Three Basic Rules for Articles

Once upon a time, a an the( a, an, the ) princess was sitting by a an the( a, an, the ) lake. She was playing with a an the( a, an, the ) golden ball. Suddenly, a an the( a, an, the ) golden ball fell into a an the( a, an, the ) lake. A An The( A, An, The ) princess was very sad. Suddenly a an the( a, an, the ) frog came out of a an the( a, an, the ) lake and sat beside a an the( a, an, the ) princess. A An The( A, An, The ) frog promised to fetch a an the( a, an, the ) golden ball and a an the( a, an, the ) princess was very happy!

1. A An The( A, An, The ) mayor spoke to reporters at a an the( a, an, the ) airport today.
2. A An The( A, An, The ) member of Parliament talked about ways to save a an the( a, an, the ) environment.
3. My brother and sister work for a an the( a, an, the ) government. She is a an the( a, an, the ) lawyer and he is a an the( a, an, the ) accountant.
4. A An The( A, An, The ) Earth orbits a an the( a, an, the ) Sun in 365 days. A An The( A, An, The ) moon orbits a an the( a, an, the ) Earth in 27 days.
5. His father is a an the( a, an, the ) captain in a an the( a, an, the ) Navy. His mother is a an the( a, an, the ) major in a an the( a, an, the ) Army.

1. What is a an the( a, an, the ) best food you have ever tasted?
2. What is a an the( a, an, the ) most interesting book you have ever read?
3. Who is a an the( a, an, the ) strangest person you have ever met?
4. What is a an the( a, an, the ) most beautiful country you have ever visited?
5. What is a an the( a, an, the ) funniest movie you have ever seen?

1. a an the (no article)( a, an, the, (no article) ) Atlantic Ocean
2. a an the (no article)( a, an, the, (no article) ) Baltic Sea
3. a an the (no article)( a, an, the, (no article) ) Mississippi River
4. a an the (no article)( a, an, the, (no article) ) Manhattan Island
5. a an the (no article)( a, an, the, (no article) )Lake Superior
6. a an the (no article)( a, an, the, (no article) ) United Nations
7. a an the (no article)( a, an, the, (no article) ) United Kingdom
8. a an the (no article)( a, an, the, (no article) ) European Union
9. a an the (no article)( a, an, the, (no article) ) Beaver Mountain

General or Specific?
1. a the (no article)( a, the, (no article) ) Strawberries are my favorite a the (no article)( a, the, (no article) ) fruit.
2. A The (no article)( A, The, (no article) ) strawberries from my grandmother's garden are very sweet.
3. A The (no article)( A, The, (no article) ) Hotels are expensive.
4. A The (no article)( A, The, (no article) ) hotel next to the theater is very expensive.
5. He never asks for An The (no article)( An, The, (no article) ) advice.
6. An The (no article)( An, The, (no article) ) advice you gave me was very good!