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Duolingo fluency practice

These are typical Duolingo exam questions. In this type of question, you talk for 30-90 seconds about the topic. It is excellent fluency practice for anyone.

1.Describe a performance you have watched. Please say
– Where was it?
– What kind of performance was it?
– What did you like the most about it?

2.Talk about a challenge you encountered. Please say
– What was the challenge?
– When and where was the challenge?
– How did you overcome it?
– What made it unforgettable?

3.Talk about a special, memorable moment. Please say
– When it was
– What happened
– Why it was special
– How you felt at the time.

4.Talk about a time when you have visited a crowded place. Please say
– What the place was
– Why you went there
– With whom you went there
– And whether or not you enjoyed your visit.

5.Talk about an article you read online that was about healthy living. Please say
– When you read it
– What in particular it was about
– What you learnt from it

6. Talk about an occasion when you couldn’t use your mobile phone. Please say
– when it happened
– what happened to your phone
– how it made you feel

 7. Talk about an occasion when you were forced to change your plans because of the weather. Please say
– When did this happen?
– Where were you?
– What kind of weather was?
– Explain why you had to change your plans

8. Talk about something you bought that was difficult to use at first. Please say
– What is it?
– When did you buy it?
– What does it do?
– Why was it difficult to use for the first time?

9.Talk about something that you borrowed from a person you know. Please say:
– What you borrowed
– When you borrowed it
– Why you borrowed it
– And when you returned it.

10. Talk about a situation when you were late. Please say
– What you were late for
– Why you were late
– What happened because you were late
– How you felt about it

11. Talk about a time when you felt happy. Please say
– What made you happy
– Where you were
– Who was there with you
– And why you felt happy about this.

12.Talk about a place that is full of color. Please say
– What place this is
– Where it is located
– What people do there
– How you learned about this place.

13. Describe an incident where someone apologized to you. You should say:
– Who was it?
– When was it?
– What did the person say?
– Why was this incident memorable to you?

14. Talk about a dream home you would like to live in. Please say
– What kind of home would it be?
– Why would you like to live in it?
– Who would you like to live with?

15. Talk about a place where you go to read or write (except for your home). Please say
– What place this is
– Where it is located
– With whom you go there
– How often you visit this place.

16. Talk about a movie you watched that you liked. Please say
– What was the movie?
– Why did you like it?
– Would you recommend it to a friend?

17. Talk about different kinds of local food available in your country. Please say
– What are they?
– Do you buy or make these kinds of food?
– Can you find these dishes in other countries?

18. Talk about a goal that you set up for yourself and how you achieved it. Please say
– What was the goal?
– What did you do to achieve it?
– What was the hardest part for you?

19. Describe a situation where you helped or offered help to somebody. Please say
– When and where was it?
– What kind of help did you offer?
– Who was the person you offered it to?

20. Describe an incident where someone apologized to you. You should say:
– Who was it?
– When was it?
– What did the person say?
– Why was this incident memorable to you?

21. Describe an incident when you were delayed or late. Please say
– What was it?
– What did you do?
– How did you get there?

22. Talk about a uniform that you wore in the past. Please say
– Describe it.
– Where and when was it?
– How did you feel about wearing a uniform?

23. Describe a sports or work team where you participate. Please say
– What is it?
– When and why did you join it?
– Can you give a brief description of the team members?

24. Talk about an interesting thing that your friend has done, that influenced you and made you want to do the same. Please say
– What was it?
– When and where would you like to do it?
– Why would you like to do it?

25. Talk about a celebrity that you know. Please say
– Who is the celebrity?
– Where do you usually see him/her?
– What does he/she do?

26. Describe a book that you read. Please say
– What kind of book it is
– Why you read this book
– When you read it

27. Talk about a teenager that you know well. Please say
– Who is he/she?
– How did you meet him/her?
– Can you describe him/her?

28. Describe a city in your country that you would like to visit. Please say
– What and where is it?
– What can people do there?
– Why do you want to go there?

29. Talk about your favorite website. Please say
– What is it?
– What is it about?
– How often do you use it? Why?

30. Talk about an old building in your home town that you like to visit. Please say
– What and where is it?
– Why do you like to go there?
– Describe what it looks like.

