Your turn. Add the correct article (a, an, or the) OR leave the space blank if no article is needed.

Question

Using articles (a, an, the) correctly can be a challenge. Follow these tips, and then answer the
questions below.
1. Be aware of count and noncount nouns, and select the proper article.
Count nouns: these nouns have plural forms. Examples: book/books, child/children, box/boxes
Noncount nouns: these nouns do not have plural forms. Examples: food, education, compassion
Do not use an article when you are referring to everything in the noun’s category.
I shopped for food and for clothes yesterday.
The mission shows compassion to homeless people.
When referring to a particular instance or a particular example of the noncount noun, use
the.
We left the food from the market on the front porch.
The compassion Jenna showed by offering her home to refugees was inspirational.
2. When referring to all or any of the noun being used, and the noun is a count noun, do not
use an article and make the noun plural.
I like to collect old stamps.
The store on the corner sells boxes.

3. When referring to specific count nouns, use an article.
I found an old stamp in a library book.
John brought the boxes upstairs.

4. When you use a count noun the first time, use a or an. In subsequent sentences, use the.
The rain was coming down, so Thomas found an umbrella.
He kept the umbrella with him all day.

I found an old stamp in a library book.
I put the stamp in my collection.

1. Mariah always takes _____ little coin purse with her when she travels. She puts all her spare
change into _____ little coin purse.
2. On her recent trip to Italy, Mariah found _____ friendship and romance.
3. She loved visiting _____ countryside and dining in rustic cafes.
4. Mariah chose to buy _____ camera and take _____ photographs of the beautiful scenery.
5. One of the most beautiful regions was _____ Tuscany.
6. Because Mariah rented _____ car, she was able to explore many parts of Italy.
7. She used _____ car she rented to travel from the top of Italy to the very bottom tip.
8. In Rome, she found _____ art and _____ culture.
9. Mariah was amazed by _____ sculptures in the Galleria Borghese.
10. She also enjoyed shopping at _____ outdoor markets in the center of town.

Answer 1