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Grammar tool

Articles & prepositions — quick fixes

Article and preposition errors are the single most common reason for losing easy Grammar marks. Fixing them lifts your accuracy without learning anything new.

IELTSTOEFLGeneral

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Articles — the 4 rules that cover 95% of cases

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Articles — the 4 rules that cover 95% of cases

  • Use "a / an" when introducing a singular countable noun for the first time.
  • Use "the" when the noun is specific or already mentioned.
  • Use no article for plural and uncountable nouns when speaking generally.
  • Use "the" with superlatives, unique things (the sun), and most countries (the UK, the US) — but NOT with proper names of most countries (France, Japan).

Article fixes

I want to study in university.

I want to study at a university.

Government should invest in education.

The government should invest in education.

She is the best student of her class.

She is the best student in her class.

Prepositions of time

PrepositionUseExample
atspecific timesat 9 am, at noon, at night
ondays and dateson Monday, on 5 May
inmonths, years, parts of the dayin 2024, in July, in the morning
bydeadlineby Friday, by next month
fordurationfor two hours, for six months
sincestarting pointsince 2020, since June

Prepositions of place

PrepositionUseExample
atspecific pointat the station, at the door
inenclosed space / areain the room, in Tokyo
onsurfaceon the table, on page 5
betweentwo itemsbetween the trees
amongthree or moreamong the candidates

Editorial details and primary sources

By FluentMock Editorial Team · Published 2026-06-13 · Updated 2026-06-28 · Official sources checked

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