31. Describe a street that you visited to buy something. Please say:
– Where the street is
– When you visited it
– What you bought, and
– How you felt after that.

32. Talk about someone whom you helped with your studies.
Please say
– Who was he/she?
– Why did you help him/her?
– How did you feel after that?

33. Describe a decision that you had made with the help of another
person. Please say
– What decision was it?
– When was it and who helped you?
– How did you feel after making the decision?

34. Talk about a sport that you really want to try in the future. Please
say
– Why you like it
– When you first watched it
– When you want to play it.

35. Talk about a thing that you would like to replace. Please say
– What is it?
– Why do you want to replace it?
– What will you replace it with?

36. Talk about your childhood friend with whom you are still in touch today.
Please say
– Who is he/she?
– How and when did you both meet?
– Is he/she your best friend?

37. Talk about something that you wear only for special occasions.
Please say
– What is it?
– Where and when did you buy it?
– How do you feel when you wear it?

38. Talk about a complaint that you made to a company recently, and were pleased with the result. Please say
– What was the complaint?
– What did you ask them to do about it?
– Why were you pleased with the result?

39. Talk about your favorite comedy actor/actress. Please say
– Who is he/she?
– What do you like about him/her?
– Is he/she the same in real life?

40. Describe a time when you received money as a gift. Please say
– When did you receive it?
– What did you do with it?
– How did you feel about it?

41. Describe an interesting person that you would like to meet in the future. Please say
– Who is the person?
– What do you like about him/her?
– What is the interesting thing about that person?

42. Talk about an exercise or a trick that helps you concentrate at home or at work. Please say
– What do you do?
– When and where do you do it?
– Why is it important for you to concentrate?

43. Talk about a language that you would like to learn apart from English. Please say
– What is it?
– Why do you want to learn it?
– What benefits will you have from learning it?

44. Talk about a popular place in your country and say
– What and where is this place?
– What can people do or see there?
– Why is it popular?

45. Talk about a comic actor/actress who is popular in your country. Please say
– Who is he/she?
– Why is he/she popular?
– How did you know about him/her?

46. Talk about an event you have celebrated recently. Please say
– What was the event?
– Who was there with you?
– How did you feel about it later?

47. Describe a job you would be interested to do. Please say
– What job is it?
– What skills do you need for this job?
– What makes it interesting?

48. Tell a story that you know well. Please say
– Who told you this story?
– What is the story about?
– Why do you still remember it?

49. Talk about a person who talks too much. Please say
– Who is that person?
– What is his/her relationship to you?
– What does he/she usually talk about?

50. Talk about an animal that you like. Please say
– What is it?
– When and where did you see it for the first time?
– Why do you like it?

51. Talk about a small successful company you know, you should say
– How do you know about this company?
– How long do you know them?
– Why do you think they are successful?

52. Talk about a goal you have achieved in your life. Please say
– What was the goal?
– When did you set it?
– How was it achieved?
– How did you feel about it later

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What are articles?

 

Articles are words that define a noun as specific or unspecific. Consider the following examples:

After the long day, the cup of tea tasted particularly good.

By using the article the, we’ve shown that it was one specific day that was long and one specific cup of tea that tasted good.

After a long day, a cup of tea tastes particularly good.

By using the article a, we’ve created a general statement, implying that any cup of tea would taste good after any long day.English has two types of articles: definite and indefinite. Let’s discuss them now in more detail.

The definite article

The definite article is the word the. It limits the meaning of a noun to one particular thing. For example, your friend might ask, “Are you going to the party this weekend?” The definite article tells you that your friend is referring to a specific party that both of you know about. The definite article can be used with singular, plural, or uncountable nouns. Below are some examples of the definite article the used in context:

Please give me the hammer.

Please give me the red hammer; the blue one is too small.

Please give me the nail.

Please give me the large nail; it’s the only one strong enough to hold this painting.

Please give me the hammer and the nail.

