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Articles MCQ (A / An / The) – 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 “an” with vowel sound (an hour), “a” with consonant sound (a university),
“the” for specific/unique (the sun), and zero article for general plural/uncountable (Books are useful).
Q21. He will join _______ army.
👁 10 viewsthe
We use the definite article "the" with "army" here because it refers to a specific army—the 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.
Q22. Iron is _______ useful metal.
👁 4 viewsUse the indefinite article a before a singular countable noun when it starts with a consonant sound. Here, the noun phrase is “a useful metal.” The word “useful” begins with a consonant sound (/ˈjuː/ acts like a consonant sound here), so we say “a useful metal.” Do not use an before it because “useful” starts with a consonant sound. Another example: “She is a useful helper.”
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 → a.
Q23. Give him three rupees and ______ half.
👁 4 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 don’t 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.
Q24. He is _________ honorary Magistrate.
👁 2 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 (/ˈɒnərəri/ or /ˈɑːnərəri/). Therefore, we say “an honorary Magistrate.” 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.
Q25. The Ganga is considered holy by _______ Indians.
👁 4 viewsUse the definite article the with a specific group of people. When you say "the Indians," you refer to the particular group known as Indians. Since "Ganga" is a specific river (often used with "the"), the sentence requires a definite article before the noun phrase "Indians."
With demonyms (like Indians), we often use the definite article with a known or specific group: the Americans, the French, the Indians.
Specific group → the
Q26. He died ______ peaceful death.
👁 12 viewsUse the indefinite article a/an before a singular, countable noun when mentioning one non-specific item. “Death” is singular and countable here, and “peaceful” starts with a consonant sound, so we say “a peaceful death.” “An” would be used before a vowel sound, e.g., “an honorable death” (note: honorable starts with a vowel sound). “The” would refer to a specific death, and zero article isn’t appropriate for a single, unspecified instance.
Before a consonant sound, use a; before a vowel sound, use an.
Consonant sound → a | Vowel sound → an
Q27. _________ rich and poor, young and old met together.
👁 12 viewszero rticle
When adjectives like rich, poor, young, etc., are used to refer to people in general, they can function as a noun phrase without an article. This expresses a general statement about all people in those categories. Using "the" would refer to a specific group (the rich and the poor). A or an is incorrect because they cannot modify the plural, generic sense here.
Use zero article before adjectives used as general nouns describing people (e.g., Rich and poor, Young and old). Use "the" if you mean a specific, known group (the rich and the poor).
Rich and poor alike supported the charity.
Q28. _____________ rich is not always happy.
👁 10 viewsWhen adjectives used as a noun (the rich, the poor) refer to a group of people, we use the definite article “the.” Here, rich is an adjective turned into a noun meaning “rich people as a group,” so “the rich” is correct. Using “a” or “an” would not refer to a specific group as a class. “the” is used with a defined group, and “zero article” is not used before such a plural noun form.
We use the definite article with adjectives used as nouns to mean a group: the rich, the poor, the elderly.
The + adjective used as a noun = a group of people (the rich, the poor).
Q29. The boy is studying in ____________ university.
👁 4 viewssimilar: a one-act, a one-eyed, a one-man army, a union.
Q30. This is __________ one-man show.
👁 1 viewsUse the indefinite article a before a singular countable noun when the following sound is a consonant. “One-man show” begins with a consonant sound (/w/), so we say “a one-man show.” If it started with a vowel sound, we would use an.
The choice between a and an depends on sound, not spelling. For example, “an hour” uses an because hour starts with a vowel sound after the silent h.
Consonant sound → a | Vowel sound → an