Zero Article Quiz | Beginner Level | 10 Questions & Answers with Explanations
10 questions
This beginner-level quiz focuses on the Zero Article — knowing when to use no article at all, which is often the hardest habit for Indian students to build since our instinct is sometimes to add the where English needs nothing. This topic is tested consistently in SSC CGL, IBPS PO, Railways, Bank Clerk, and State PSC exams. At this level, the key concepts tested are: using no article for plural and uncountable nouns in a general sense, using no article for names of people, most countries, and cities, and using no article for languages, academic subjects, sports, meals, and abstract nouns like honesty and courage. Before you attempt this quiz, read through the Articles — it'll make these questions much easier to crack. Zero article questions are really about restraint — the skill isn't picking the right word, it's resisting the urge to add one at all.
He is currently studying ___ Physics at university.
View solution & Explanation
Correct Answer no article
Academic subjects take no article, so no article is needed before "Physics."
Correct sentence: "He is currently studying Physics at university."
Memory hook: academic subjects (Physics, History, Mathematics) follow the same no-article rule as languages.
They play ___ cricket every Sunday morning in the park.
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Correct Answer no article
Names of sports take no article, so no article is needed before "cricket."
Correct sentence: "They play cricket every Sunday morning in the park."
Memory hook: sports (cricket, football, tennis) always take no article, unlike musical instruments, which always take the.
We had ___ dinner at 8 pm last night.
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Correct Answer no article
Names of meals take no article in their general, everyday sense, so no article is needed before "dinner."
Correct sentence: "We had dinner at 8 pm last night."
Memory hook: meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) take no article, except when referring to one specific, particular meal ("the dinner we had last night was excellent").
___ Honesty is the best policy.
View solution & Explanation
Correct Answer no article
Abstract nouns used in a general sense, like "honesty," take no article.
Correct sentence: "Honesty is the best policy."
Memory hook: abstract nouns (honesty, courage, justice, kindness) take no article when describing the concept in general.
___ dogs are considered loyal and affectionate animals.
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Correct Answer no article
This is a general statement about dogs as a whole category, using the plural form, so no article is needed.
Correct sentence: "Dogs are considered loyal and affectionate animals."
Memory hook: plural nouns used to make a general statement about a whole category take no article at all.
___ water is essential for all forms of life on Earth.
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Correct Answer no article
"Water" is an uncountable noun used here in a general sense, so no article is needed.
Correct sentence: "Water is essential for all forms of life on Earth."
Memory hook: uncountable nouns (water, rice, sugar) used generally take no article — compare with "the water in this glass," which is specific
___ Rahul is my closest friend from college.
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Correct Answer no article
Names of people never take an article, so no article is needed before "Rahul."
Correct sentence: "Rahul is my closest friend from college."
Memory hook: personal names (Rahul, Priya, Rohan) never take an article under any circumstance
She speaks ___ Tamil and Hindi fluently.
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Correct Answer no article
Names of languages take no article, so no article is needed before "Tamil."
Correct sentence: "She speaks Tamil and Hindi fluently."
Memory hook: languages (Tamil, Hindi, English, French) always take no article when named directly.
She has been diagnosed with ___ malaria and is currently under treatment.
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Correct Answer no article
Serious diseases take no article, so no article is needed before "malaria."
Correct sentence: "She has been diagnosed with malaria and is currently under treatment."
Memory hook: serious diseases (malaria, diabetes, cancer) take no article, unlike minor, more temporary conditions (a cold, a headache), which can take a/an.
.
___ President Droupadi Murmu addressed the nation on Independence Day.
View solution & Explanation
Correct Answer no article
When a title is directly followed by a person's name, no article is used, so no article is needed before "President Droupadi Murmu."
Correct sentence: "President Droupadi Murmu addressed the nation on Independence Day."
Memory hook: "title + name" (President Murmu, Professor Rao) takes no article — compare with "the President addressed the nation" (no name given), which does take the.