Spot the lie: English Articles

Exercise and reference answers

Questions

1. Reason

   Sound, not spelling, decides 'a' vs 'an'. 'An honest man' uses 'an' though 'honest' starts with consonant H (silent).

   False statement

   We always use 'a' before words starting with a vowel letter.

   Statements

   1. There are two indefinite articles: 'a' and 'an'.
   2. We always use 'a' before words starting with a vowel letter.
   3. We use 'the' before unique objects like the Sun and the Moon.

2. Reason

   Mountain peaks usually take NO article. We say 'Mount Everest', not 'the Mount Everest'.

   False statement

   Names of unique mountain peaks take 'the' (the Everest is wrong; we say Mount Everest).

   Statements

   1. Names of rivers always take the definite article 'the'.
   2. Names of oceans always take 'the' (the Pacific, the Atlantic).
   3. Names of unique mountain peaks take 'the' (the Everest is wrong; we say Mount Everest).