ARTICLE “THE”: USE & OMISSION – 75 MOST IMP. MCQs
(For UP Board, CBSE & Competitive Exams)
Introduction :
Articles in English Grammar decide clarity, accuracy, and meaning. Among them, Article “THE” confuses students the most due to its dual nature—use and omission. For learners of UP Board, CBSE, competitive examinations, and general English, mastering the correct application of “the” is essential. This blog offers a clear, rule-based, exam-focused explanation written in a classical grammar tone for lasting understanding.
75 MOST IMPORTANT MCQs ON ARTICLE “THE”
1. Sun rises in ___ east.
A. a
B. an
C. the ( correct )
D. no article
(Rule: “The” is used before directions)
2. He is ___ best player of the team.
A. a
B. an
C. the ( correct )
D. no article
(Rule: “The” is used before superlatives)
3. ___ Ganga is a sacred river.
A. A
B. An
C. The ( correct )
D. No article
(Rule: “The” is used before names of rivers)
4. She goes to ___ school every day.
A. the
B. a
C. an
D. no article ( correct )
(Rule: “The” is omitted before school when purpose is meant)
5. He reads ___ Times of India daily.
A. a
B. an
C. the ( correct )
D. no article
(Rule: “The” is used before newspapers)
6. ___ honesty is the best policy.
A. A
B. An
C. The
D. No article ( correct )
(Rule: “The” is omitted before abstract nouns in general sense)
7. My father plays ___ harmonium.
A. a
B. an
C. the ( correct )
D. no article
(Rule: “The” is used before musical instruments)
8. He was ___ last boy to leave.
A. a
B. an
C. the ( correct )
D. no article
(Rule: “The” is used before ordinal numbers)
9. Children like to play __ cricket.
A. a
B. an
C. the
D. no article ( correct )
(Rule: “The” is omitted before games)
10. ___ rich should help the poor.
A. A
B. An
C. The ( correct )
D. No article
(Rule: “The” is used before adjectives representing a class)
11. We went to ___ hospital to see a patient.
A. a
B. an
C. the ( correct )
D. no article
(Rule: “The” is used when hospital is used as a place, not purpose)
12. He died of __ cancer.
A. a
B. an
C. the
D. no article ( correct )
(Rule: “The” is omitted before diseases)
13. She lives in ___ United States.
A. a
B. an
C. the ( correct )
D. no article
(Rule: “The” is used before countries with plural names)
14. I met ___ boy you were talking about.
A. a
B. an
C. the ( correct )
D. no article
(Rule: “The” is used when noun is already known)
15. ___ English are known for discipline.
A. A
B. An
C. The ( correct )
D. No article
(Rule: “The” is used before nationalities used as nouns)
16. He is ___ only son of his parents.
A. a
B. an
C. the ( correct )
D. no article
(Rule: “The” is used before “only”)
17. She speaks __ English fluently.
A. a
B. an
C. the
D. no article ( correct )
(Rule: “The” is omitted before languages)
18. ___ Himalayas are very high.
A. A
B. An
C. The ( correct )
D. No article
(Rule: “The” is used before mountain ranges)
19. He works as ___ teacher.
A. a
B. an
C. the
D. no article ( correct )
(Rule: “The” is omitted after ‘as’ before profession)
20. We travelled by ___ train.
A. a
B. an
C. the
D. no article ( correct )
(Rule: “The” is omitted in ‘by + transport’)
21. ___ Taj Mahal is in Agra.
A. A
B. An
C. The ( correct )
D. No article
(Rule: “The” is used before famous monuments)
22. He is afraid of ___ dark.
A. a
B. an
C. the ( correct )
D. no article
(Rule: “The” is used before some abstract ideas)
23. She returned at ___ midnight.
A. a
B. an
C. the
D. no article ( correct )
(Rule: “The” is omitted before night/time expressions)
24. ___ Ramayana is a holy book.
