How to use the English articles?

[Uland]

English Grammar Tests, Elementary Level

ESL/EFL Test #98 "Articles in English Grammar", question 2

Can you please go to ......... grocery store on fifth street and buy 2 cartons of milk?

(a) a
(b) an
(c) the

English Grammar Tests, Elementary Level

ESL/EFL Test #98 "Articles in English Grammar", answer 2

Can you please go to the grocery store on fifth street and buy 2 cartons of milk?

Correct answer: (c) the

Your answer was: incorrect
Can you please go to an grocery store on fifth street and buy 2 cartons of milk?
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Can you please go to the grocery store on fifth street and buy 2 cartons of milk?

Correct answer: (c) the

Your answer was: incorrect
your sentence:
Can you please go to an grocery store on fifth street and buy 2 cartons of milk?

y it is wrong?

Uland

[Alan]

Hi,

There are three choices to this question:a, an, and the.

You would not use 'a' because there is reference in the aentence to one particular store 'on fifth street' and so your are specifying this store and using 'the' to indicate that particular store. You use 'an' before a vowel sound and so we say an idea and an opportunity and also an hour. Note the last one. The first letter 'h' is not sounded and so the word 'hour' begins with a vowel sound.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Party Conferences

[Wilson860218]

Is it possible that there are several grocery stores on that street?I think it maybe possible.And if this situation exist,the answer "a" is right? Please give me a reasonable answer.Thank you so much.