Start practising

Topic / 40 questions

Articles MCQs

Articles MCQs are English grammar questions that test the correct use of 'a', 'an' and 'the', and when no article is needed, often by asking you to spot the error in a sentence. They help ECAT, MDCAT, NTS and SSC candidates master a small but frequently tested area. Each question displays its correct answer instantly, so you learn the rules quickly.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

About Articles MCQs

Sentences in this category test the definite article in fixed cases, such as 'the history of the United States', 'during the Middle Ages' and 'on the fourteenth of February'. Others test when the article should be omitted, for example before names of languages like English and Urdu, or before 'school' when it refers to its usual purpose. Some sentences check general statements, as in 'man is mortal'.

Article errors are a common feature of the error-spotting and sentence correction parts of entry tests in Pakistan and of recruitment exams across South Asia. Because the rules differ from those of Urdu, Hindi and Bangla, they can feel tricky at first. Regular practice helps you recognise the patterns quickly, such as using 'the' before ordinal numbers, unique nouns and names of countries containing 'states' or 'kingdom'.

Key facts to remember

  • 'An' is used before words beginning with a vowel sound, as in 'an hour'.
  • 'The' is used before ordinal numbers, as in 'the fourteenth of February'.
  • No article is used before names of languages, such as English or Urdu, used alone.
  • 'The' is used before country names containing words like States or Kingdom.
  • No article is needed before 'school' when it refers to its main purpose of learning.

Exams that include Articles MCQs

Pakistan

  • ECAT
  • MDCAT
  • NTS
  • NAT
  • ISSB
  • Army/Navy/PAF initial tests

India

  • SSC CGL
  • SSC CHSL
  • IBPS Clerk
  • CDS
  • NDA

Bangladesh

  • University admission tests (DU, RU, JU)
  • Engineering admission (BUET)
  • BCS
  • Bank job exams

How to prepare for Articles MCQs

  1. Decide between 'a' and 'an' by the sound of the next word, not its spelling, as in 'a university' and 'an honest man'.
  2. Memorise common fixed uses of 'the', including historical periods, ordinal numbers and unique objects like the sun.
  3. Remember that languages take no article unless followed by 'language', as in 'the Urdu language'.
  4. Read each sentence aloud mentally, because a missing or extra article often sounds wrong once you are used to correct English.

Frequently asked questions

What are Articles MCQs?

Articles MCQs test how well you use 'a', 'an' and 'the' in English. Questions usually show a sentence with a missing, extra or wrong article and ask you to choose the corrected version. They form a regular part of grammar sections in ECAT, MDCAT and many recruitment exams.

How many Articles MCQs are on MCQs360?

MCQs360 has 51 Articles MCQs in its ECAT MCAT English section, each with an instant answer. Practice is free and needs no sign-up, and you can combine this topic with sentence correction for broader grammar revision.

Which exams include Articles MCQs?

Article usage is tested in ECAT, MDCAT, NTS, NAT, ISSB and armed forces initial tests in Pakistan. In India it appears in error-spotting sections of SSC CGL, SSC CHSL, bank exams, CDS and NDA. In Bangladesh it appears in university admission tests, BUET and BCS English papers.

When should 'the' not be used?

'The' is usually not used before names of languages, most single countries and cities, meals, and general plural or uncountable nouns used in a general sense. It is also omitted before places like school, church or hospital when they are visited for their main purpose, as in 'I go to school every day'.

Last reviewed October 2026