Articles With Countable And Uncountable Nouns

Complete the following sentences. This grammar exercise tests your understanding of rules
regarding the use of articles.

1. We are having .......................... weather.

awful
an awful
Either could be used here

Weather is an uncountable noun. We cannot use the articles a/an with it.

2. Have you got ............................ for dry skin?

cold cream
a cold cream
Either could be used here

Sometimes uncountable nouns are treated as countable to express the meaning 'a type of'.

3. We have made ............................. progress.

good
a good
Either could be used here

Progress is an uncountable noun and it cannot be used with the article a.

4. The applicant should be able to speak ..................

a good English
good English
Either could be used here

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 Articles With Countable And Uncountable Nouns

5. We haven't seen ......................... in days.

sun
the sun
a sun

We use the article 'the' to talk about something unique.

6. How did ....................... first discover fire?

man
the man
a man

The noun 'man' is commonly used to mean 'the human race'. No articles are used in this
case.

7. ...................... have their own language and culture.

Irish
The Irish
Either could be used here

The Irish means all people belonging to Ireland.

8. My children like ............................. but I prefer ...........................

the sea, mountains

sea, mountains
the sea, the mountains

9. ............................ are losing hope.

Unemployed
The unemployed
Either could be used here

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 Articles With Countable And Uncountable Nouns

The unemployed means all unemployed people.

10. This engine does not use ......................

petrol
the petrol
Either could be used here

11. ............................... is quite complicated.

Life
The life
Either could be used here

No article is used when we talk about the whole of life.

12. I am studying ........................ of Lincoln.

life
the life
Either could be used here

We use the article 'the' here because we are talking about one particular life.

PLAY AGAIN !

Answers

1. We are having awful weather.

2. Have you got a cold cream for dry skin?
3. We have made good progress.
4. The applicant should be able to speak good English.
5. We havent seen the sun in days.
6. How did man first discover fire?
7. The Irish have their own language and culture.
8. My children like the sea but I prefer the mountains.

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 Articles With Countable And Uncountable Nouns

9. The unemployed are losing hope.

10. This engine does not use petrol.
11. Life is quite complicated.
12. I am studying the life of Lincoln.

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