock
- Read Valentin's postcard and fill in the gapsFill in the gapsUnlock
- Read Zdenka's email and drag the words into the gapsDrag and dropUnlock
- Read Jarrah's review and choose the right wordsChoose the optionUnlock
- Read Annick's note and fill in the gapsFill in the gapsUnlock
Grammar: a / an, the or no article
The article depends on which thing we mean. A: one of many; the: the one we know; no article: things in general. I need a pen. Close the door, please. Dogs are friendly. Set phrases for meals, places, transport and sports have no article either.
Articles: a / an, the or no article?
a / an for one of many, the for the one we know, no article for things in general and in phrases like have breakfast, go to school and by bus.
A / an, the or no article?
A / an is for one of many, the first time, jobs and What a…! (She's a doctor.); the is for the second time, the only one and superlatives (I bought a hat. The hat was cheap.). Names of people, cities and countries take no article: Citlali, Mexico City.
| Article | When? | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| a / an | one of many, the first time we talk about it, What a…! | I need a pen. There's an old tree in our garden. What a day! |
| a / an | jobs (a / an by the sound: a university, an hour) | She's a doctor. He's an engineer. |
| the | the one we know: the second time, or the one here | I bought a hat. The hat was cheap. Close the door, please. |
| the | the only one | the sun, the moon, the sky, the world, the internet, the capital of Mexico |
| the | superlatives | the best tacos, the biggest room in the hotel |
| no article | things in general: plural and uncountable nouns | Dogs are friendly. Rice is cheap. Life is short. |
| no article | names of people, cities, countries and languages; after my, your, this… | Citlali lives in Mexico City and speaks Spanish. My hotel is small. |
In general or the one we know?
Plural and uncountable nouns in general take no article: I love tacos. Music makes me happy. Add the when you mean particular ones: The tacos at this stand are great. Turn down the music, please!
In general: no article
- Dogs are great pets.
- I love tacos.
- Music makes me happy.
The one(s) we know: the
- The dogs next door are very noisy.
- The tacos at this stand are great.
- Turn down the music, please!
Meals, places, transport and sports
These phrases have no article: have breakfast, go to bed, go home, at work, in bed, by bus, play soccer. A student goes to school, not to the school: My son goes to school by bus.
| Topic | Phrases | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| meals | breakfast, lunch, dinner | We have breakfast at eight. What's for dinner? |
| places | go to school, go to work, go to college, go to bed, go home | My son goes to school by bus. I go to bed at eleven. |
| at / in | at home, at work, at school, in bed | Mom is at work. Grandpa is still in bed. |
| transport | by bus, by car, by train, by plane, by taxi, by metro, by bike (but: on foot) | We went to the park by metro. |
| sports | play soccer, play tennis, play basketball | My kids play soccer on Saturdays. |
But the store, the bus and the piano
Other places take the: go to the store, the bank, the dentist, the movies. It's by bus but take the bus, and play the piano. A meal with an adjective takes a: We had a big breakfast.
But we say the with these
- go to the store, the bank, the dentist, the doctor, the gym, the beach, the park, the zoo, the movies
- take the bus, on the bus, on the metro (but: by bus, by metro) · listen to the radio
- play the guitar, play the piano (American English also says: play guitar, play piano)
Be careful!
go to school (as a student), go to work, go to bed: no article. My son goes to school now. (Not: He goes to the school.) go home (not: go to home). Superlatives always need the: the best (not: a best). Sports: play soccer (not: play the soccer). A meal with an adjective takes a: We had a big breakfast.
Common mistakes
Students often write She is doctor, The life is beautiful, I have a breakfast at seven and We went there by the bus. Superlatives always need the: the best coffee in the world, never a best.
Common mistakes
She is doctor.
She is a doctor.
a job needs a / an
The life is beautiful.
Life is beautiful.
no article for things in general
I have a breakfast at seven.
