Question

Fill in with the correct preposition -------trip to Switzerland was----------expensive one

• A. None, the
• B. The, an
• C. A, the
• D. The, none

Answer 1

Answer:

B. The, an

Understanding Articles 'a', 'an', and 'the'

• Articles are determiners that specify the grammatical definiteness of a noun.

• 'a' and 'an' are indefinite articles, used before singular, countable nouns when the noun is not specific.

• 'the' is the definite article, used before singular or plural nouns (countable or uncountable) when the noun is specific or has already been mentioned.

Rules for 'a' vs. 'an'

• Use 'a' before words that begin with a consonant sound.

• Use 'an' before words that begin with a vowel sound.

• Important Note: The choice depends on the sound of the first letter, not the letter itself. For example, 'an hour' (h is silent, 'our' starts with a vowel sound), but 'a university' ('u' here makes a 'yoo' sound, which is a consonant sound).

• 'trip': In the context of a specific trip, 'the' is often used to refer to a particular, identified trip. For example, "We discussed the trip we took last summer."

• 'expensive': This word starts with a vowel sound ('e'). Therefore, the indefinite article 'an' is used before it.

• "The trip to Switzerland was an expensive one."

• Here, 'the' refers to a specific trip that is understood by the speaker and listener.

• 'an' is used before 'expensive' because it begins with a vowel sound and refers to the nature of that specific trip in an indefinite way (i.e., it was one instance of an expensive trip).