A. A
B. An
C. The ( correct )
D. No article
(Rule: “The” is used before sacred books)
25. He was sent to ___ prison.
A. a
B. an
C. the
D. no article ( correct )
(Rule: “The” omitted when institution is used for purpose)
26. She is ___ most intelligent girl here.
A. a
B. an
C. the ( correct )
D. no article
(Rule: “The” is used before superlative degree)
27. ___ gold is a precious metal.
A. A
B. An
C. The
D. No article ( correct )
(Rule: “The” omitted before material nouns generally)
28. He crossed ___ river carefully.
A. a
B. an
C. the ( correct )
D. no article
(Rule: “The” used when a specific river is meant)
29. ___ Sharma's live next door.
A. A
B. An
C. The ( correct )
D. No article
(Rule: “The” used before plural family names)
30. She went to ___ college for higher studies.
A. a
B. an
C. the
D. no article ( correct )
(Rule: Purpose-based omission of “the”)
31. ___ Alps are located in Europe.
A. A
B. An
C. The ( correct )
D. No article
(Rule: “The” is used before names of mountain ranges)
32. He is ___ only member of the family.
A. a
B. an
C. the ( correct )
D. no article
(Rule: “The” is used before ‘only’)
33. She goes to ___ church every Sunday.
A. the
B. a
C. an
D. no article ( correct )
(Rule: “The” is omitted before church when purpose is meant)
34. ___ honest man is respected everywhere.
A. A ( correct )
B. An
C. The
D. No article
(Rule: “A” is used when abstract quality is personified)
35. He returned ___ home late at night.
A. a
B. an
C. the
D. no article ( correct )
(Rule: “The” is omitted before home)
36. She was married at ___ age of twenty.
A. a
B. an
C. the ( correct )
D. no article
(Rule: “The” is used in the phrase ‘at the age of’)
37. ___ cow is a useful animal.
A. A
B. An
C. The ( correct )
D. No article
(Rule: “The” is used to represent a whole class)
38. He fell ill with ___ fever.
A. a
B. an
C. the
D. no article ( correct )
(Rule: “The” is omitted before diseases in general)
39. He is ___ better of the two boys.
A. a
B. an
C. the ( correct )
D. no article
(Rule: “The” is used before comparative degree when one of two is meant)
40. We had ___ lunch together.
A. a
B. an
C. the
D. no article ( correct )
(Rule: “The” is omitted before meals)
41. ___ French Revolution changed Europe.
A. A
B. An
C. The ( correct )
D. No article
(Rule: “The” is used before historical events)
42. She is fond of ___ music.
A. a
B. an
C. the
D. no article ( correct )
(Rule: “The” is omitted before art subjects in general sense)
43. ___ Earth moves around the sun.
A. A
B. An
C. The ( correct )
D. No article
(Rule: “The” is used before unique objects)
44. He was sent to ___ jail for theft.
A. a
B. an
C. the
D. no article ( correct )
(Rule: “The” is omitted when jail is used for purpose)
45. She stayed at ___ Taj Hotel.
A. a
B. an
C. the ( correct )
D. no article
(Rule: “The” is used before names of hotels)
46. ___ Nile is the longest river in Africa.
A. A
B. An
C. The ( correct )
D. No article
(Rule: “The” is used before river names)
47. He is ___ richest man in the town.
A. a
B. an
C. the ( correct )
D. no article
(Rule: “The” is used before superlatives)
48. Children should respect ___ old.
A. a
B. an
C. the ( correct )
D. no article
(Rule: “The” is used before adjectives denoting classes)
49. She speaks ___ Hindi at home.
A. a
B. an
C. the
D. no article ( correct )
(Rule: “The” is omitted before languages)
50. He bought ___ umbrella yesterday.
A. a
B. an ( correct )
C. the
D. no article
(Rule: Article depends on sound, not spelling)
51. We crossed ___ Sahara Desert.
A. a
B. an
C. the ( correct )
D. no article
(Rule: “The” is used before deserts)
52. He goes to ___ bed at 10 pm.
A. a
B. an
C. the
D. no article ( correct )
(Rule: “The” omitted before bed when used for purpose)
53. She is ___ M.A. in English.
A. a
B. an ( correct )
C. the
D. no article
(Rule: Choice of ‘a/an’ depends on sound)
54. ___ Gita teaches moral values.
