Question

Insert an appropriate article in the blank with the help of the hint given in the bracket:

I haven't been to _______ cinema in ages. (Assume you live in a small town and there's only one cinema in the town). [Intermediate]

• A. a
• B. an
• C. the
• D. no article

Answer 1

The correct option is C the

When a noun is unique to a place and is specific, we use the definite article 'the'. 'Cinema' is specific because it's the only one in town. Hence we use the definite article 'the', option C is correct. Options A and B are indefinite articles which are used to modify nouns which are non-specific and used in general. Since the noun 'cinema' is specific, options A and B are incorrect. An article is not used when the noun is uncountable and when we refer to things in general, the 'cinema' is a countable noun and here we are referring to a specific cinema (the only in town) hence option D is incorrect.