Articles Question Types, Concepts, Rules, Tricks and Tips

Articles are one of the foundational topics in English grammar, commonly tested in competitive exams like SSC, Banking, and RRB. In this blog, we have provided the definition of English grammar articles, their importance, types, question patterns, tricks for fast solving, solved questions from 2024–25 exams, and more.

What Is Articles in English?

Articles are words that define a noun as specific or unspecific. The three main articles in English are:

• A (indefinite)
• An (indefinite, used before vowels)
• The (definite)

Why it appears in exams:
Articles test your basic grammar knowledge, attention to context, and sentence flow.

Skills required:

• Logic: Deciding when to use definite vs indefinite
• Observation: Spotting countable vs uncountable nouns
• Contextual understanding: Identifying general vs specific references

Why Is Articles Important in Competitive Exams?

Articles are a scoring yet often overlooked topic in English exams.

Exam	No. of Questions	Difficulty
SSC CGL / CHSL	1–2	Easy
IBPS PO / SBI PO	1–2	Moderate
RRB NTPC / Group D	1	Easy
State PSC / Police	1–2	Moderate

Articles English Short Notes

Types of articles most commonly used to solve questions are as follows:

Term	Details
A	Used before singular, countable nouns starting with a consonant sound
An	Used before singular, countable nouns starting with a vowel sound
The	Used before specific nouns (singular/plural, countable/uncountable)
Zero Article	No article is used with plural or uncountable nouns when speaking generally

Logical patterns:

• Use “a/an” for first mentions, non-specific items
• Use “the” for second mentions, known items, superlatives, or unique objects

Quick Revision Summary

Concepts most commonly used to solve questions based on the topic of articles are as follows:

Concept	Details
Indefinite Article	‘A’/‘An’ for non-specific nouns
Definite Article	‘The’ for specific nouns
Vowel Rule	Use ‘An’ before vowel sounds, not just letters
Plural/Uncountable	Usually no article unless specific
Superlative	Always use ‘The’ with superlatives
Proper Nouns	Use ‘The’ with names of rivers, oceans, monuments

What Are the Types of Articles Questions in English?

Articles questions in exams generally include:

1. Fill in the Blanks – Choose correct article in a sentence
2. Error Detection – Identify incorrect article usage
3. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) – Pick the grammatically correct sentence
4. Sentence Improvement – Replace wrong articles with correct ones

Articles Tricks for SSC CGL and Other Exams

Tricks that can be used to solve questions based on articles are as follows:

1. Identify singular vs plural nouns first
2. Spot if the noun is specific or general
3. Apply vowel vs consonant sound rule for A/An
4. Use The with superlatives and unique objects
5. Skip articles for general plural/uncountable nouns
6. Re-read sentence to check context consistency

Solved Articles Questions from 2024–25 Exams

1. SSC CGL 2024 Tier 1 – Shift 2 (Memory-Based)
Question: She adopted ___ dog from the shelter.
Answer: a
Explanation: First mention, non-specific, singular countable noun → use A

2. IBPS PO Prelims 2024
Question: Mount Everest is ___ highest mountain in the world.
Answer: the
Explanation: Superlative → always use The

3. RRB NTPC 2024
Question: ___ water in the river was very clean.
Answer: The
Explanation: Specific known water (river mentioned) → use The

4. SSC CHSL 2024
Question: She likes ___ apples and bananas.
Answer: zero article (no article)
Explanation: Plural, general statement → no article

Articles Concepts for Bank Exams

In bank exams, IBPS/SBI often ask context-based blanks:

• Example: “The manager gave ___ advice that changed the branch’s performance.”
• Correct Answer: some (sometimes testing zero article logic with uncountable nouns)

Common Mistakes to Avoid while Solving Articles

Common mistakes to avoid while solving questions based on articles are as follows:

1. Using A/An with plural nouns – avoid by checking singularity
2. Confusing vowel sound vs consonant letters – focus on pronunciation
3. Skipping The with superlatives – remember “highest, best, only”
4. Using articles with general plural/uncountable nouns – omit articles
5. Ignoring context (first mention vs second mention) – re-read sentence

FAQs

---

• MCLR: Marginal Cost of Lending Rate, Meaning & Importance
• MICR: Magnetic Ink Character Recognition Code & Its Importance
• Bank of Baroda Credit Analyst Recruitment 2025 Out, Apply Now
• OICL Assistant Result 2025 Out, Download Prelims Result PDF
• Windows OS and Microsoft Office Basics for SSC CGL Tier 2
• e-Banking for SSC CGL Tier 2, Benefits & Security