A. A
B. An
C. The ( correct )
D. No article
(Rule: “The” is used before holy books)
55. He plays ___ flute very well.
A. a
B. an
C. the ( correct )
D. no article
(Rule: “The” is used before musical instruments)
56. ___ English language is spoken worldwide.
A. A
B. An
C. The ( correct )
D. No article
(Rule: “The” used when language is treated as a subject)
57. She joined ___ university last year.
A. a ( correct )
B. an
C. the
D. no article
(Rule: “A” is used before common nouns for the first time)
58. He stood ___ first in class.
A. a
B. an
C. the ( correct )
D. no article
(Rule: “The” is used before ordinal numbers)
59. ___ honesty leads to success.
A. A
B. An
C. The
D. No article ( correct )
(Rule: Abstract nouns omit “the” in general sense)
60. She works in ___ office near my house.
A. a ( correct )
B. an
C. the
D. no article
(Rule: “A” is used when the noun is not specific)
61. He got ___ Nobel Prize for peace.
A. a
B. an
C. the ( correct )
D. no article
(Rule: “The” is used before names of prizes)
62. ___ poor are hardworking.
A. A
B. An
C. The ( correct )
D. No article
(Rule: “The” before adjectives representing groups)
63. We live near ___ sea.
A. a
B. an
C. the ( correct )
D. no article
(Rule: “The” is used before seas and oceans)
64. He took ___ breakfast early.
A. a
B. an
C. the
D. no article ( correct )
(Rule: Meals generally omit “the”)
65. She is ___ most beautiful girl here.
A. a
B. an
C. the ( correct )
D. no article
(Rule: “The” before superlative degree)
66. ___ Oxford University is famous.
A. A
B. An
C. The ( correct )
D. No article
(Rule: “The” used when ‘University of’ is implied)
67. He is ___ engineer by profession.
A. a ( correct )
B. an
C. the
D. no article
(Rule: “A” used before professions generally)
68. ___ sky was cloudy today.
A. A
B. An
C. The ( correct )
D. No article
(Rule: “The” is used when noun is definite)
69. She completed ___ graduation last year.
A. a
B. an
C. the
D. no article ( correct )
(Rule: “The” omitted before academic stages generally)
70. He reads ___ Hindu newspaper.
A. a
B. an
C. the ( correct )
D. no article
(Rule: “The” used before newspaper names)
71. ___ Ram is my best friend.
A. A
B. An
C. The
D. No article ( correct )
(Rule: Proper nouns do not take “the”)
72. He was awarded ___ medal for bravery.
A. a ( correct )
B. an
C. the
D. no article
(Rule: “A” used when object is mentioned first time)
73. ___ sun sets in the west.
A. A
B. An
C. The ( correct )
D. No article
(Rule: “The” is used before unique natural objects)
74. She is going to ___ market.
A. a
B. an
C. the ( correct )
D. no article
(Rule: “The” used when place is specific/known)
75. He walks ___ ten kilometres daily.
A. a
B. an
C. the
D. no article ( correct )
(Rule: “The” omitted before plural numbers) FAQs :
Q1. Why is “the” called a definite article?
Because it points to a particular noun.
Q2. Can “the” be used before abstract nouns?
Only when the meaning is specific.
Q3. Is “the” compulsory before rivers?
Yes, always.
Q4. Why is “the” not used before games?
Because games are treated as general activities.
Conclusion :
Understanding Article “THE” is a decisive step toward grammatical accuracy in English Grammar for exams and real communication. Correct usage highlights specificity, while omission expresses general meaning. Regular practice with clear rules builds confidence and reduces errors naturally. Mastery of this topic ensures strong sentence formation, better scores, and effective expression in both written and spoken English.
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