English grammar test 1: Unnecessary Words — Unnecessary Articles

Question 1: _____ Monday before last was her marriage day.

(a) -

(b) An

(d) A

Question 2: ______ silver was used to prepare this jewelry.

(a) The

(b) -

Question 3: ______ trust is another very important requirement.

(a) The

(b) -

Question 4: Can you please give me ____ work?

(a) an

(b) a

Question 5: Can you draw the map of _____ British Isles?

(a) the

(b) -

Question 6: ______ Sunday before the last was her worst holiday.

(a) -

(b) An

(d) A

Question 7: The little girl enjoys ______ society of her parents.

(a) the

(b) -

Question 8: We used to play ____ basket-ball.

(a) a

(b) the

(d) -

Question 9: We saw some fishing boats in _____ Indian Ocean.

(a) -

(b) an

(d) the

Question 10: _____ sight is probably the most important sense.

(a) The

(b) A

(d) -

Answers: 1. (c) 2. (b) 3. (b) 4. (c) 5. (a) 6. (c) 7. (a) 8. (d) 9. (d) 10. (d)

Explanations:

Explanation 1: We should not use the definite article before the names of days, months and seasons when they are used in a general sense.

Examples:

(1) Friday is a holiday in some Muslim countries.

(2) December is a winter month.

(3) Summer is a hot season.

Exception: When they are used in a particular sense, they require the article.

Examples:

(1) the summer of 1950

(2) the September of 1944

(3) the Sunday before last

Explanation 2: When we use material nouns in a general sense, they cannot take the article.

Material Noun is the name of a material or a substance or an ingredient of an alloy.

Example: Iron is a cheap metal.

Exception: When material nouns are used in a particular sense, they take the article.

Example: The iron of this mine is very cheap.

Explanation 3: When we use abstract nouns in a general sense, they cannot take the article.

Abstract nouns refer to abstract objects; that is, ideas or concepts (such as justice or hatred).

Example: Justice is very important for every society.

Exception: When abstract nouns are used in a particular sense, they take the article.

Example: The justice of this court is disputable.

Explanation 4: We should not place an indefinite article “a” or “an” before the following words:

(1) fun

(2) health

(3) permission

(4) work

Explanation 5: We do not use the definite article “the” with proper nouns.

Proper noun: A proper noun is a noun that in its primary application refers to a unique entity, such as London, Jupiter, Sarah, or Microsoft, as distinguished from a common noun, which usually refers to a class of entities (city, planet, person, corporation), or non-unique instances of a certain class (a city, another planet, these persons, our corporation).

Exceptions: We generally place “the” before the names of

(1) rivers (Example: the Nile, the Amazon River, the Yellow River, etc.)

(2) seas (Example: the Mediterranean, the Baltic Sea, the Andaman Sea, the Arabian Sea, etc.)

(3) oceans (Example: the Atlantic, the Arctic Ocean, the Southern Ocean, the Indian Ocean, etc.)

(4) bays (Example: the Bay of Bengal, the bay of Biscay, the Hudson’s Bay, etc.)

(5) gulfs (Example: the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Aden, the Gulf of Alaska, etc.)

(6) mountain ranges (Example: the Alps, the Andes, the Rocky Mountains, etc.)

(7) groups of islands (Example: the Pacific Islands, the Dodecanese, the British Isles, etc.)

(8) countries consisting of an adjective and a noun (Example: the United States, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, etc.)

(9) provinces consisting of an adjective and a noun (Example: the United Provinces of Central America, the Central Provinces of India, etc.)

Explanation 6: We should not use the definite article before the names of days, months and seasons when they are used in a general sense.

Examples:

(1) Friday is a holiday in some Muslim countries.

(2) December is a winter month.

(3) Summer is a hot season.

Exception: When they are used in a particular sense, they require the article.

Examples:

(1) the summer of 1950

(2) the September of 1944

(3) the Sunday before last

Explanation 7: When we use “society” in a general sense, it cannot take the definite article.

Example: Poverty hurts society as a whole..

Exception 1: When “society” is used in a particular sense, it takes the article.

Example: The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals organized an event last Sunday.

Exception 2: When “society” is used in the sense of companionship, it takes the article.

Example: The mother enjoys the society of her naughty baby.

Explanation 8: We should not use any article before the names of games such as these:

(1) cricket

(2) football

(3) hockey

(4) tennis

(5) basket-ball

(6) volley-ball

Explanation 9: We do not use the definite article “the” with proper nouns.