a
an
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no article
Answer is Right!
Answer is Wrong!
The correct answer is: no article.
A pencil is a common object, so it is not necessary to specify which pencil you are referring to. Using an article would make it sound like you are asking for a specific pencil, such as “May I borrow the pencil that is on the desk?”
In general, articles are used to specify which noun you are referring to. If you are not specifying a particular noun, then you do not need to use an article.
Here are some more examples of when you would not use an article:
- May I borrow a pencil, please?
- I like pencils.
- I saw a pencil on the ground.
In these cases, you are not referring to a specific pencil, so you do not need to use an article.