Grammar Challenge

The 'zero' article

Practice activities

© British Broadcasting Corporation 2007

 BBC Learning English – Grammar Challenge

Zero articles

Exercise 1:

Read each sentences and decide whether it is correct or not.

1. I don't really like sweet things but I love a chocolate.

a. Correct
b. Not correct

2. She goes to work by bus.

a. Correct
b. Not correct

3. They usually go skiing in the Alps but last year they went to France and skied on the
Mont Blanc.
a. Correct
b. Not correct

4. What the great holiday we had in Italy and what the fantastic cheese we ate!
a. Correct
b. Not correct

5. He's from the Maldives and she's from Ireland.

a. Correct
b. Not correct

6. He bought a pair of jeans and the most fantastic suit I've ever seen.
a. Correct
b. Not correct

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 BBC Learning English – Grammar Challenge

Zero articles

Exercise 2:
Choose the best answer from the options below to complete the sentences.

They met at (1)__________ speed-dating event.

She was from (2) __________ Ireland and he was from (3)__________ Caribbean.

She really likes (4) __________ folk music but he prefers (5)__________ jazz.

She loves skiing but he's terrified of (6)__________ heights and was even too scared to
go to (7)__________ top of (8) __________ Empire State Building when he went to (9)
__________New York on holiday.

She eventually decided to go out with him anyway and six months later they got married!
What (10)__________romantic story she'll have to tell her grandchildren.

Options
(1) the / a / an / no article
(2) the / a / an / no article
(3) the / a / an / no article
(4) the / a / an / no article
(5) the / a / an / no article
(6) the / a / an / no article
(7) the / a / an / no article
(8) the / a / an / no article
(9) the / a / an / no article
(10) the / a / an / no article

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 BBC Learning English – Grammar Challenge

Zero articles

Answers

Quiz 1:
Read the sentences and decide whether each one is correct or not.

1. I don't really like sweet things but I love chocolate.

a. This sentence is correct
We don't use any article when we're talking about uncountable nouns in general.

2. She goes to work by bus.

a. This sentence is correct
We don't use any article when we're talking about some kinds of transport, including
'by bus'.

3. They usually go skiing in the Alps but last year they went to France and skied on the
Mont Blanc.
b. This sentence is not correct.
We use the definite article with groups of mountains but no article with single
mountains.

4. What the fantastic cheese we ate in Italy!

b. This sentence is not correct.
We don't use an article with expressions with 'What + uncountable noun'.

5. He's from the Maldives and she's from Ireland.

a. This sentence is correct
We use the definite article with countries made up of islands but we don't use
an article countries like 'Ireland'.

6. He bought a pair of jeans and the most fantastic suit I've ever seen.
a. This sentence is correct
We use articles with these pieces of clothing.

Grammar Challenge activities © BBC Learning English

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 BBC Learning English – Grammar Challenge

Zero articles
Answers
Exercise 2:
Choose the best answer from the options below to complete the sentences.

They met at (1)__________ speed-dating event.

She was from (2) __________ Ireland and he was from (3)__________ Caribbean.

She really likes (4) __________ folk music but he prefers (5)__________ jazz.

She loves skiing but he's terrified of (6)__________ heights and was even too scared to
go to (7)__________ top of (8) __________ Empire State Building when he went to (9)
__________New York on holiday.

She eventually decided to go out with him anyway and six months later they got married!
What (10)__________romantic story she'll have to tell her grandchildren

Options
(1) a
(2) no article
(3) the
(4) no article
(5) no article
(6) no article
(7) the
(8) the
(9) no article
(10) a

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