Question

Fill in the blanks with the most suitable articles.
Do not leave your friends in __________ lurch because _________ friend in need is __________ friend indeed.

• A. A, a, a
• B. The, the, the
• C. The, a, a
• D. No article, a, a

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

The, a, a

The indefinite articles 'a' and 'an' are used to modify a non-specific or non-particular noun. The article 'a' precedes a noun which begins with a consonant sound and the article 'an' precedes a noun which begins with a vowel sound. The definite article 'the' is used to modify a specific or particular noun.

The word, 'lurch' means 'an abrupt uncontrolled movement'.The idiom, 'leave someone in the lurch' means 'Abandon or desert someone in a difficult condition'. In this idiom, the word, 'lurch' is preceded by the article 'the'. In view of its prevalent usage, no other article (other than 'the') can be used in this idiom before the word, 'lurch'. Option A indicates the use of the article 'a' in the first blank (before the word, 'lurch'). Hence, this is incorrect. Option D indicates the use of 'no article' in the first blank (before the word, 'lurch'). Hence, option D is incorrect.

The proverb, 'A friend in need is a friend indeed' means ' a person who helps at a difficult time is a person who you can really rely on'. The noun 'friend' does not refer to any specific noun. It begins with a consonant sound. Further, as per the proverb, the prevalently used article before the word 'friend' is 'a'. Hence, the article to be used in both the blanks before the word, 'friend' is 'a'. Option C indicates this and it is the correct answer.

Option B indicates the use of the article 'the' before the word, 'friend' in both the blanks. Hence, this option is incorrect.