Question

He can fly ______________ aeroplane.
A. a
B. an
C. the
D. no article

Answer 1

Hint:
'A' and 'An' are indefinite articles that are used before unspecific, singular countable nouns. Whereas, ‘A’ before a singular noun beginning with a constant sound. The indefinite article ( a, an ) is used before a noun that is general or when its identity is not known.

Complete answer:
Option A: 'A' is used before words beginning with a consonant sound. ‘A’ is used as an indefinite article for a thing or person when the reader doesn’t know which one we are referring to out of many nouns. It states the random nature of the subject. Thus, option (a) is incorrect.
 Option B: ‘An’ is used before words beginning with a vowel sound. In the given sentence, the word ‘aeroplane’ begins with a vowel sound, and it’s unspecific. Therefore, option (b) is absolutely correct.
Option C: ‘The’ is used as a definite article for a thing or person when the reader knows which one we are exactly referring to. It states the specific nature of the subject. The definite article is used before singular and plural nouns when the noun is specific or particular. Thus, option (c ) is incorrect.
Option D: Since we need an article ‘the’ for a specific noun and no article is used when a plural countable noun is generic or non-specific. There are certain situations in which a noun takes no article. Thus, option D is incorrect.

Note:
“A” is used before words starting in consonant sounds and “An” is used with words starting with vowel sounds. It doesn’t matter if the word is an adjective, a noun, an adverb, or say anything else; the rule is exactly the same. ‘An/ A’ is used as an indefinite article for a thing or person when the reader doesn’t know which one we are referring to out of many nouns. It states the random nature of the subject. Whereas, the definite article (the) is used before a noun to indicate that the identity of the noun is known to the reader.