I have breakfast at seven.
no article with breakfast, lunch, dinner
We went there by the bus.
We went there by bus.
by + transport: no article
Examples
- Ottilie is a travel writer. She writes a blog.a job · one of many
- We stayed in a small hotel. The hotel had a garden.the first time · the second time
- This is the best coffee in the world!a superlative · the only one
- I love cats, but the cat next door is scary!in general · the one we know
- Dad has breakfast at seven and goes to work by bus.a meal · a place · transport: no article
- My son plays soccer, and my daughter plays the piano.a sport · an instrument
More lessons on this grammar: Articles lessons and exercises
Try the a/an, the and no article exercises
Try them yourself: these are the same exercises your students do in edio.
What's in the lesson
- 40 auto-checked exercises
- 4 games
- 1 real-life document
- 1 grammar scheme
- 1 picture
The main objectives of this lesson are to:
- use a / an for jobs and a first mention: My mom is a vet. There was a small cat under our car.
- use the for the second time, the only one and superlatives: The cat was wet and hungry. Look at the sky! the best coffee in the city
- leave out the article for things in general: Life is short. Most people in my town have a car. But: The dogs next door are very noisy.
- use daily phrases with no article: have breakfast, go to school, at work, in bed, by metro, play soccer, but go to the bank
- Grammar:
- articles · a / an · the · no article
- Topic:
- grammar practice · travel · Mexico City · daily routine
Teaching tips
- Tell two-sentence stories around the class: one student says I bought a…, the next adds The… was…, so first and second mentions come up again and again.
- Quiz students on their day: ask How do you get to work?, Where's your mom now? or When do you have lunch? and expect short answers like By bus or At work.
- Write a hotel welcome note: after Rosalba's, groups write one for an invented hotel in their town, with breakfast times, transport and the best place to eat nearby.
Liked it?
Teach the whole lesson in edio
44 exercises in 6 chapters, ready to teach. edio is an online platform for language schools and teachers: ready-made interactive lessons, live classes, homework and student progress in one place.
Start a free trial
7 days, no credit card.
Open the lesson
Find it in the library of 621 ready lessons. Teach it as it is, or copy any chapter into your own lessons.
Teach it live or as homework
Students work in their own accounts, in sync with you during the lesson, and the practice exercises check themselves.
The whole course: English Grammar Practice · A2
English Grammar Practice · A2 has 28 drill lessons, one grammar point each: the past simple and continuous, used to, comparatives, going to and will, the present perfect, modals, the zero and first conditionals and questions. Each has the rule as a scheme, 43 to 47 exercises that check themselves, 15 of them for homework, and no new words.See the course
- 1Past simple with -ed: moving day!
- 2Past simple irregular verbs: we went, we saw, we bought
- 3Past simple negatives and questions: where did the cake go?
- 4Past continuous: what were you doing at 9 p.m.?
- 5Past simple or past continuous: what were you doing when it happened?
- 6Used to: how things were back then
- 7Comparatives: which one is better?
- 8Superlatives: the best in town
- 9As … as, too, enough: is it the right size?
- 10Adverbs of manner: how did she drive?
- 11Much, many, a few, a little: how much do we need?
- 12Possessive pronouns: whose is it?
- 13Be going to: what's your plan?
- 14Will: what will the future bring?
- 15Present continuous for plans: what are you doing tonight?
- 16Will vs going to: decided before or right now?
- 17Present perfect: have you ever tried it?
- 18Just, already, yet: have you done it yet?
- 19For and since: how long have you known her?
- 20Present perfect or past simple: up to now or finished time?
- 21Must and have to: what are the rules?
- 22Should: what should I do?
- 23Can, could, may: could you help me, please?
- 24Verb + to or -ing: what do you enjoy doing?
- 25Zero conditional: what happens if…?
- 26First conditional: what will you do if it rains?
- 27Articles: a, the or no article?
- 28Subject and object questions: who won the quiz?