Articles (A, An, The) – English Grammar Exercises for A1
Representing your group and ordering food at a fast-food restaurant counter.
You are at the counter ordering food for your friends and family. Choose the correct article (a, an, the) to fill in the blank.
1 Hello! I would like ___ cheeseburger, please.
(a) the
(b) a
(c) an
2 Can I also have ___ apple pie for dessert?
(a) a
(b) the
(c) an
3 My sister is very hungry. She wants ___ chicken sandwich.
(a) a
(b) an
(c) the
4 For my drink, I will take ___ orange juice.
(a) the
(b) an
(c) a
5 We need ___ large box of french fries to share.
(a) an
(b) the
(c) a
6 My friend outside asked for ___ iced coffee.
(a) an
(b) a
(c) the
7 I will also take ___ double burger with cheese!
(a) an
(b) the
(c) a
8 Could we add ___ order of onion rings to that?
(a) a
(b) an
(c) the
9 I am trying to eat healthy today, so I want ___ green salad.
(a) a
(b) an
(c) the
10 My little brother wants ___ egg muffin from the breakfast menu.
(a) a
(b) the
(c) an
11 We have a lot of items. Can you give me ___ tray to carry everything?
(a) the
(b) a
(c) an
12 Oh, and I also need ___ extra cup for the kids to share water.
(a) an
(b) a
(c) the
13 My dad would like ___ slice of pepperoni pizza.
(a) an
(b) the
(c) a
14 I think we need ___ bottle of water, too.
(a) the
(b) a
(c) an
15 Can I get ___ European-style hot dog from your new menu?
(a) a
(b) the
(c) an
16 Excuse me, I ordered a burger and a wrap, but ___ wrap is missing!
(a) a
(b) an
(c) the
17 Could you please pass me ___ salt from your side of the counter?
(a) a
(b) the
(c) an
18 Will it take more than half ___ hour to get all of our food?
(a) an
(b) the
(c) a
19 Here is a twenty-dollar bill. You can keep ___ change.
(a) a
(b) an
(c) the
20 Can I have ___ honest opinion? Is the spicy chicken very hot?
(a) the
(b) an
(c) a
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (b) a
Explanation: When you order one standard portion or item, use “a” before a consonant sound (/tʃ/ for cheeseburger). Option (a) “the” is a common mistake because you are not asking for a specific, unique burger; you just want one from the kitchen. Option (c) “an” is a basic grammar error.
2 (c) an
Explanation: You are ordering one portion. “Apple” starts with a vowel sound (/æ/). Option (a) “a” is a basic error. Option (b) “the” is incorrect for a general order.
3 (a) a
Explanation: Ordering one portion. “Chicken” starts with a consonant sound (/tʃ/). Option (b) “an” is a basic error. Option (c) “the” is a common mistake.
4 (b) an
Explanation: Ordering one drink. “Orange” starts with a vowel sound (/ɒ/). Option (c) “a” is a basic error. Option (a) “the” is incorrect.
5 (c) a
Explanation: You want one box. “Large” starts with a consonant sound (/l/). Option (a) “an” is a basic error. Option (b) “the” is incorrect.
6 (a) an
Explanation: You want one drink. “Iced” starts with a vowel sound (/aɪ/). Option (b) “a” is a common mistake. Option (c) “the” is incorrect.
7 (c) a
Explanation: You want one burger. “Double” starts with a consonant sound (/d/). Option (a) “an” is a basic error. Option (b) “the” is incorrect.
8 (b) an
Explanation: You want one portion. “Order” starts with a vowel sound (/ɔː/). Option (a) “a” is a basic error. Option (c) “the” is incorrect.
9 (a) a
Explanation: You want one salad. “Green” starts with a consonant sound (/g/). Option (b) “an” is a basic error. Option (c) “the” is incorrect.
10 (c) an
Explanation: You want one muffin. “Egg” starts with a vowel sound (/e/). Option (a) “a” is a basic error. Option (b) “the” is incorrect.
11 (b) a
Explanation: You just need any tray to carry your food. Option (a) “the” is a common mistake because you aren’t asking for a specific tray. Option (c) “an” is a basic error.
12 (a) an
Explanation: You want any extra cup. “Extra” starts with a vowel sound (/e/). Option (b) “a” is a common mistake for students who only look at the noun “cup”. Option (c) “the” is incorrect.
13 (c) a
Explanation: You want one slice. “Slice” starts with a consonant sound (/s/). Option (a) “an” is a basic error. Option (b) “the” is incorrect.
14 (b) a
Explanation: You want one bottle. “Bottle” starts with a consonant sound (/b/). Option (c) “an” is a basic error. Option (a) “the” is incorrect.
15 (a) a
Explanation: Exception! “European” starts with a ‘Y’ consonant sound (/j/). Option (c) “an” is a very common mistake. Option (b) “the” is incorrect.
16 (c) the
Explanation: Contrast question! You already introduced the wrap in the first half of the sentence (“I ordered a burger and a wrap”). This is the second mention, so both you and the cashier know exactly which wrap is missing. Option (a) “a” is a common mistake because students forget the second-mention rule. Option (b) “an” is a basic error.
17 (b) the
Explanation: The phrase “from your side of the counter” makes the salt specific. You are pointing to a specific object. Option (a) “a” is a common mistake. Option (c) “an” is a basic error.
18 (a) an
Explanation: “Hour” starts with a silent ‘H’, giving it a vowel sound (/aʊ/). Option (c) “a” is a common mistake. Option (b) “the” is incorrect for this fixed phrase.
19 (c) the
Explanation: “Keep the change” is a fixed phrase, and it refers to the specific money returned from your specific twenty-dollar bill. Option (a) “a” and (b) “an” are basic errors with the uncountable noun “change”.
20 (b) an
Explanation: “Honest” starts with a silent ‘H’, giving it a vowel sound (/ɒ/). Option (c) “a” is a common mistake. Option (a) “the” is incorrect because you are just asking for one general opinion.
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
- Ordering standard units: In English, when you go to a restaurant or cafe, the most natural way to order one item is to use a or an. It means “one portion of”.
- Example: I would like a coffee and an apple pie.
- Uncountable to Countable: Many foods and drinks are normally uncountable (like coffee, juice, salad). However, when ordering at a restaurant, we treat them as countable to mean “a cup of…” or “a bowl of…”.
- Example: I will have an orange juice. (Meaning: one cup of orange juice).
- When to use “The” at a restaurant: Only use “the” when you are talking about something specific that the staff already knows about, or something you are pointing at.
- Example 1: I ordered a burger, but the burger is cold. (Second mention).
- Example 2: Can you pass me the ketchup on that table? (Specific item).