WREN & MARTIN's English grammar-articles-medium standard

 

ARTICLES — MCQs for Competitive Examinations

(Based on Wren & Martin's English Grammar)

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Medium Standard

1. He is ________ university professor who has written ________ useful book on economics.

• A) a / a
• B) an / a
• C) a / an
• D) an / an

2. ________ accused was produced before ________ court of law yesterday.

• A) A / a
• B) An / the
• C) The / a
• D) The / the

3. India won ________ match by ________ margin of ten runs.

• A) a / a
• B) the / a
• C) the / the
• D) a / the

4. Choose the correct sentence:

• A) She is best student in the class.
• B) She is the best student in the class.
• C) She is a best student in the class.
• D) She is an best student in the class.

5. ________ Alps are ________ longest mountain range in Europe.

• A) A / the
• B) The / a
• C) The / the
• D) An / the

6. He returned home after ________ absence of ________ year and ________ half.

• A) an / a / a
• B) a / a / a
• C) an / the / a
• D) the / a / a

7. ________ rich should help ________ poor — this is ________ universal truth.

• A) The / the / the
• B) The / the / a
• C) A / the / a
• D) The / a / the

8. Identify the error in the following sentence: "My brother wants to become an historian, but I want to become a engineer."

• A) an historian
• B) but I
• C) a engineer
• D) want to become
• E) No error

9. ________ Himalayas separate India from ________ Tibet and act as ________ natural barrier.

• A) The / — / a
• B) The / the / a
• C) A / — / the
• D) The / — / the

10. She has ________ honour of receiving ________ award for ________ best performance of the year.

• A) the / an / the
• B) an / the / the
• C) the / the / a
• D) an / an / the

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Answers

1. A) a / an "University" begins with the consonant sound /juː/ (like "you"), so "a university" is correct. "Useful" also begins with the consonant sound /juː/, so "a useful book" is correct. As per Wren & Martin, it is the sound and not the spelling that determines the use of "a" or "an."

⚠️ Note: The correct answer is A) a / a — "a university professor" and "a useful book." Both words begin with the consonant sound /juː/. None of the given options perfectly match; however, option A) a / a is the closest and most correct choice.

2. D) The / the "The accused" — Wren & Martin states "the" is used before nouns that refer to a specific, already-identified person (the accused is a specific individual). "The court of law" — refers to a specific institution already known in context. Both require the definite article.

3. B) the / a "The match" — a specific match already known to the speaker and listener, hence "the." "A margin" — margin is mentioned for the first time in an indefinite sense, hence "a margin of ten runs." This follows Wren & Martin's rule of first and subsequent mention.

4. B) She is the best student in the class. Wren & Martin clearly states that "the" is always used before superlative degrees of adjectives (best, worst, tallest, etc.). "A" and "an" cannot precede superlatives. "Best" begins with a consonant sound, so "an" is also ruled out.

5. C) The / the "The Alps" — Wren & Martin's rule: "the" is used before names of mountain ranges, groups of islands, and chains of hills. "The longest" — "the" is compulsory before superlative adjectives. Both blanks correctly take "the."

6. A) an / a / a "An absence" — "absence" begins with the vowel sound /æ/, so "an" is correct. "A year" — "year" begins with the consonant sound /j/, so "a" is correct. "A half" — "half" begins with the consonant sound /h/, so "a" is correct. The phrase "a year and a half" is a standard expression recognised in Wren & Martin.

7. B) The / the / a "The rich" and "the poor" — Wren & Martin states "the" is used before adjectives to denote an entire class of people. "A universal truth" — "universal" begins with the consonant sound /juː/, so "a" (not "an") is correct. This is a commonly tested trap in competitive examinations.

8. C) a engineer "Engineer" begins with the vowel sound /ɛ/, so "an engineer" is correct. As for "an historian" — though debated, in Indian competitive examinations based on Wren & Martin, "historian" begins with the consonant sound /h/ (the "h" is pronounced), so "a historian" is the standard accepted form. Hence both A and C contain errors, but since the question asks to identify one error, C) a engineer is the primary and clearest error.

9. A) The / — / a "The Himalayas" — "the" is used before names of mountain ranges. "Tibet" — names of countries do not take any article, so no article before "Tibet." "A natural barrier" — first and indefinite mention, so "a" is correct.

10. B) an / the / the "An honour" — "honour" begins with a silent "h," making the first sound a vowel /ɒ/, so "an honour" is correct per Wren & Martin. "The award" — refers to a specific, identified award, so "the" is correct. "The best performance" — superlative degree always takes "the."