Lesson
Grammar: a, an, the, or no article?
Articles cause more small mistakes in IELTS writing than almost anything else. Learn the five rules that cover most sentences, then practise.
Five rules that cover most sentences
- a / an with a singular countable noun, mentioned for the first time: I bought a laptop. Use an before a vowel sound: an hour, an umbrella, a university (it sounds like "you").
- the when we both know which one: The laptop I bought is fast.
- the for things that are unique: the internet, the sun, the government, the environment.
- No article for plural or uncountable nouns used generally: Children need exercise. (not
the children need the exercise) - the with superlatives and ordinals: the biggest, the first.
Common in IELTS essays
Questions 1–8
Choose the word that fills the gap. Choose – for no article.
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My sister is ___ engineer.
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She studies at ___ university in Sylhet.
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___ internet has changed the way we shop.
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___ exercise is good for mental health.
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It took ___ hour to get to the airport.
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Dhaka is ___ largest city in Bangladesh.
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I bought a jacket and a hat. ___ jacket was cheap, but the hat wasn't.
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Many people believe that ___ children should learn to swim.
Questions 9–12
Is each sentence correct or incorrect?
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The pollution is a serious problem in big cities.
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The government should invest more in public transport.
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He is a honest person.
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Teenagers spend a lot of time online.
