HOMEWORK- DEFINITENESS AND INDEFINITNESS - JANA PASHOVSKA, 5755
I. Put a or an in front of the following words and phrases:
a university, a one-sided story, an honest deal, a history of England, a ewe, an unintentional mistake,
a unilateral agreement, a hotel, an ink-bottle
II. Insert the articles in the blank spaces where necessary:
1. His father was a lawyer and earned $30000 a year.
2. Go and buy half a pound of sugar.
3. What a nuisance!
4. For breakfast we have porridge, bacon and eggs. (no articles needed)
5. He became President as he was a Liberal and a Catholic.
6. Shall we give her a book for Christmas?
7. What a humorous man your friend is!
8. Byrd, the/an Elizabethan musician, wrote many compositions.
9. Where there is a will there is a way!
10. The boy over there is the worst at French in this class.
11. The Magna Carta was signed by King John in the year 1215.
12. The Treaty of Versailles laid down harsh terms.
13. My brother is a sportsman; he plays tennis and football, while my sister is a musician: she plays the
violin and the piano.
14. Brown, the/a chemist, sells pills.
15. The public opinion is against aggression. (or: Public opinion is against aggression)- no articles needed
16. Information on this matter is lacking; at least the information we are all wanting.
17. Which do you prefer, Lake Geneva or the Lake of Constance?
18. The pen is mightier than the sword.
19. Prince Philip is the Duke of Edinburgh.
20. Which language do you speak better; German or French?
21. Many boys leave school at 18 to begin military service.
22. Oxford Street is one of the busiest streets in London.
23. I prefer going by sea to going by plane.
III. Correct this article by using the correct articles!
Most people outside the United States have never heard of the Great Serpent Mound in Adams County,
Ohio. One of the most mysterious monuments in America, the mound is an ancient Native American
construction built to look like a snake. While there are mounds built in many parts of the Midwest and the
South, not many look like animals. Researchers refer to this type of mound as the "effigy mound". Over 1,348
feet long, scientists agree it's a very impressive monument, but there is disagreement over who
built the structure. Some people think the Adena people built the mound; others think it was the Fort
Ancient culture.
IV. Correct this article by using the correct articles:
Dear Judy,
Sorry that I didn't email you earlier to tell you about the trip, but I've had a bunch of things to do since we
got back. We had a fantastic time in South Africa. Although this is the first time I've ever traveled to a foreign
country, I feel confident saying that it's one of the most beautiful places on the planet.
We began the trip in Cape Town as you suggested. It's such a beautiful city. And I'm so glad you
recommended that we take the cable car up Table Mountain. While we were taking in the spectacular views,
we met a man who runs a lodge just outside the Kalahari National Park. He invited us to stay in the lodge for
free, so we rented a car and slowly drove up the West Coast to the park and spent our time
exploring the Kalahari Desert. What an adventure!
V. Correct this article by using the correct articles:
Sometimes, names can be confusing in different languages. Much to the confusion of many English
learners, Europa is not the name of a continent, but rather a moon which orbits Jupiter. And although many
people have never heard of it, it is an especially important moon. Scientists have discovered that the surface
is entirely covered with ice, but researchers hope that beneath the frozen layer lies an ocean. Nobody knows
if the center of the moon is frozen solid or if it is liquid water. If some vast, undiscovered ocean does exist, it
would be a cold and harsh environment; however, some scientists believe that life might exist there just like
it does at the bottom of Earth's oceans. Some say that the only way to find out is to send a probe to drill
down into the ice and see what's there. Such a mission would be an expensive project indeed.