The indefinite article

The indefinite article takes two forms. It’s the word a when it precedes a word that begins with a consonant. It’s the word an when it precedes a word that begins with a vowel. The indefinite article indicates that a noun refers to a general idea rather than a particular thing. For example, you might ask your friend, “Should I bring a gift to the party?” Your friend will understand that you are not asking about a specific type of gift or a specific item. “I am going to bring an apple pie,” your friend tells you. Again, the indefinite article indicates that she is not talking about a specific apple pie. Your friend probably doesn’t even have any pie yet. The indefinite article only appears with singular nouns. Consider the following examples of indefinite articles used in context:

Please hand me a book; any book will do.

Please hand me an autobiography; any autobiography will do.

Exceptions: choosing a or an

There are a few exceptions to the general rule of using a before words that start with consonants and an before words that begin with vowels. The first letter of the word honor, for example, is a consonant, but it’s unpronounced. In spite of its spelling, the word honor begins with a vowel sound. Therefore, we use an. Consider the example sentence below for an illustration of this concept.

My mother is a honest woman.

My mother is an honest woman.

Similarly, when the first letter of a word is a vowel but is pronounced with a consonant sound, use a, as in the sample sentence below:

She is an United States senator.

She is a United States senator.

This holds true with acronyms and initialisms, too: an LCD display, a UK-based company, an HR department, a URL.

Article before an adjective

Sometimes an article modifies a noun that is also modified by an adjective. The usual word order is article + adjective + noun. If the article is indefinite, choose a or an based on the word that immediately follows it. Consider the following examples for reference:

Eliza will bring a small gift to Sophie’s party.

I heard an interesting story yesterday.

Indefinite articles with uncountable nouns

Uncountable nouns are nouns that are either difficult or impossible to count. Uncountable nouns include intangible things (e.g., information, air), liquids (e.g., milk, wine), and things that are too large or numerous to count (e.g., equipment, sand, wood). Because these things can’t be counted, you should never use a or an with them—remember, the indefinite article is only for singular nouns. Uncountable nouns can be modified by words like some, however. Consider the examples below for reference:

Please give me a water.

Water is an uncountable noun and should not be used with the indefinite article.

Please give me some water.

However, if you describe the water in terms of countable units (like bottles), you can use the indefinite article.

Please give me a bottle of water.

Please give me an ice.

Please give me an ice cube.

Please give me some ice .

Note that depending on the context, some nouns can be countable or uncountable (e.g., hair, noise, time):

We need a light in this room.

We need some light in this room.

Using articles with pronouns

Possessive pronouns can help identify whether you’re talking about specific or nonspecific items. As we’ve seen, articles also indicate specificity. But if you use both a possessive pronoun and an article at the same time, readers will become confused. Possessive pronouns are words like his, my, our, its, her, and their. Articles should not be used with pronouns. Consider the examples below.

Why are you reading the my book?

The and my should not be used together since they are both meant to modify the same noun. Instead, you should use one or the other, depending on the intended meaning:

Why are you reading the book?

Why are you reading my book?

Omission of articles

Occasionally, articles are omitted altogether before certain nouns. In these cases, the article is implied but not actually present. This implied article is sometimes called a “zero article.” Often, the article is omitted before nouns that refer to abstract ideas. Look at the following examples:

Let’s go out for a dinner tonight.

Let’s go out for dinner tonight.

The creativity is a valuable quality in children.

Creativity is a valuable quality in children.

Many languages and nationalities are not preceded by an article. Consider the example below:

I studied the French in high school for four years.

I studied French in high school for four years.

Sports and academic subjects do not require articles. See the sentences below for reference:

I like to play the baseball.

I like to play baseball .

My sister was always good at the math .

My sister was always good at math .

Article FAQs

What is an article?

An article is a word that comes before a noun to show if it’s specific or general. Specific nouns use the article the and general nouns use the article a (or an if the next word starts with a vowel sound). 

What is an example of an article in grammar?

“The hammer” refers to only one hammer, but “a hammer” refers to any hammer. 

When should we not use articles?

You don’t use articles with uncountable nouns or possessive pronouns. Certain nouns such as nationalities, school subjects, and sports don’t need articles, especially if they refer to abstract ideas. 

What are definite and indefinite articles?

Definite and indefinite articles refer to whether they describe something specific or general. “The” is the definite article and “a” and “an” are indefinite articles. 

Adapted from Grammarly